The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
The 2018 Jeep Compass is a good choice for young and old alike
There are a lot of young people – and not a few empty nesters – who want to have a vehicle with the kind of room of a sports utility vehicle.
It goes without saying that it must be is reasonably priced, but still is clearly a crossover.
This must be true, because the small-crossover-ute segment is perhaps the most viciously fought, and
it is also one of the most profitable.
As you move up the crossover offerings of Jeep – from the Renegade to the Compass to the Cherokee and finally the Grand Cherokee – they evolve through iterations of the Grand Chesrokee’s DNA. For those who want their next car – economically speaking – to be a Grand Cherokee, Jeeps’ Compass is all in, both as a Jeep and as a crossover.
The Compass really looks like both a Jeep and a crossover. Its face is more clearly related to the family than with the previous generation. This generation, which came out as a 2017 model, is crisp and well planted. It stands its ground like the Jeep it is. It doesn’t look like a “metoo” small crossover. It is clearly the Grand Cherokee’s little brother, and that’s a good thing.
While this is a worldwide product, here the model lineup allows for those who must seek a value purchase as well as those who want all the goodies. The lineup begins with the Sport, starting at $20,995. Then the Latitude with and MSRP of $24,295 and Limited at $27,595, all of which are available with either a 4x2 or 4x4 powertrain. All top-of-the-line Trailhawk models are allwheel drive and their price begins at $28,695.
Unlike the previous generation of the Compass, this one drives like a Jeep and is happy to be off-road and is even willing to do a bit of rock crawling, especially if it’s a Trailhawk. All models of the Compass use Chrysler’s 2.4-liter Tigershark four-cylinder engine which generates 180hp. and 175 lb.-ft. of peak torque.
The engine 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. EPA fuel efficiency numbers start at 23 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway. Naturally this changes between models and powertrains.
There is a choice of two all-wheel driveline systems. First is Jeep’s Active Drive, an automatic system with a one-speed power transfer unit. It’s in twowheel drive as much as possible for fuel efficiency but will switch to all-wheel drive 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.
Even though this is a reasonably priced vehicle, buyers can find features only offered on luxury cars as recently as a couple of years ago. People seem to be pleased with this and are willing to pay as much as a third-to- a-half the cost of the base model for the top trim and its extra goodies.
These include the latestgeneration Uconnect for a range of standard and optional handsfree communication, entertainment and navigation features, including new Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In addition, the Compass has 70 safety and security items.
Other features that are highly desired by custom-
ers 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 and Android Auto for safe and efficient telematics
hat really counts in cars of this class of crossover is the interior. The Compass is no exception. 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.
While there will be single people and empty-nesters who will buy it, the primary target is the young and married Millennial.
They will be buying a car with plans for additional passengers, and the rear seat will easily take two – and perhaps three – car seats.
The cargo area will carry most strollers and still have space for all the accouterments of early parenthood.
So, this is a car for carrying out the daily tasks of raising kids, then hopefully having some fun on the weekends. If you have any questions, comments or ideas, please send them to comment@ AutoWritersInk.com.