When I was in sixth grade, we moved to the top of a big hill in New Hampshire with a steeply pitched driveway. My father decided we needed a four-wheel drive and the only vehicle that fit the bill for a family with four kids was a Jeep Wagoneer.
Never mind the fact that its bright yellow paint wasn?t the only reason we nicknamed it The Lemon.
These days, the big question is: Who wants to buy Chrysler? Note, that’s “Chrysler” not “a Chrysler.”
When I recently climbed into the Jeep Compass, my first question was: Who would want to buy this vehicle? (My childhood nostalgia for the brand easily overrides sour memories concerning reliability, so don?t accuse me of prejudice). Here?s the answer: Anyone who likes the Jeep brand ? one of Chrysler?s greatest assets, I dare say ? and anyone who wants a solid 4-by-4 without having to shell out the big bucks.
There are Jeeps more imbued with that magical heritage (these days known as “the Jeep Thing”): The Wrangler, the Grand Cherokee (which evolved from the Wagoneer), the Commander (a Hummer wannabe, nowhere near the Commando). But the Compass is a Jeep for just plain folks.
From certain angles, the beige (aka khaki) model I drove was hard to identify as a Jeep. While the front grille has the traditional wide, toothy scowl framed by beady-eyed headlights, the sculpted side panels and angled back windows bear minimal resemblance to the squared-off designs of the icons.
But at a base price of $21,180 the Compass has the essentials: Seating for five with somewhat primitive fold-flat seats (the rear headrests are integrated, so the seats just plop down), a roomy rubber-lined cargo area with lots of rings for nets and cords, and all the required cupholders. The Compass had a few additional touches: Seat heaters in the front and a fold-flat front passenger seat, a holder for a cell phone or MP3 player in the front console/armrest and a flashlight that pops out of the rear-hatch light.
Our automatic (a $1,150 option) had an “AutoStick” transmission, which means you can choose to control the shifting with a tap on the stick. Moving into four-wheel-drive mode was an easy flip of a lever.
Right now it?s tough to say what will become of Chrysler. The company no longer represents an essential part of America’s identity. But Jeep is Jeep, and there are plenty of people out there who may still want to buy one.
