2017 Compass points Jeep’s future in right direction

Jeeps used to be tough, no-nonsense trucks: built to climb hills, haul dirty things and do it without whining.

Today’s Jeeps still can get those jobs done, but now they do it with style and, gasp, comfort. One might be able to use the word sophisticated about Jeeps crossovers.

But even more significant is that this all-American nameplate is seeking a global market. The Compass will be assembled in Brazil, China, Mexico and India, for will be sold in more than 100 countries around the world.

Jeep’s new-for-2017 Compass is based on the same platform as Jeep’s smaller Renegade, but there’s a world of difference between the two. Frankly if you’re doing a comparison, it would be more accurate to look to the Cherokee, which is Jeep’s next size up.

The Compass has the honor of competing in the most competitive class of car or crossover, and one that is fast growing. Even more than others among its competition, the Compass eschews the cute and quirky crossover look that dominated the segment’s looks until the current generation.

From a distance the first thing you notice is how sophisticated the Compass looks. Its stance is planted, but a slightly raised wheel well andmachowheelsmake it look quite off-road capable. Its face frankly has more of the Cherokee’s dynamic chin out looks, but for some rea- son the area below the grille as well as the front diffuser seem to move its overall impression back from the edge of the envelope.

The side lines are sweeping from above the wheel well rising slightly as it moves fromthe front fender to the rear shoulders. The roofline is reasonably horizontal, descending slightly behind where the rear seats are, just as the shoulder line of the car rises slightly. They meet gracefully at a vertical line at the back of the greenhouse.

The car’s rear is pure sport ute, with a big hatch, high and horizontal taillights and a sturdy diffuser below the bumper line. The sum of the parts is a sophisticated yet confident looking car, capable of climbing the crags of suburbia or the real ones away fromthe concrete.

The interior is modern, and even attractive. Chrysler andJeepproductshave a reputation – even among proponents – of having rather average interior quality and design. This car’s interior looks good, with a good feel to the surfaces. More than that, the seats are comfortable and on the Limited and Trailhawk models which I drove were nicely adjustable. There was enough leg room in the rear seat, but frankly it is a space for occasional use by big folk and a greater focus on children – in car seats or not.

The features that are highly desired by customers of this category of vehicle are there – a standard back-up camera, for instance. There is also Bluetooth, Chrysler’s U-Connect in three different versions, a decent stereo and Apple Play andAndroidAuto for safe and efficient telematics. Its instrumental panel is well laid out and controls on its dashboard are well laid out. Color choices are nice, and the interiors line up to models much further up the food chain.

The back seat is big enough for adults, and that means it handles all types of car seats without a problem. The cargo area will carry most strollers and still have space for all the accouterments of early parenthood.

It, frankly, has a more parental look. Must be that the automotive world thinks that Millennials are growing up! That is the primary group the Compass is aimed at. This is a car for carrying out the daily tasks of raising kids, then hopefully having some fun on the weekends.

It is priced to appeal to those who are reasonably newto the “family” business, and want to do it correctly. Themodel lineup starts with the Compass Sport with an MSRP of $20,995. Next comes the Latitude beginning at $24,295. At the top of the heap are the “trailrated” Trailhawk starting at $28,595 and the wellequipped Limited starting at $28,995. The Compass is on sale now.

All models of the Compass use Chrysler’s 2.4-liter Tigershark four-cylinder enginewhich generates 180-hp. and 175 lb.-ft. of peak torque. It is mated to one of three transmissions: a nine-speed automatic transmission for 4x4 models, a six-speed manual transmission for 4x2 and 4x4, and a six-speed automatic transmission for 4x2 some Compass models

Therearechoiceof twoinnovative driveline systems. First is Jeep’s Active Drive with fully automatic onespeed power transfer unit. This system uses two-wheel drive asmuchas possible for fuel efficiency butwill switch to all-wheel drive seamlessly when necessary.

The second system is the Jeep Active Drive Low, which allows for a 20:1 crawl ratio and five-mode Selec-Terrain system that customizes the traction levels depending on what kind of terrain you are driving across. It also will spend most of its times only powering two wheels, again to improve efficiency.

The second system is available on the off-road focused Trailhawk model. This model uses different front and rear fascias to increase approach and departure angles, and the model is also raised an inch from the base model, and uses specific wheels and tires. It also sports tow hooks front and rear, and they aren’t merely decorative.

Jeep Compass is a decent off-road performer, but in its class – compact crossovers – that makes it magnificent. The Compass is perfectly happy to climb rocks- even getting one wheel 18-in. in the air doesn’t seem to fluster it. The point here is that anything named Jeep needs to be good at driving where the roads don’t go.

Even though this isn’t a truck, because it has a unitized body and a car’s independent suspension, it will go more places than its owners probably are ever going to demand of it. While it may not be up to the standard of Jeep’s Wrangler, it will fulfill probably 90 percent of the off-roading needs and desires of the driving public.

While it may be the rare owner who actually drive down gullies and up hills, Jeep officials took us to Flat Rock Ranch so we could prove to ourselves it has the capability to call itself a Jeep. Up and down some seriously steep hills shod with Texas dirt and rocks the Compass was up to the task, even over man-made traps that forced the Compass to tilt precipitously to one corner, lifting the opposite wheel.

While this isn’t rocket science, it also isn’t a capability which needs to be on a crossover filled with kids making their way to school and home. But it is a capability which Jeep makes available on the Compass for those who want additional capability to go off-roading, whether as a sport or utility.

Compass is based on the same platform as Jeep’s smaller Renegade, but there’s a world of difference between the two.