JEEP BEEFS UP SUV OFFERING
Forgive my skepticism at the arrival of the compact SUV 2017 Jeep Compass Trailhawk for our test drive. I reviewed a last-generation Compass/Patriot and found it to be pretty bland — but clearly, times have changed.
Although earlier models seemed to be lacking, this SUV surprised me with its refreshing upgrades and allaround spunkiness. If you squint your eyes a tad, what you’ll see is a scaled-down Grand Cherokee, but when you slide inside, what you get is a new car.
The redesigned Compass features the Multi Air Tigershark-branded 180-hp 2.4-liter inline 4 motor mated to a 9-speed automatic. Beefed up all-wheel-drive, larger tires on stylish rims, Koni dampers with a tuned suspension, more ground clearance, skid plates and redesigned front and rear bumpers give this compact
the muscle to earn the Trailhawk badge. This smoothshifting Jeep runs through a combination of 4WD lock settings and the five preset drive Selec-Terrain system.
The peppy engine will never win any drag races, but easily moves the SUV in and out of traffic. It could stand a few more ponies but with pretty terrific gas mileage — rated an average of 25 mpg — this Jeep keeps you going without having to fill up too often. Although the captain’s seats give the driver a nice posture and great sightlines, reaching the infotainment center does require a stretch. All of the controls also run through the steering wheel toggles.
This $34,755 entry is a far cry from the earlier boxy vehicles with better looks and refined driving characteristics. The car has nice curb appeal with an attractive two-toned paint scheme, and the extra tow hooks help out off the road. Based on a stretched Renegade frame, the Trailhawk is among the top of four models available.
The leather-trimmed black interior isn’t overly fancy, but has everything you’ll need. Our upgraded tester featured a nice-sounding Beats stereo system that was driven through the UConnect interface. A touchscreen and wheel toggles make adjustments easy and the system doesn’t take too long to learn. Accent stitching and trim add depth to the well-molded plastic features and the easy-to-read two-gauge analog dash wrapped it all together.
By dropping the rear seats, I was able to cram the makings of a fence into the fairly decent-sized cargo deck.
The compact SUV/crossover is a super-competitive segment, so test the Compass against class leaders Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Other popular entries include the Subaru Forester, Ford Escape and Hyundai Tucson. I think it’ll hold its own, and Jeep aficionados now have a competitive option in class.