Jeep is a blazing a new trail 鈥� a听trail hard for its competitors to follow 鈥� with the introduction of the redesigned 2017听Compass.
When it comes to the SUV segment, Jeep seemingly has a vehicle for everyone at every budget, from the Patriot, which starts at $16,295, to the well-respected Grand Cherokee at $44,195.
They also come in every size, such as the subcompact Renegade all the way up to the Grand Cherokee.
The Compass is sort of the middle child in the family, with a starting price of $24,900 and slotted between the Renegade and the Cherokee (it rides on a stretched version of the platform that underpins the Renegade).
It is available in four trim models 鈥� Sport, North, Limited and Trailhawk. For this review, I听drove the top-of-the-line Trailhawk.
This is the second generation of the Compass. The first generation, introduced a decade ago, was a boxy, slab-sided utilitarian vehicle and, at that time, the entry-level vehicle of the line.
This time around, the designers have pushed the Compass more upscale, more like a mini-Cherokee. Viewed side-by-side, the similarities are easy to see 鈥� and welcome.
While the former body might have appealed to people attracted to the utilitarian look, the new body appeals to a much larger group of buyers comparing the Compass with the proliferation of competitors in the market.
Growing up doesn鈥檛 mean growing larger either, with the 2017 measuring 54 millimetres shorter than last year鈥檚 model.
The engine under the hood is the same, a 2.4-litre four-cylinder producing 180 horsepower and 175 foot-pounds of torque. Buyers have a choice of a six-speed manual, six-speed automatic on front-wheel-drive models or, as in the case of my tester, a nine-speed automatic transmission.
Although I did not drive the manual transmission, Jeep is to be commended for giving buyers of 4X4 models the opportunity to equip them with manual transmissions (in Sport and North levels).
These transmissions replace the continuously variable transmission found in the previous generation, which you will find few tears shed over the loss.
My Trailhawk model also came with a driver-selectable all-wheel-drive system (leave it in Auto or select snow, sand or mud configurations).
Drivers can also engage 4WD Low, 4WD Lock and hill-descent control. In the crawl mode (4WD Low) the transmission is locked in first gear and gives the vehicle a 20.4:1 drive ratio.
Let鈥檚 not forget skid plates for the gas tank, transfer case, transmission and front suspension and 21.6 centimetres of ground clearance.
This is a huge step up for the Compass. This off-road setup lets it literally go where few competitors (there is a reason they are sometimes collectively referred-to as soft-roaders) would fear to tread.
You鈥檝e probably heard of Glamping 鈥� a new trend defined as glamorous camping. The interior of the new Compass is the automotive equivalent of that.
The utilitarian interior (that mated the former utilitarian exterior) is no more. In its place is a cabin ripped from the same page as the larger Cherokee.
My Trailhawk鈥檚 trim featured black leather seats with a mesh insert. There was contrasting red stitching on the seats, steering wheel and the doors.
There is a large seven-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, which includes Apple CarPlay, Siri Eyes Free and Android Auto. It boasts clear graphics and is logical to navigate. Best of all, the system features physical knobs for the volume and tuner under the screen.
Upgrade to the navigation system, and get an even larger 8.4-inch screen.
Although the Compass is the tweener 鈥� caught in between the Renegade and the Cherokee in overall size 鈥� it actually boasts more cargo-carrying capacity than its larger brother.
The 60/40 split rear back seats fold mostly flat to reveal almost 1,700 litres of trunk (versus 1,555 for the Cherokee).
If you are in the market for a crossover/SUV, there are dozens to choose from. Most of them are worth recommending.
There are also a number of trim options for the Compass, reflecting the needs of different buyers.
But if you are seriously considering taking a vehicle off the beaten path (or where there sometimes is no path) there are few competitors in this segment in the same league as the Jeep Compass Trailhawk.
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THE SPEC SHEET
Type: Compact SUV, front engine, four-wheel drive
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder, 180 hp at 6,400 r.p.m., 175 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,900
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Dimensions (mm): Length, 4,394; width, 2,033 (with mirrors); height, 1,647 (with rails); wheelbase, 2,636
Curb weight (kg): 1,648
Price (base/as tested): $32,895/ (includes $1,795 freight and PDI and $100 AC tax)
Options: Nil
Tires: 215/ 65 R17 off-road tires on alloy wheels/ full-size spare
Fuel type: Regular
Fuel economy (L/100km): 10.8 city/ 7.8 highway
Warranty: Three years/60,000 km new car, five years/100,000 km powertrain and roadside assistance