If you think that the new Jeep Compass looks like the model that is on sale now, you are greatly mistaken. The car has a completely new look. Being the new C-Segment SUV in Jeep's lineup, it will replace the current Jeep Compass and Patriot and take a spot between the Renegade and Cherokee. The 2017 Jeep Compass made its official debut Monday in Pernambuco, Brazil, where production of the vehicle has started. It also will be produced in plants in China and Mexico (for the U.S. market).
The 2017 Compass is based on a stretched version of the Renegade platform, what Fiat Chrysler Automotive in a fit of eloquence calls the "Small Wide 4x4" architecture. We expect front-wheel drive as standard and all-wheel drive as a very commonly selected option. The Compass should offer either a 2.0-liter turbo inline-four or a naturally-aspirated 2.4-liter inline-four, both mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. There's a small chance that it will get a manual, but we think it won't. That being said, globally there will be 17 powertrain options, according to FCA, and that may mean US consumers will have more than one choice in the matter.
The automaker claims that the all-new Jeep Compass expands the brand’s global reach with an unmatched combination of attributes that includes legendary and best-in-class 4×4 off-road capability, advanced fuel-efficient powertrains, premium and authentic Jeep design, superior on-road driving dynamics, open-air freedom, and a host of safety and advanced technology offerings. Still, we are waiting for a North American debut with more information coming at the LA Auto Show in November. As originally planned, the Compass should hit American dealerships in early 2017.
