Revealed last week, at the La Auto show, the new Compass, might not be the smallest in the range of Jeeps. The brand is not about to start skimping on what it stands for. The 2017 Compass, which comes at the top spots in Sport, Limited Models, and Latitude; is the best of its kind Trailhawk model.
Being called the top-of-the-line Trailhawk model is only deserving of those Jeep models that are the most off-road capable and trail rated. Trailhawk versions are at present offered on the Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, and Renegade. The Renegade being the sole model lesser in size to the Compass in the line-up of jeeps.
The two models, which the new Compass is replacing are the outgoing Compass and Patriot. Both these did not offer Trailhawk versions. The Compass and the Patriot were the least able off-road models made by Jeep. They came with the lowest crawl ratios, lowest water-fording capabilities and the shallowest approach angles in the line-up.
Although being no greater than 19-inches, the new Compass isn’t any more competent at fording a stream than the models it has replaced. It provides a better approach, break over and departure angles than those previous models it was swapped with.
It is expected that the brand loyalists would enjoy this new rough and tumble version, even though, only the Cherokee is the on-road oriented and capable outside a solid pavement.
The 2017 Jeep Compass will be manufactured at four factories around the world, with the U.S. spec version scheduled to go into making at Fiat Chrysler’s Toluca Assembly Plant in Toluca, Mexico, in January.
The Compass was at the receiving end of a lot of praise after its debut last week. The FCA was heard describing the new Compass as a truly all-new global compact SUV, which is going to be sold to consumers in more than hundred countries all around the globe.
FCA’s plant in Guangzhou, China, will deal with production for the Asian Markets. According to the Detroit Press, before the Compass arrived for production at the automaker’s plant there, in 2016 on the 6th of November. The new facility before this year builds the Jeep Renegade as well for China.
The Compasses which are targeted for the European markets will be made at FCA’s plant in Ranjangaon, India in the spring of next year. The plant is the outcome of FCA’s partnership with Tata Motors, and also builds the Fiat Punto Evo and Fiat Avventura. The Brazilian-spec Compass, which released in September, will be manufactured at the automaker’s new plant in Pernambuco, Brazil.
To build more SUV’s, crossovers and trucks in the United States, the FCA recently changed its manufacturing structure. It also canceled the production of the Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200, to free up more space for this purpose.
FCA’s Belvidere, Illinois plant, where the 2006-2016-year model Compass was made, and will eventually go on to become the place where the Jeep Cherokee will be built, after production of medium sized SUV, is moved from Jeep’s assembly plant in Toledo, Ohio.
The 2017 Jeep Compass which was launched at the Los Angeles Auto Show 2016, will be the first amongst its kind to be released alongside Apple’s CarPlay. The name given by Fiat Chrysler to the infotainment system is Uconnect 4.0, while the SUV was unveiled.