2017 Jeep Compass
■ Likes: New design, Jeep ancestry, better MPG.
■ Dislikes: Engine could use a turbo, not much else.
■ Entry price: $20,995
■ Price as tested: $32,505
silver painted aluminum wheels, Parkview rear back-up camera, keyless entry and start, start/ stop engine feature, deep tint glass, capless fuel filler, all the traction controls.
The seating is firm, and the steering has a nice, firm feel to it. There is ample head and legroom room for rear passengers considering Compass is way smaller than a full-size Cherokee. Leather seating is not available on the Latitude models.
Other notable items on Latitude’s standard list are rear fold flat seat, all the powers, six-speaker stereo Am/fm/mp3/bluetooth, first and second-row USB, tilt and telescopic steering, air, cruise and a leather steering wheel with audio controls.
Our tester came with a recommended $795 Safety and Security group that adds rear park assist, blind spot, cross path detection, rain sensitive wipers and a security alarm.
A $995 Navigation Group adds Uconnect, Sirius/xm and an 8.4inch touchscreen with Apple/google play capabilities. Considering most people use smartphones nowadays for directions and streaming, you might want to think twice about this feature. I would like to see Jeep up the base price of Latitudes about $350 and add the sound/streaming features into the base price.
A Popular Entertainment group for $995 adds eight-way driver power seat with lumbar, remote start, automatic climate control, 115-volt auxiliary and a 7.0-inch driver info cluster. A Command View dual-plane panoramic sunroof adds $1,295, while special polished 17-inch Granite Pocket Aluminum wheels on Kumho tires add $595 while a compact (but really big) spare tire for $245 brings the final tally to $32,505 retail with a $1,095 destination included.
One major upgrade through the years and clearly evident on the all-new Compass is a much quieter interior and very solid feeling when you shut the doors. The four-cylinder engine under full power still makes some noise, but the better insulation dampens engine noise and other outside decibels.
On the road, the 2.4 engine delivers good fuel mileage and performs adequately but won’t set any acceleration records. Also, if you add passengers and cargo, you will find that the Compass is underpowered at best.
Perhaps in the future, Jeep will add a turbocharger to the 2.4 engine, which would take care of this concern. On the bright side is a comfortable ride, be it country road or turnpike.
Safety features are aplenty, with ABS four-wheel discs, fully independent suspension, all the air bags, and modern electronics that handle the stability control, parking brake, and roll mitigation. There’s much more your Jeep dealer is waiting to explain in detail.
Important numbers include a wheelbase of 103.7 inches, 3,327-pound curb weight, 2,000-pound tow capacity, 13.5-gallon fuel tank, 8.2-inch ground clearance and from 27.2 to 59.8 cubic feet of cargo space.
Thanks to excellent product branding and outstanding consumer support, Jeep continues to build on its legendary status as the premier SUV in America. The new “little Grand Cherokee” 2017 Compass should be on your test drive list if shopping this segment.