Jeep Compass test drive since 2011 SUV

Facing the consumer

Jeep is perhaps the most conservative, after Rolls-Royce, Mark. Each addition of the model range was carried for years, or even decades. But recently this image was adjusted.
In the midst of the hunting season, a Russian, it was a European presentation, which opens the start of sales of the new Jeep model - Compass. How to pronounce? Yes, as you like. In the usual way - a compass, in the mass - compass. The meeting with the car occurred in a yacht club, and therefore the second option was unanimously accepted.
In 2006, this is the second replenishment of the jeep gamut. Comander previously appeared - the fourth model in the row in a row and the first in seniority. Until the end of 2007, the number of models will be brought to seven.
Compass, like Jeep in general, is a new player in the SUV segment or, as they say, crossovers. The compact SUV segment is developing dynamically, and Jeep could not ignore it. The manufacturer hopes to attract a relatively young consumer contingent - 30-45 years, which earlier reluctantly chose Jeep for the role of a personal car.
Compass is the smallest, initial model in the ruler. Yes, and prices are set lower than on Wrangler or Cherokee. In general, this is a completely new and first model for Jeep, built on a front -wheel drive platform with a completely independent suspension (the same base has a well -known Dodge Caliber).
Family features are preserved in appearance: a radiator grille with seven slots, round headlights, trapezoidal wheel arches. The body is hidden in a fashionable brutal ascetic style for America. Therefore, in the photographs, the car looked size larger. And alive, I immediately want to put the wheels larger with diameter and wider, 17 inches are clearly not enough. The view from the back is a little rustic. From afar, you can completely confuse with Kia Sportage. One way or another, in general, Compass is quite recognizable. Avangard! And therefore - for an amateur.
Inside is no less ascetic. You can even say - simple and straightforward. But for Jeep this is a tradition, and hard shiny plastic, burrs and a minimum of interior design are traditional things for cars from America.
We got a light beige salon. In black, the mentioned shortcomings are less noticeable, and light gray inserts in leather seats make the interior more fun. Separate elements are sent to Caliber: a similar location of the automatic transmission lever, boombox in the lid of the trunk, the same music, ventilation deflectors, an armrest, a removable plafonar.
And sit down (large doorways) and sits comfortably, everything is at hand, in sight. You just need to get used to American steering wheel switches. The view forward is excellent, blindly back - thick racks, a small window and three head restraints interfere. But the mirrors are large. By the way, no matter how surprisingly there is no inscription that is characteristic of America that the objects that you see are actually behind. The stock of adjustments of the chair is more than sufficient, but the steering wheel adjustments are not provided for the length. In general, the spacious interior even from behind, where also separate backs of the seat are adjusted. The trunk is large, with a plastic trough and a full -sized stock under the floor.
Under the hood of a 2.4-liter 170-horsepower four-cylinder gasoline engine with the loud name of World Engine. Familiar characteristics - exactly this is put on a number of models of other companies, including Mitsubishi Outlander. Globalization! World Engine - the brainchild of the Gema association, which includes on equal terms Daimlerchrysler, Mitsubishi Motors and Hyundai.
The second motor - turbodiesel - will be available since spring. It has a volume of 2 liters, gives 140 hp. and 310 Nm. Also familiar. Again globalization - hello from Volkswagen. Why invent a bicycle when a modern diesel can be bought from a recognized leader in this area? The diesel, as usual, is aggregated only with mechanics (6 -speed), and the Japanese - Aisin. But the gasoline engine can be supplemented with CVT variator. It was this equipment that was provided for the test.
A variator without surprises - two V -shaped pulleys and a steel belt. It works, as is customary, unacceptable, but has six artificial fixed gears, in case someone has not played up with the handle. As such, the variator still divides users into two camps - either like or not, there are no indifferent. The variator on Compass is no exception. Yes, theoretically, it uses the capabilities of the engine more rationally, it is more economical and comfortable than the machine. However, its smoothness and freezing at optimal speeds kill the feeling of dynamics. There are no jerks, no pickups. It seems that 170 forces for Jeep Compass are few (excellent sound insulation works for this, however), but it will return to reality an assertive and constantly growing speedometer.
The speed of the variator is well visible in manual mode - there are simply no delays in switching! What is convenient - the transition from drive to manual mode is made by simple swaying the lever to the right or left. It can be recommended when overtaking in advance to fix suitable turns. To return back to Drive, it is necessary to hold the selector in the extreme right position. It is not clear, however, why then the start from the place is carried out with an almost two -second delay. And yet, in manual mode, fuel consumption is markedly increased - by 25-30%, all other things being equal.
In America, there are front -wheel modifications of Compass, but only all -wheel drive are delivered to Europe. The scheme with the beautiful name Freedom Drive I 4 X 4 is based on Wytheft with electronic control. The brake system, if necessary, imitates the operation of inter -normal locks. In automatic mode, about 80% of the torque is sent to the front axle. The Lock button blocks the coupling, and when slipping into the rear axle is thrown up to 60% of the moment. The mode is recommended to be used on unstable ground. In our case, it was a field with grass and a path with a pair of mud baths with a deep rut. Despite the frankly highway shoes, Compass felt great there, the glorious name of the brand, whose models always inspired confidence in their indestructibility and reliability. Large passages of the suspension, excellent noise and vibration isolation are located to high-speed fearless riding off-road, however, easy.
The panels of the cabin were silently silent throughout the test. The suspension is energy -intensive and comfortable, without significant damage to controllability and safety, and small irregularities and serious potholes perfectly swallows. Compass due to the long base (2635 mm) confidently stands on a straight line. Passports 185 km/h managed to accelerate, but it was scary. The car is sensitive to ruts and, although not much, is rearranged in protracted turns. Judging by the symptoms, high -profile tires were mostly interfered with the fasting, but there is a considerable merit in achieving comfort. Be that as it may, if you focus more on the asphalt riding, you should look at 18 inches (as an option they will cost 579) or even 19. The brakes are quite convincing. But the adaptability of ABS to the ground (when, for example, the threshold of the operation is pushed back in the sand, and the blocked wheel manages to heat a small tubercle in front of it, which reduces the braking distance), could not be checked. The off -road route was mainly wet and slippery. It is amazing that with such an angular body, even at maximum speeds, aerodynamic noises do not stand out from the general background. I repeat, Compass was unexpectedly quiet.
What is the end? Outwardly, a shirt is a parish, as it should be jeep: it is moderately rude and rustic. In fact, a completely new car for a jeep on the front -wheel drive platform. I would like to hope that when developing it, it was still at the forefront of reliability and endurance. As for the running qualities, now we can say: Compass was a success.
This car is the most affordable in the Jeep line. But far from cheap compared to competitors, including Toyota Rav4, Honda Cr-V, Hyundai Tucson, Mitsubishi Outlander. The newcomer will have a hard time! True, they said the same thing about Caliber, nevertheless, it is no longer a rarity on the streets, and the queue stretched to it until January
Jeep Compass prices and configurations
The car can be purchased with both a five -speed manual transmission, and with a vast variator. On average, the variator is more expensive than mechanics by 1000. Depending on the equipment of the machine, prices range from 24,900 to 28 700. Standard equipping COMPASS consists of ESP, ABS, 2 pillows and 2 safety curtains for the driver and front passenger, alloy wheels R17, air conditioning, butter Seats, CD-reiver, 4 speakers, adjustable steering column, CZ with remote control, electric windows. In addition to standard equipment, there are two packages of additional equipment - P1 and P2. The p1 package (plus 800 to the standard) includes heating the front seats, cruise control, a full-sized spare wheel. The p2 package (plus 2900 to the standard) adds a tire pressure sensor, mirrors with auto -damping, seats and a steering wheel with a leather finish, chaser on 6 disks.
 

Source: Motor magazine [November 2006]