The 2017 Jeep Compass is finally here and it's high time it replaces its predecessor. But the only thing they share in common is the nameplate. Other than that, this compact crossover has been dubbed the "baby Grand Cherokee" and it shares a few features of the Renegade.
If you are wondering where exactly does the Compass fit in Jeep's lineup, well it slots right in between the Renegade and Cherokee. Relatively, it was engineered to fill the narrow space between the two models.
Engine. The 2017 Jeep Compass also gets the FCA's 2.4-liter "Tigershark" multi air four-cylinder engine, which is standard in the Cherokee. The naturally aspirated engine produces 180 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 175 lb-ft of torque. The multiair engine sounds good if you take the Compass out for a short spin. Relatively, this refreshed vehicle is very solid and composed with a decent capability and a truly competent car to drive.
Trim levels. The Compass comes in 4 trim levels: Sport, Latitude, Trailhawk, and Limited. With a front-wheel drive as standard and AWD as an option, both Sport and Latitude come in six-speed manual or automatic, with nine-speed being an option, and is either two or four-wheel drive. Meanwhile, a nine-speed automatic transmission is standard for both the Limited and Trailhawk, which only comes in AWD.
Note that Sport, Latitude, and Limited are mostly geared towards on-road use. So, Trailhawk is equipped with a few off-road features such as rugged tires with more grip and with a taller sidewall, underbody protection and under body padding, skid plates, and bright red recovery hooks, which allows the Jeep to tow around 2000 lbs.
EPA Rating. In terms of fuel efficiency, The Car Connection reports that the 2017 Jeep Compass with 6-speed manual FWD has a 23mpg (city), 32mpg (highway), and combined 26mpg, whereas the 6-speed manual AWD has a 22/31/25 mpg, 6-speed automatic FWD, 22/31/25 mpg, and 9-speed automatic AWD, 22/30/25 mpg.
Price. A mandatory $1095 destination charge (which is a $100 higher than in 2016) is added to the base price for all trim levels. The 2017 Jeep Compass Sport starts at $22,090 (plus $1,500 for AWD), Latitude $25,390 (plus $1,500 for AWD), Trailhawk $29,690, and Limited $30,090.
Interior and Exterior. While the Compass' exterior screams "baby Grand Cherokee," the inside has a lot of Renegade. This is because it is built on the same chassis as the renegade. It has just a stretched wheelbase of 2.6 inches, per Autoblog.
There's plenty of head room and leg room, around 4.3 inches more (39.4 inches) at the rear seat but slightly a bit too narrow. Behind the rear seats is an additional 4.2 cubic feet of cargo space (22.7 cubic feet).
Cabin tech. There are 2 clear gauges directly in front of the driver. It is available in either 3.5-inch or 7.0-inch sizes depending on the trim level. It supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and either a 7.0-inch or 8.4-inch screen seats right at the center. Safety features include park assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross path detection, among others.
Verdict. Overall, the 2017 Jeep Compass is an easy vehicle for off-road adventures. It is expected to arrive in dealerships by April. But stores will have two model years on display, as the 2018 model is slated to grace storefronts by early fall. It is more likely an updated version of the 2017 model.
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