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2018 Jeep Compass Trailhawk Drivers' Notes Review | Trying to find its way

The Jeep Compass Trailhawk is the smaller sibling to the Cherokee off-roader. They look a lot alike, and generally that seems to be a good thing. We spent some time with it, both in Michigan and the Pacific Northwest. It seemed like the perfect little ute to tackle rain and late snow, as well as the cratered roads surrounding Detroit every spring. Here's what we thought after spending some quality time together: Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore: The Jeep Compass is one of the coolest compact crossovers you can buy. Jeep has struggled to translate its genetics into smaller models, but they come through in this one. The Trailhawk trim provides plenty of capability. Even if you don't need it on a daily basis, the package adds design flourishes like red tow hooks and a two-tone black roof, which look slick. Our test model's olive green paint also puts off a heritage vibe. I like that. It's subtle, like wearing a watch with a NATO band. The interior looks and feels premium, with leather seats, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and ambient lighting. Uconnect remains one of my favorite infotainment systems on the market, and its simplicity is an industry benchmark. The inline four-cylinder and nine-speed automatic transmission work well together. In fact, the smooth shifting surprises me, as I've had issues with this gearbox in other Fiat Chrysler vehicles. Overall, I would consider the Compass among the better options for car shoppers. It stands out in a segment that's fairly vanilla, though the less flashy but well-executed Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 are formidable. I wouldn't get the Trailhawk trim on a Compass, but it's smart of Jeep to push this kind of off-road capability thoughout its lineup. Associate Editor Joel Stocksdale: I've recently spent some time in the refreshed Jeep Cherokee, which I found to be a decent crossover, if not class-leading, and it had a distinctly truck-like feel, unlike its competitors. The Compass Trailhawk is just the same, except at about 2/3 scale. The truck-like feel is what really stood out. The seating position is very tall, giving you a good view forward and of the corners of the Compass. Combined with the small size, it makes it very easy to maneuver around town, and likely on tight trails. The ride on this Trailhawk model is a bit stiff over small bumps, but it does soak up the large ones fairly well. This suspension and the raised ride height also make the Compass seem a little tipsy.

'84 MotorWeek Cherokee, Bronco and Blazer comparison indulges your SUV nostalgia

These days, truck-based, full-frame SUVs are somewhat of a rarity on the auto landscape due to the rapid rise in popularity of easier-driving, car-based crossovers. Although, without the gradually building popularity of these chunky, high-riding vehicles decades ago, it's unlikely that America's roads would be filled with so many CUVs today. In its latest dig into the archives, MotorWeek has found a 1984 comparison test of a trio of these early Sport Utility Wagons, as long-time host John Davis called them, that helped get acceptance of this segment going. This is a red, white and blue test of the SUVs from American automakers at the time and pits the Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Bronco and Jeep Cherokee (specifically in Wagoneer guise) against each other. Driving manners and interior usability are considered in the evaluation, but Motorweek actually takes these vehicles off road, too. Among the bigger revelations is the improvement in on-road ability in the past 30 years. While specific 0-60 times aren't given, all three models take around 10 seconds just to get to around 50 miles per hour in the 500-feet on-ramp acceleration test. Check out this clip to see just how far this segment has progressed in the past three decades or just get a blast of nostalgia from these now vintage models. News Source: MotorWeek via YouTube Chevrolet Ford Jeep SUV Off-Road Vehicles Classics Videos Ford Bronco chevy blazer

NHTSA, IIHS, and 20 automakers to make auto braking standard by 2022

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and virtually every automaker in the US domestic market have announced a pact to make automatic emergency braking standard by 2022. Here's the full rundown of companies involved: BMW, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo (not to mention the brands that fall under each automaker's respective umbrella). Like we reported yesterday, AEB will be as ubiquitous in the future as traction and stability control are today. But the thing to note here is that this is not a governmental mandate. It's truly an agreement between automakers and the government, a fact that NHTSA claims will lead to widespread adoption three years sooner than a formal rule. That fact in itself should prevent up to 28,000 crashes and 12,000 injuries. The agreement will come into effect in two waves. For the majority of vehicles on the road – those with gross vehicle weights below 8,500 pounds – AEB will need to be standard equipment by September 1, 2022. Vehicles between 8,501 and 10,000 pounds will have an extra three years to offer AEB. "It's an exciting time for vehicle safety. By proactively making emergency braking systems standard equipment on their vehicles, these 20 automakers will help prevent thousands of crashes and save lives," said Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx said in an official statement. "It's a win for safety and a win for consumers." Read on for the official press release from NHTSA. Related Video: U.S. DOT and IIHS announce historic commitment of 20 automakers to make automatic emergency braking standard on new vehicles McLEAN, Va. – The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced today a historic commitment by 20 automakers representing more than 99 percent of the U.S. auto market to make automatic emergency braking a standard feature on virtually all new cars no later than NHTSA's 2022 reporting year, which begins Sept 1, 2022. Automakers making the commitment are Audi, BMW, FCA US LLC, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Tesla Motors Inc., Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo Car USA.