THE AUTO PAGE
By John Heilig
- MODEL: Jeep Compass Latitude 4X4
- ENGINE: 2.4-liter I-4
- TRANSMISSION: 9-speed automatic
- HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 180 hp @ 6,400 rpm/175 lb.-ft. @ 3,900 rpm
- WHEELBASE: 103.8 in.
- LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 173.0 x 73.8 x 64.8 in.
- TIRES: P225/45R17
- CARGO CAPACITY: 27.2/59.8 cu. ft. (rear seats up/down)
- ECONOMY: 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25.2 mpg test
- FUEL TANK: 13.5 gal.
- CURB WEIGHT: 3,327 lbs. #/HP: 18.5
- TOWING CAPACITY: 2,000 lbs.
- COMPETITIVE CLASS: Ford Escape, Buick Encore, Honda CR-V
- STICKER: $32,505 (includes $1,095 delivery, $5,625 options)
- BOTTOM LINE: One of the smallest of many Jeep models, the Compass still offers legendary Jeep offload capability and Jeep design.
There’s no mistaking the Compass for anything but a Jeep, despite
its diminutive size. The classic seven-slot grille is there, with a new
interpretation having each of the seven chrome slots set in a gloss black
field. And with the flared front and rear fenders and its short size, there’s
almost a Coke bottle look to the sides that brought back memories of 1970s-era
race cars.
Sadly though, the Compass isn’t a race car. The 2.4-liter
engine has good power at 180 horses, compared to 160 in the similarly equipped
Fiat 500X. In the Fiat the engine was noisy and had a persistent buzziness,
while in the Compass it’s relatively quiet. The engine does complain a bit on
hard acceleration, and sometimes you have your right foot hard on the floor
coming onto a highway and you wonder if you’re going to merge with no problems.
We had no problems, but I did look anxiously in the rearview mirror just to be
safe.
The engine transmits power to the wheels through a 9-speed
automatic transmission, which is a first in the small SUV segment. The tranny
was smooth, as one would expect.
The center console has several features, besides the
shifter. There are Selec-Terrain controls, that allow you to set the Compass up
for off-roading or on-roading, an electronic parking brake, engine start-stop
controls, and climate and volume control knobs. Selec-Terrain provides up to
five modes (Auto, Snow, Sand and Mud, plus an exclusive Rock mode on Trailhawk
models) for Jeep four-wheel drive performance on any surface in any
weather.
Between the front seats is a small console/arm rest and a
pair of cupholders besides all the features mentioned above. There is room for
water bottles in all the doors.
I didn’t like the seats in our tester. While they were
comfortable and offered some side support for cornering, they were white with
black inserts that looked as if there was something on the seat all the time.
The rear seats continued this theme.
There’s good rear seat visibility. There’s a small window
behind the C-pillar that from the inside looks like an add-on, but from the
outside it breaks up what would be a large flat panel.
Cargo capacity is good, but I had to lower the rear seat
backs to get my golf bag in. There’s a nice rubber mat on the cargo floor that
would help protect the floor from any mud that might get tracked in there. In
addition, there are small compartments on the sides that are great for objects
you don’t want to spill. Additional extras in the cargo bay are four tie-downs,
a 12-volt outlet and hooks to handle grocery bags.
Our tester did not have a power hatch, but it is very well
balanced with good struts and raises and lowers easily. Power almost isn’t
necessary.
There is a clear instrument panel in a well-designed dash
with soft surfaces. White-on-black dials with an information panel in between
give tachometer and speedometer information. There is a clear, 7-inch square
infotainment screen in the center of the dash. The screen has a full menu for
radio, media, climate, apps, settings, navigation and phone. The infotainment
system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Jeep Compass is a serious player in the small SUV
segment. The fact that it’s a Jeep sets it apart, stressing the Utility part of
SUV.
(c) 2017 The Auto Page
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