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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.

Toledo mayor, Jeep champion Michael Collins dies from heart attack

The city of Toledo is mourning the loss of its mayor and the campaign to keep production of the Jeep Wrangler in the Ohio city has lost a champion after Michael Collins suffered a heart attack behind the wheel recently. Born, raised and educated in Toledo, Collins was a Marine Corps veteran and a city councilor. He was elected mayor in 2013 and assumed office on January 2, 2014, a little over a year ago. He was driving an SUV provided by the city in a snow storm on February 1 of this year when he suffered a heart attack and crashed into a utility pole. He remained in critical condition for days until he was taken off artificial life-support. During his relatively short term in office, Collins became an outspoken and energetic advocate of keeping the Jeep plant in Toledo, where it has been assembled for decades. The next-generation Wrangler is set to switch to aluminum construction, which could lead to moving its production to another location, but Collins (alongside Governor John Kasich and others) had worked hard to convince FCA US to keep it in town. Whether his efforts will prove successful remains to be seen, but our hearts go out to his friends, family and constituents. Michael is survived by his wife Sandy, three daughters and eight grandchildren. He was 70 years old.

Tour the Jeep Wagoneer Icon Reformer with its creator Jonathan Ward

Icon has released a plethora of amazing machines, and has more coming down the pike. One of the company's latest creations is a Jeep Wagoneer that was done as part of Icon's Reformer line, which Jonathan Ward, the head of Icon, explains is a thorough restoration and upgrade, but with a fresh restored finish. This is in contrast to the company's Derelict series that keeps the rough exterior while upgrading everything underneath. And the level of detail in the Reformer Wagoneer is amazing, as shown by this video from The Hoonigans in which Ward gives a tour of the SUV. Starting on the outside, the truck is pretty close to stock in appearance, though the color and faux wood trim were never offered on it. Badges are a mix of originals, and a few tweaked ones for use on this Jeep. For instance, the front fender badges now feature the engine displacement of the Chevy LS V8 under the hood. Also, the round Jeep badges front and rear now have the Icon lizard badge. Inside, custom upholstery was added featuring patio furniture fabric for durability and the nifty pattern. Anything that would have been plastic, such as some of the chrome trim and the gauge cluster fascia, or vinyl, such as the door panels, have been upgraded to genuine metal or leather components. Icon even re-created a casting for the steering wheel to replace the old one. As already mentioned, this Jeep Wagoneer has a Chevy LS V8 displacing 6.2 liters. It naturally connects to a four-wheel-drive system with a Dana 60-size rear axle and 44-size front axle. The chassis was built by Art Morrison, a company known for its custom vintage car chassis. The suspension consists of coilover shocks and springs from Fox Racing and Eibach respectively. This is all just a brief overview. Check out the whole video above for all the neat details. Related Video: Image Credit: The Hoonigans / YouTube Aftermarket Jeep SUV Off-Road Vehicles Classics Videos icon