The 2012 Jeep Compass offered two main transmissions depending on the engine: a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic, with the 2.0-liter engine available in both configurations and the 2.4-liter engine paired to the four-speed automatic.
To understand how this applied to common 2012 Compass configurations, it helps to know that the model used two inline-four engines and offered both two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive layouts. The transmission choice varied by engine and trim level, shaping fuel economy, performance, and drivability.
Transmission options in the 2012 Compass
These are the primary transmissions that were available across the 2012 Compass lineup.
- 2.0-liter inline-4 with five-speed manual transmission
- 2.0-liter inline-4 with four-speed automatic transmission
- 2.4-liter inline-4 with four-speed automatic transmission
In practice, the four-speed automatic was the more common pairing across most trims, while the five-speed manual was typically offered on base configurations and certain 2.0-liter models.
Additional context: drive configurations and ownership notes
Regardless of the transmission, many 2012 Compass models could be ordered with front-wheel drive or Jeep’s four-wheel-drive systems (including options like Selec-Trac on certain trims). Buyers evaluating a used 2012 Compass should verify the specific transmission and drivetrain configuration on the individual vehicle listing or by checking the VIN documentation, as options varied by market and trim level.
Summary
For the 2012 Jeep Compass, the core transmissions were a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic. The manual was available with the 2.0-liter engine, while the 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter engines could be paired with the four-speed automatic. Drive options included two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive depending on the model and trim.