That's a disingenuous offer, really, because the Jeep Compass
is actually pretty decent. As has been the trend recently, Jeep spent
what little money it had on fixing the bits that needed it most.
The
first thing to go was the old mug. Where the styling of the original
Compass was something of a caricature of Jeeps of old that exacerbated
its lack of off-road credibility, the 2011 looks pretty good with its
mini-Grand Cherokee face. Unfortunately, Jeep didn't make it much past
the A-pillars and the rest looks about the same, save new LED taillights
and some new wheels.
Jeep
didn't get far inside, either. The mildly updated cabin has been
augmented by new seat cloth and some soft-touch materials on armrests
and such, and nav-equipped models get updated software with easy-to-use
Garmin-based navigation. The interior otherwise is the same, with good outward visibility, decent cargo space, and cramped rear seats.
We can forgive that, though, since the real money was spent where you can't see it. The
Jeep Compass
is now available with Freedom Drive II, the second and more-capable
generation of the Compass' all-wheel-drive system. When so equipped, the
now-Trail Rated Compass gets a 1-inch lift in ride height to an
impressive 8.4 inches (0.3 inches more than the rear axle of a Jeep
Liberty), 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, skidplates, tow hooks, a
full-size spare, and, most importantly, a second-generation
continuously variable transmission with low range. For that, you give up
manual shifting ability on the CVT, but it's a worthy trade.
Drop the Compass into Low and pull the
4WD
Lock handle, which locks the center differential at a 50/50 front/rear
power split, and the pulleys in the CVT will be locked into a 19:1 ratio
for maximum crawling power. It will also automatically engage Hill
Descent Control and Brake Traction Control and disengage traction
control.
The
result is a surprisingly capable Compass. On a test drive outside
Jackson, Wyoming, the Compass was able to keep up with the rest of the
Jeep lineup on moderately difficult snow-covered trails that saw steep
descents, rocky riverbeds, and muddy hill climbs, even if it had to make
a few runs at some obstacles
