Compared to its predecessor, the new 2017 Jeep Compass is worlds ahead, and at the top of the food chain within the SUV market.
Although its engine lacks the same oomph as a Jeep Wrangler, it is the best SUV for urban life. Jeep’s current bent on producing robust cars for city dwellers is rewarding for all people out there looking for the complete package.
The new Compass shrugs off the skin of its former model, and ascends to greater heights. The 2017 Compass is more modern, more intelligent, more impressive. It has a lot more to offer. Its list of high-tech features contrast greatly with the under-equipped SUVs of previous years. Among the upgrades in the infotainment system, one that stands out boldly is the matchless navigation system. Wherever you need to go, you’ll get there without a problem.
Now, it’s going off-road that concerns many people that are looking to buy a Compass. The off-roading abilities of the model are greatly improved in this year’s rendition. With the improved handling, and spacious cabin, going off-road isn’t cumbersome anymore. This is a good SUV for off-roading, without a doubt.
And with the added 22 horsepower, there’s nothing that it can’t overcome. Truth be told, in Miami you won’t find a lot of off-road driving areas. Florida is known for its flatness, and Jeep knows its popularity in states like Florida is high, so Jeep made sure to create the smoothest ride possible on any terrain.
The Compass gained a few miles per gallon in fuel economy to allow for more distant trips — the same kind of trips that most people struggle with when they want to go anywhere north of Miami. Being at the southernmost tip of the country makes it difficult to travel to any other state, and in anything less sturdy than a Jeep Compass, the trip is hardly worth making. The enhanced security features make the drive easy for carrying any luggage you’d like to pack onto the car. The Compass sports a power liftgate, essential for loading stuff into the trunk, and polished black pocket aluminum wheels which are extremely durable.
Let’s talk about the interior. The Compass seats five people on standard cloth upholstery and the seats are comfortable with plenty of legroom for every passenger. In the front of the vehicle, the dashboard has undergone a complete revamp from its previous design, making it more modern.
The 2017 Jeep Compass comes standard with a 3.5-inch driver-information display, push-button start, remote keyless entry, a rearview camera, a six-speaker sound system, two USB ports, and the UConnect 5.0 infotainment system, which includes a 5-inch touch screen, Bluetooth, voice recognition, and hands-free calling, and text messaging.
The redesigned 2017 Jeep Compass comes in four trims: Sport, Latitude, Trailhawk, and Limited. The Compass Limited starts at $28,995 and comes standard with four-wheel drive, the engine stop-start system, and the nine-speed automatic transmission. The Compass I test drove, came in at $34,955, included optional equipment such as an advanced safety and lighting, enhanced safety/security features, a top-of-the-line navigation system including SiriusXM Guardian Service, a power lift gate, and polished black pocket aluminum wheels.
The front-wheel-drive Jeep Compass with the manual transmission gets 23 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. With the automatic transmission, it gets 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.
Grant Miller is the publisher of Miami’s Community Newspapers. He may be contacted by calling 305-662-2277 or via email at Grant@CommunityNewspapers.com.
