Jeep did something unprecedented in 2007 and they’re lucky it wasn’t killed in 2008 when the market spent time trimming down. During the 2007 model year we saw Jeep add two compact crossover SUVs to their lineup, the Compass and the Patriot. The Patriot brought us more of the typical Jeep features and felt more like the SUV that Jeep should be putting on the road while the Compass was an SUV that looked nothing like any other Jeep vehicle we’ve had in the past. This didn’t bode well for the Compass at first.
For a vehicle that was considered to be all wrong at first, Jeep kept trying to get the Compass right and avoided deleting it from the lineup. The inclusion of a refresh in 2011 helped it become a bit better and the addition of a six-speed automatic transmission in 2014 meant the hated CVT was removed. This was considered the best of the Compass models that had come along since the vehicle began production. Of course all of that is now ancient history and the Compass has been remade for a brand new generation and is part of the 2017 model year.
If you take a look at the Compass you might ask where the Patriot has gone because the new Compass appears to have all the impressive features of both vehicles built into one while the detriments of both have been deleted. This compact crossover looks gorgeous and certainly fits alongside the Grand Cherokee and new Cherokee to be the starting point of the lineup of family SUVs for Jeep. The previous Compass didn’t have the seven slotted grill, but the new one does and it looks gorgeous as its flanked by the headlights perfectly for the new Compass.
Other visual improvement for the new Compass include the bulging fenders, the rising body sides, a boxy shape, the ability to add a dual pane sunroof and a host of lines and angles that make the Compass an interesting and attractive vehicle on the road. This is a new Compass and its beautiful to look at with upgraded equipment and materials on the inside when you open the doors. This makes the Compass an attractive vehicle inside and out to be the perfect drive for you to enjoy wherever you want to go on the road or on the trails.
Under the hood the new Compass will have only one engine, the Tigershark 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that will produce 180 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque. This is an upgrade from the previous model. There will be three transmissions for you to choose from, the six-speed manual which can be had with either 4×2 or 4×4 setup, a six-speed automatic that’s used in FWD models of the Compass or the nine-speed automatic when an automatic and 4×4 are chosen together. This range of choices will make it easier than ever for you to choose the Jeep Compass model that’s right for you to drive.
Added to the lineup is a Trailhawk model which will have some unique appearance characteristics and a suspension lift. With this version you can handle a thirty-degree approach angle, a 24-degree breakover angle and a 34-degree departure angle to make it easier to crawl over rocks with this new SUV. This is certainly a Jeep Compass that you can be proud to drive and make part of your driving pleasure when you take it on the trails or just use it around your neighborhood. This new Compass proves that Jeep had the right idea; they just needed to put all their heads together on this one.
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