In this plan to expand the range of products offered in Argentina, DaimlerChrysler begins 2007 with the introduction to the market of Jeep Compass, a small, cheaper SUV. In the middle of this year, this company will complete its offer to the consumer with another of its new products, the Dodge Caliber.
The Jeep Compass is a vehicle similar to the Cherokee in exterior design, although more modest in performance, dimensions and equipment. It has all-wheel drive and independent suspension on all four wheels, and can be considered a humble SUV. Its base price will be $32,000.
The Jeep Compass design features the typical front grille with seven imposing vertical bars and moderate circular optics. With a “less inflated” look than the Jeep Cherokee, although similar in proportions, this new model clearly shows that it is a smaller model and less ambitious in performance.
The engine equipped with the Jeep Compass is four-cylinder in-line, 16-valve naphthero. With a displacement of 2.359 cm3, this 4 cylinders delivers a maximum power of 170 hp and a torque of 22.4 kgm at 4.500 rpm. Representatives of DaimlerChrysler state that this engine has an optimal development to maximize performance and reduce fuel consumption.
The 4-cylinder engine is connected to a five-speed manual gearbox, or optionally to a 5-speed automatic. The particularity of the automatic gearbox is that it is CVT (continuous variator) with autostick option. The offered versions of the Compass are called Sport and Limited.
As for the dimensions of the Compass, we can say that with 4,400 mm long and 1,810 mm it was not enough for the interior to be comfortable enough, since four well-behaved adults go very fair... The total height reaches 1,630 mm and the wheelbase is 2,630 mm. It is larger than the Wrangler, although inside, its five seats do not perform as much as they should.
The debut Jeep Compass, with a base price of 32,000 dollars, will compete for its place in the market with products such as the Honda CRV, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Nissan Xtrail and Toyota RAV4.
© Adrián Blanco 2007 - No full or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. —