2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited on 2040-cars

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2017 Jeep Compass is finally a compact crossover worthy of its badge

Jeep finally thinks it has a Compass that points true north. When the compact crossover first debuted alongside the Patriot for the 2007 model year, it was all wrong. The original Compass didn't look like a Jeep, didn't have any off-road credibility, and wasn't remotely fun to drive. It was, by all accounts, a failure. A mid-cycle refresh helped matters in 2011, and the addition of a six-speed automatic to replace the unloved CVT made 2014 and later models the best of the breed. Until now, that is. View 14 Photos There's a brand-new Jeep Compass for 2017, and it looks to put Jeep's compact crossover contender back on track. The new Compass looks a lot like a shrunken Grand Cherokee, which is no bad thing. A slotted grille leads the way, and the bulging fenders and slowly rising bodysides add visual interest to the two-box shape. An optional dual-pane sunroof should help keep the cabin from feeling too confining, though the Compass lacks any sort of removable top system like that of its smaller sibling, the Renegade. One engine will be available in the United States. The 2.4-liter Tigershark four-cylinder engine offers 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. That's 8 more ponies and 10 more lb-ft than before. Buyers can choose from three transmission options, starting with a six-speed manual on either 4x2 or 4x4 versions. Front-wheel-drive Compass models get a six-speed auto option, while 4x4 models get a nine-speed. Both the Jeep Active Drive and Jeep Active Drive Low – the latter system features a crawl ratio – can send 100 percent of the engine's available torque to whichever individual wheel has the most traction. A Trailhawk model (above in red) is a new addition to the Compass line, and it comes with unique fascias and a small suspension lift that improve its off-road cred with a 30-degree approach angle, 24-degree breakover angle, and 34-degree departure angle. Trailhawk models get Hill Descent Control and a Rock Mode added to the Selec-Terrain system, which, coupled with a 20:1 crawl ratio, should make the Trail Rated Compass the most capable vehicle in its class. As you would expect, the Compass is a unibody. That should make it pretty comfortable on the road, too, and its Koni frequency damping struts both front and rear ought to make it ride pretty well. Inside, there are three different center LCD screen sizes, depending on trim. Base models get a 5.0-inch unit, with larger 7.0- and 8.4-inch units optional.

2014 Jeep Patriot and Compass ditch CVT for six-speed auto

It was reported in Automotive News a few months ago, but a new report on Allpar.com adds some details to news that the 2014 Jeep Compass and Patriot will get a six-speed automatic to replace the CVTs they currently use. According to a tip provided to Allpar, the 2014 models will begin production in March and be on sale sometime in the summer. The Jatco-sourced CVT in use until now - Jatco is owned by Nissan and Mitsubishi - has been often criticized, and many won't be sad to see it go.
The incoming six-speed automatic is said to be an all-wheel-drive cog-swapper that's the work of Hyundai and Magna and has been paired with the DynaMax AWD system used in the Hyundai ix35 and Kia Sportage. It won't be the only Chrysler product using a transmission with ties to Hyundai: the six-speed automatic in the Dodge Dart comes from Powertech, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hyundai. With the Patriot and Compass said to be driving down the trail for the last time this year, it will be a short run for the new tranny and the rumored addition of a backup camera and power rear liftgate on the Compass.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: The next five years

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past 24 hours, you've no doubt read about all of the big future product news coming out of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles today. We had individual brand reports from Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Maserati and even Ferrari, but in the interest of simplifying and summarizing, we're going to list out the hard facts once more. Of course, with all of this still off in the future, there's still the possibility that a few changes will be made. But as of what we know right now, here's what's coming, and what's going away.
Chrysler
2014: Refreshed 300/300C, debuting at Los Angeles Auto Show