Chrysler’s been working its way through its lineup, giving nearly all 2011 Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep vehicles reworked interiors and revised mechanicals, if not outright redesigning the entire model. Now it’s the diminutive Compass’s turn, and its treatment is more the former than the latter. The Compass shares most of its dirty bits with the Jeep Patriot, which has also been revised for this year. (You might remember that when the Patriot and Compass were being examined by focus groups prior to production, men favored the Patriot, while women preferred the Compass. Jeep intended to build only one of the two vehicles, but rather than actually, you know, make a decision, the company produced both. And here we are.)
The 2011 Compass will get a new face, nicer cabin materials, a new suspension, and a new, off-road-oriented optional AWD system. The most obvious changes are up front, where the Compass receives a new hood, fascia, fenders, grille, and headlights. The result looks like a Grand Cherokee that shrunk in the wash and gained an upswept grin; it’s more attractive than the gawky look of the outgoing model. The family resemblance is of course deliberate, and Jeep jokingly calls this the “Grand” Compass.
The rear is restyled with a new roof spoiler, LED taillights, and a new bumper, and the Compass Limited gets a chrome exhaust tip and bumper step plate. New chromed roof rails are available, and the lower body sides have protective cladding to help deal with off-road or—more likely—shopping-cart dings. Seventeen-inch aluminum wheels are standard, with chrome or aluminum 18-inchers available on the Limited.
The 2011 model’s interior gains a new three-spoke steering wheel with integrated audio and cruise controls, a redesigned center stack, higher-quality upholstery, soft-touch materials on the door panels, and newly backlit door switches. An armrest and cruise control are now standard for all Compass trims.
As for mechanicals, the Compass benefits from similar suspension upgrades as seen on the 2011 Patriot (and the 2011 Dodge Caliber, another platform-mate); these include higher-rate springs and shock absorbers, as well as a thicker rear anti-roll bar. There’s also a new All-Weather Capability package, which equips the SUV with Goodyear all-terrain tires, an engine-block heater, tow hooks, daytime running lights, and all-weather floor mats so your carpet won’t get all mussed when you drive your Compass in a typhoon, which is nice.
There are no powertrain changes: A 158-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder is standard on base and Latitude models, while a 172-hp, 2.4-liter unit is optional on those two trims and standard on the Limited. A five-speed manual is standard on the entry-level Compass, with a continuously variable transmission being optional; the CVT is standard for Latitude and Limited models.
Front-wheel drive is the default arrangement, while two different all-wheel-drive systems can be equipped. Freedom Drive I carries over from last year; it’s an active AWD system that can be locked into all-wheel-drive mode. New for 2011 is the Freedom Drive II package, a more robust setup that was previously only available on the Patriot. It bundles low-range gearing, skid plates, tow hooks, fog lights, and a one-inch suspension lift, and is designed for those who want to try serious off-roading with their Compass—a demographic we didn’t know existed.
The revised Compass will be in dealerships by the end of this month. While the new Grand Cherokee is both highly capable off-road and very competent on pavement, the Compass has heretofore been pretty terrible to drive, so regardless of the new suspension, any resemblance between the GC and this SUV may only be skin deep. Still, Chrysler has done a very good job instilling competence in many of its previously disappointing products—witness the Sebring-turned-200—and we’re looking forward to finding out if that’s the case with the Compass.
Thanks to: Car and Driver
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