It's part of the Off-Road Package, which also adds 17-inch wheels, off-road tires, a full-size spare tire, tow hooks and underbody skid plates. Thusly equipped, the Compass earns the brand's ''Trail Rated'' badge and encourages drivers to challenge Mother Earth, say, up steep climbs and over reasonably-sized obstacles. Bear in mind this is no Wrangler!
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| Photo: Chrysler |
Technically more sophisticated
The 2010 powerplants carry over to the 2011 model. Sport and North trim levels come standard with a 158-horsepower, 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder engine, while the Limited receives a 172-horsepower, 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder. The latter is optionally available with the other two models, though.
A 5-speed manual transmission sends power to the driving wheels unless buyers specify the newly-improved CVT, which allows quicker accelerations from 50 to 100 km/h and increases fuel economy by about 12 percent.
The suspension has also been revised to include longer-travel springs, re-calibrated shocks and a larger-diameter rear sway bar.
The Compass may be small, but it packs a generous selection of amenities and safety features such as Electronic Stability Control, Electronic Roll Mitigation and Hill Start Assist, not to mention the multiple airbags.
A more upscale interior
Inside, the dashboard design remains unchanged. However, the front door panels use softer materials that contribute to a higher quality feel. The new 3-spoke steering wheel (not as thick as the old one) features audio, cruise control and Bluetooth buttons.
Last but not least is a wide array of accessories to customize the vehicle, including a Uconnect multimedia interface with auxiliary jack, SIRIUS satellite radio, navigation, a power sunroof, illuminated cup holders and a 9-speaker Boston Acoustics sound system with two articulating speakers that swing down from the liftgate – an innovation introduced on the original 2007 Compass.
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| Photo: Chrysler |
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