The cabin layout is functional and roomy. The 2009 changes make it quieter and more attractive, but the Compass still appears to be built to a price. The cost cutting is apparent when you shut the driver's door and it sounds like you just dented a beer can. There is plenty of room for your stuff, including your elbows and legs. The front door pockets are deep enough to get your hand in, but to make room for stereo speakers, they're short.

The dash is now black instead of tan or gray. It's also more rounded and has nicer graining than last year, but it's still made of hard plastic. The center stack trades a cheap-looking silver plastic for matching black and adds some nice chrome trim. The center stack is wide and intelligently designed: rectangular vents on top, a single-disc AM/FM/CD stereo or the navigation system below it, and below that are three climate control knobs and various buttons for options (including the available heated seats). The gauges are clean and pleasant, white on black with a symmetrical layout and chrome trim rings. The four-spoke steering wheel is solid to grip. The shift lever, manual or automatic, sprouts from the dash. This practical high forward position was introduced by Honda, but actually originated in rally racing cars, where ergonomics really matter.

Moving rearward, between the front seats, there are two fixed cupholders now nicely lit with LEDs, another small trough for cell phones and the like, the emergency brake handle, and a split center console bin with two levels of storage. The console top is an armrest and it's newly padded.

Legroom is good, both front and rear. In fact, the Compass has 39.4 inches of rear legroom, which is almost four inches longer than in the larger Grand Cherokee. The Compass will be a fine vehicle for a family trip, with reclining rear seats optional on Sport and standard on Limited. There are cupholders in the rear but no net pockets on the front seatbacks, which would be nice. Grab handles make it easy to climb out.

The rear 60/40 seatbacks fold flat with the touch of a finger on each side, which is as easy as it gets. The front seat on the Limited model folds flat, making a table. The rear cargo area, a decent 53.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, is now carpeted; last year's was covered by a rugged removable vinyl mat. The space-saver spare tire is neatly stored under the floor. One innovative feature on the Limited is the removable, rechargeable LED flashlight mounted in the headliner above the cargo area.

The one-piece liftgate has panels for structural integrity, and the rear bumper has a non-skid rubber surface for grip when people need to step on it to get to the roof. Overall, it's a spacious environment for a vehicle of this size, but not particularly warm or inviting.