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Stepping on the Cherokee's toes | 2017 Jeep Compass First Drive

The only thing the 2017 Jeep Compass has in common with the model it replaces is its nameplate. And, considering that the old Compass was never competitive in the hotly contested compact crossover segment, that's a very good thing. Even better, after spending a solid day driving the reborn Compass over the rivers, through the woods, and everywhere in between, we're more than happy to forget the ill-conceived first-gen Compass entirely. Put simply, to say that the new Compass is better than the old one is an understatement of Rubicon-size proportions. Whereas the old Compass was saddled with Chrysler's old MK platform (a crossover-spec version of the unloved Dodge Caliber chassis), the 2017 Compass shares its basic underpinnings with the smaller Jeep Renegade, with the main difference being a 2.6-inch wheelbase stretch. That doesn't sound like a lot, but in person the Compass feels much larger than the Renegade, partly because its bodywork bulges out in a more muscular way than its more playfully styled, smaller sibling. "Mini Grand Cherokee" is a phrase that's been bandied about quite a bit, but only because it's true. The most notable styling flourish of the Compass is the D-pillar that's shaped sort of like a shark's dorsal fin. We think it's pretty cool from the outside, but it results in a huge expanse of plastic interior molding with tiny little windows barely able to let in any light. If we were buying a Compass, we'd definitely want the big panoramic sunroof to keep the cabin feeling open and airy. An optional gloss-black-painted roof makes those rear pillars stand out even more. There's a familial resemblance between the Renegade, Compass, and Cherokee inside, due in part to the overall curvature of the dash and the location of the air vents. Directly in front of the driver are two clear gauges, which flank a digital cluster that, depending on trim level, is available in either 3.5-inch or 7.0-inch sizes. The Compass is clean and tidy inside, and while FCA's Uconnect system – available with 7.0- and 8.4-inch center screens – is getting a bit old, it still works well and offers all the infotainment options buyers expect in 2017, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. We're also pleased to see Jeep stick with round dials for radio volume and tuning, and simple switches for climate control settings in the center stack. There's an unexpectedly meaty steering wheel for the driver to grab hold of.

EPA posts 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited fuel economy

When Jeep loosed a trio of 2018 Wrangler photos in October, Jeep cognoscenti parried over details like radio antenna placement and painted tailgate hinges, while every other viewer merely noted, "It's still a Wrangler." Now that the Environmental Protection Agency's listed fuel economy ratings for the 2018 Wrangler Unlimited with the 3.6-liter V6, Jeep savants will again parry over details. Every other viewer will merely note, "It's still got Wrangler gas mileage." According to the EPA, the current Wrangler Unlimited with the 3.6-liter V6 and six-speed manual clocks 16 miles per gallon in the city, 21 on the highway, and 18 combined. The 2018 version with the same six-speed manual comes in at 17/23/19. Switching transmissions, the current model with the five-speed automatic hooks up 16/20/18, the 2018 model with an eight-speed automatic does 18/23/20. Those numbers might not jump off the page, yet according to the EPA's cost calculator, you'll save $250 per year on gas with the eight-speed auto 2018 Wrangler Unlimited, $150 per year with the coming six-speed manual. The eight-speed auto option also exceeds Chrysler's prediction from 2014 of a nine-percent improvement in fuel economy over the five-speed auto. Now we wait for numbers on the dark horse four-cylinder, which we'd expect to best the sixer's numbers, unless the rumors are true and the four-pot really is packing every wild horse it can handle. In that case, we'll turn to the EcoDiesel for frugal kicks. If we don't find out beforehand, we can expect those goodies and more at the LA Auto Show in December. Related Video: News Source: FuelEconomy.gov via Motor Trend Auto News Government/Legal Jeep SUV Off-Road Vehicles

Jeep Cherokee finally dealer-bound

We had our First Drive of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee last month, but it appears that prospective buyers won't have too much longer to finally get time behind the wheel of the new small Jeep.
Automotive News is reporting that after a two-month delay, Jeep dealers will finally start receiving their first shipments of the new Cherokee, in the next 10 days. A Chrysler spokesperson confirmed to Autoblog that the Cherokee is indeed on its way to Jeep dealers.
According to AN, about 23,000 Cherokees have been built since production commenced back in June, but potential powertrain issues forced Jeep to make adjustments to the Cherokee along the way. Automotive News says that in order to make sure there are no issues with the Cherokee before it reaches customers, it is testing each vehicle after it rolls off the assembly line at a rented test track near the vehicle's Toledo North Assembly Plant.