Road-efficient mud machine

Jeep's all-new 2017 Compass gets its go-anywhere guts from GKN's AWD system.

Replacing the decade-old Jeep Compass is the new-for-2017 Compass, FCA's (and Jeep's) first truly global vehicle program. Styled to resemble a slightly scaled-down Grand Cherokee, the new C-segment SUV is being produced in four plants (Mexico, China, India and Brazil) and offered in 17 powertrain combinations that include diesels and 6-speed manual gearboxes. The U.S. gets the manual ‘box but not the diesel.

The new Compass is based on a stretched version of FCA's so-called “small-wide 4×4” vehicle architecture that also underpins the smaller Jeep Renegade. That platform is designed primarily as front-wheel-drive and accommodates nicely the axle-disconnect all-wheel-drive system supplied by GKN (see sidebar). As a “4.4-meter” car designed to fit European and other global parking spaces, the Jeep's overall length is 173 in (4394 mm), riding on a 103.8 in (2636 mm) wheelbase.