Jeep’s a tough breed of car and a tough brand - which is just as well given the knocks it’s taken over the last few years. But it’s back, with forward-thinking ownership from Fiat - and fresh models like this rejuvenated Compass, here to take on well established rivals in the Nissan Qashqai-dominated mid-sized SUV sector.

The exterior looks of this Compass model are less daring than is the case with the brand’s smaller Renegade SUV. Trademark Jeep elements include the large, seven-slot front grille and the trapezoidal wheel arches and the contrast colour roof is a smart touch. The sharp LED headlights look good too. Inside, the fascia features plenty of soft-touch plastics but the overall design isn’t as characterful as is the case with rivals like Peugeot’s 3008.

The Compass range is based around a Multijet diesel engine range. There’s a 120bhp 1.6-litre unit and a 2.0-litre powerplant available in either 138 or 168bhp guises. There’s also a 1.4-litre petrol unit with 138bhp. The top 2.0-litre diesel comes with a 9-speed auto gearbox, boasts a lusty 380Nm of pulling power and will be the primary choice of towers. This Compass model shares its underpinnings with Jeep’s Cherokee, so you’d expect even mainstream variants to be more capable than the average family Crossover if you ever take to the wilds. Four-wheel drive models get rear-axle disconnect, which improves efficiency by switching to two-wheel drive when all-wheel drive isn’t required.

In the unlikely event that you’re likely to be off roading frequently, you might be interested in the flagship Compass Trailhawk variant, which uses the top 178bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine and features extra body cladding, higher ground clearance, a low-range gearbox and steeper approach angles.

You get the impression that customers in the mid-sized SUV market want Jeep to succeed. They may not have bought its cars in the recent past, but they’d like to have been able to credibly consider them. Now, they can once more. This Compass may not be the most sophisticated affordable model of this kind you can buy, but unlike its predecessors, it’s now a tough and tempting way to buy into this macho marque.

Credibility of course, is something the Jeep name has never lacked. Good to see it then, with products now worthy of that famous badge.

CAR: Jeep Compass
PRICE: £25,000-£33,000 [est]
INSURANCE GROUP: TBC
CO2 EMISSIONS: [2.0 diesel 138bhp 4x4] 148g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.0 diesel 138bhp 4x4] 0-62mph 10.1 / Max Speed 122mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0 diesel 138bhp 4x4] 49.6mpg [combined]
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: seven airbags, stability control, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm tba