JK-Forum drove the new Compass during its media launch. Now we’re spending a week in it…and taking it off-road again.
After letting it grow too long in the tooth, Jeep finally redesigned and re-engineered the Compass from the ground up for the 2017 model year. We drove it when Jeep introduced it to the media back in February. Now we’re spending a week in the most off-road-focused Compass, the Trailhawk.
Jeep equipped our Laser Blue Pearl-Coat review vehicle with a bunch of useful features. Those include the Safety and Security Group’s rain-sensing wipers, rear park assist system, and Blind Spot and Cross Path Detection. The Leather Interior Group adds a heated steering wheel, leather seats (heated up front), and an 8-way power driver seat. Thanks to the Navigation Group, we have access to navigation and SiriusXM travel and traffic updates through the Unconnect 8.4 NAV unit. Our test rig also has a remote start system, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, and a power liftgate. As tested, our Compass Trailhawk stickers for $34,860.
Of course, we’ve already taken the Compass Trailhawk to an OHV park. However, we spent our time there a little differently. We wheeled alongside other park visitors. In fact, they were in Jeeps, too. A few of the friendly folks from Austin JeepPeople hit the trails of the Hidden Falls Adventure Park in Marble Falls, Texas with us.
If you have any questions about our time in the 2017 Jeep Compass Trailhawk, send them our way via Facebook at the bottom of this post or in the dedicated forum thread below. We’ll be posting a full review of it and pictures of it in action with other Jeeps here on JK-Forum soon.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
