Driven

Jeep Compass: Rugged look, mild character

        So you’re an on-road type, like most of us, navigating malls not mountains. But you like the rugged looks and personality of the Jeeps. Common sense tells you to get over it; look at the car-based dudes like the Honda CR-V and Toyota's RAV-4.

        But then there’s the guy on that other shoulder...

        Well, Jeep’s not letting you go that easily, either. The 2007 Caliber offers a quiet, civilized ride can offers all the rigid lines of a Jeep and can keep the sticker in the mid-teens. 

        Compass is part of the growing compact SUV segment (Jeep says the segment will double by 2010). Its cousin is the Dodge Caliber, from which it is based, but it’s even quieter than the car version at high speeds. 

        On the outside, Compass is all Jeep: the signature seven-slot grille, round headlamps and squared-off fenders. It resembles a Liberty but is an inch closer to the ground (read: less rugged).

        Inside, white-on-black gauges are large and easy to read. A rugged vinyl floor is removable and washable.  Seats are mounted higher than in the Caliber and headroom and legroom are more than adequate.

        Plenty of room in there, too. Rear sold flats -- Caliber’s don’t -- and passenger seat folds forward tor even more room.

        On the road, Jeep’s 2.4-liter World engine powers up 172 horses and 165 foot-pounds of torque. The front-wheel-drive Compass won’t stiffen any necks on acceleration, but it’s no dog, either.

        A four-wheel-drive system is available; it operates as a front-wheel-drive but, under slippery conditions, up to 60 percent of the power can be shifted to the rear.

        I love the ride of the Compass. Handling is nimble like a car, though there is some lean in the corners. It is quiet and smooth riding. Steering is nicely weighted and at least adequate in its precison.

        A CVT (contiuously variable transmission) is smooth, too, and is available with an autostick feature. A five-speed manual also is offered.

        Expect mileage in the low to mid-20s.

        Standard on every Compass are ABS with brake assist, electronic stability control system with antiroll features, and side-curtain air bags.

        Two models to choose from: The Sport is the base and I do mean base -- AC is an option here. So are power windows and locks.

        The Limited upgrades to leather interior, better lumbar support, cruise control and 18-inch heels. Among the options is a nine-speaker Boston Acoustics sound system with speakers in the liftgate, great for tailgate gatherings and picnics.

         No, this is not a Jeep for the purist, you folks who want to kick up some dirt. Jeep is after those who want the Jeep taste and feel, but in a somewhat more delicate package. It does offer a nice combination of Jeep DNA with car-like manners, decent handling and mileage.

         Price range: $15,425 - $21,180

It's take Your Vette to work day!

  Thousands of Corvette enthusiasts across the country on Friday (June 29) will climb behind the wheel for the 7th annual Drive Your Corvette to Work Day. From restored vintage rides to tricked-out customs and stylish production machines, Corvette owners will take to the road in celebration of the American icon.

   The Corvette has won countless fans since first rolling off the assembly line in 1953 (as a '54 model) to challenge the popular British sports cars. It was named one of the Most Influential Vehicles of the last 50 years by Consumer Reports, and driven nine times as the pace car for the Indianapolis 500, most recently by actor Patrick Dempsey, the Corvette has earned a spot in American pop culture.

   Mid America Motorworks began Drive Your Corvette day in 2000. Visit mamotorworks.com for more information.

TOP 10 BEST ROAD VEHICLES

Summer is here, officially, and the road-test editors at Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com chose their top 10 best road-trip vehicles. They are:

   1. Jaguar XKR convertible: Weird choice for a road trip but they figure you can one-up the others at the ritzy resort and, when on the road, a 420-hp supercharged V-8 will make the road ever-so-lively.

   2. BMW 3-Series convertible: It screams long weekend, say the editors. A retractable hardtop that drops in 22 seconds and a 300-hp turbo engine, two firsts in the 3-Series, mean you are ready to rally.

   3. Chevy Suburban: Now we’re talking road trips. Can haul nine people and still leave 45.8 cubic feet of space for stuff. And you can tow a small house, or 9,700 pounds worth of one.

   Rounding out the top 10: Dodge Charger SRT8, Mercedes E320 Bluetec (now we’re talking -- 35 mpg clean diesel), GMC Acadia (good choice -- roomy, excellent handling), Land Rover LR3, Ford Edge, Mini Cooper (larger and better mpg this year), and Mazda MX-5 hardtop convertible (but pack only toothbrush and underwear).

SPEED TRAPS

   Speaking of road trips, the National Motorists Assoc., has prepared a list of the top 10 cities to avoid if you hate speed traps. Orlando was the only Florida city on the list, at No. 4. Others towns in which to watch your speed: Detroit, Colorado Springs, Houston, Nashville, Ann Arbor, Mich., Albuquerque, New Mexicom Washington D.C., Denver and Virginia Beach. Visit speedtrap.org for a full list and specific locations of traps.

Dodge Nitro: Liberty's tough-guy cousin

The last thing you’d expect from the beefcake Dodge Nitro, with its bold Ram-like front and flared fenders, is that it is related to that bug-eyed cute ute, the Jeep Liberty.

The Liberty, while anything but a lady and quite capable of getting dirty, quickly became a chick favorite with its cutesy bug-eye headlights. My daughter loves her ‘02 model.

But not to worry, guys. The all-new Nitro has a far more muscular look: It’s boxy brawn, with its bulky fenders, high belt line and 20-inch wheels (R/T version), is persuasive in its toughness. Plus, this two-ton beast has a longer wheelbase, a lower center of gravity and a better-tuned suspension than Liberty. So, in many ways, it is a more capable performer of and on the road, too.

The all-new Nitro is Dodge’s second SUV. But the Durango is nearly two feet longer and thus the Nitro is an overdue entry for Dodge. It comes with a choice of two V-6s. My tester was the higher-performance R/T version with the bigger (and newer) one, a 4.0-liter that amasses 260 hp and 265 pound-feet of torque. That’s not a lot more (50 horses) than the smaller one, the 3.7-liter Liberty engine, but its pull was clearly stronger.

And its overall ride was clearly better -- another argument to spend the extra $2,700 for the firmer-suspended R/T. Some of the credit goes to the smoother five-speed transmission, more decisive than the four-speed which is mated to the 3.7. The kicker is that both engines get the same mileage -- 17 city, 21 highway -- and regular gasoline is OK on both, too.

Steering and braking are not crisp but OK on both, prompting no wows but no cause for alarm either. The Nitro offers two four-wheel-drive packages, a party-time and a full-time system. Neither, however, offers a low range.

Inside, the high seating position will make you feel like you’re in a bigger SUV. Seats are comfortable and supportive, too. The R/T gets perforated leather with a neat embroidered “R/T” on the seatback. The roomy cabin means good headroom and leg room, plus lots of storage options.

Rear seats and the front passenger seat fold flat to open up more space. A sliding cargo floor in the rear is a wonderful convenience -- no more back-breaking reach for that case of beer. The sliding floor can handle up to 400 pounds.

And what’s not to like about Nitro’s big-spoke steerng wheel and big, easy-to-view dials? Nitro takes care of you in the safety category, with some features often found as optional: front and rear side air bags and side curtain air bags, traction control and electronic stability contol systems.

Don’t bother with the base SXT with the 210-hp 3.7-liter V-6 and 4-speed tranny. The SLT, for a couple thousand more, gets some extras like six-way power seats and the Load ‘n’ Go system. The R/T gets you the 4.0-liter V-6 standard plus the five-speed transmission and full-time all-wheel-drive.

Options include a power sunroof, trailer package and multimedia information and entertainment system, i.e. eight-speaker sound system and lots of pertinent engine and vehicle information.

PRICE: $19,225 (base); $29,275 (as tested, and decked out with just about every option).

ENGINE: 4.0-liter V-6 18 city, 23 highway

GAS SAVER: COVER THE CARGO BED

          Pickup owners, save on gas with a tonneau cover. Research from SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Assoc.) tested four trucks with 13 tonneaus from nine manufacurers. All 13 proved to lessen the coeffecient of drag, or resistance. While savings in fuel economy were not calculated, SEMA concluded that it was safe to say fuel economy would be improved. Lowering the tailgate had little effect on the drag.

IS THE HYBRID HONEYMOON OVER?

        Hybrid sales growth last year were the second-slowest since 2000, says Autobytel.com, an automotive website. Fueling the downturn: the phasing out of tax credits and revised EPA fuel-mileage figures that are expected tod rop 10-15 mpg on some hybrid city ratings.

       Autobytel says 63 percent of shoppers polled say they would not consider the hybrid without a significant tax credit. Meanwhile, the EPA is revising mileage figures across the board, figuring real-world estimates rather than the more misleading ones based on ideal conditions. While that affects all cars, hybrids are likely to take the biggest hit -- possibly clipping 10-15 mpg -- on around-town driving.

SOLSTICE BACKS UP ITS AGGRESSIVE LOOK

ON THE ROAD: 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP

        When it comes to roadsters, Pontiac’s Solstice never had any problems turning heads. It sported smooth and intriguing lines, and had an aggressive look that said it was ready to rock. But, until this year, those racy looks were somewhat of a tease; what was under the hood didn’t live up to expectations.

        For 2007, Pontiac means business with the addition of the GXP version that puts out 260 hp -- that’s 83 more horses than last year and 47 percent more power than the base model.

        Fueling the thrill is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the most powerful of the Ecotec family. It produces 260 hp at 5,300 rpm, and 260 pound-feet of torque at the same mark. But you’ll find the power is spread out nicely across the band. Second and third gears among the five can handle most of the around-town stuff.

        Off the line the GXP elicits smiles where frowns resided in 2006. Track times of under six second have been posted, nearly two full seconds better.

        Fuel economy isn’t compromised by the new-found turbo power, either. EPA figures are at 22 mpg city, 31 highway, beating out the base version’s 20 and 28.

        With a near 50-50 weight distribution, the Solstice offers decent handling through turns and good road grip. This is a fun car on the twistys. Still, it is less than a true sports car in terms of pure agility.

        The five-speed lives in a bigger box than I would have liked. A five-speed automatic is available.

        Its firm four-wheel independent suspension will let you feel the road plus most of the bumps, too.

        The bothersome ragtop was another gripe for many last year and, sorry to say, not much improvement in that area. You still have to get out of the car, unlatch, pull back, lift and push it down into the trunk. On the way back, two pegs need to fit cleanly into the windshield holes before it will close properly. All in all, not the best behaved ragtop around.

        And, after it’s stowed in the trunk, you’ll be clueless where to put any bags for the weekender to the Keys.

        But at least the Solstice is consistent: There’s not much room for stuff inside either. A small compartment at the rear of the center console can handle a small box of Kleenex. Two flimsy cupholders slide out from under it and are difficult to reach without pulling a shoulder out of the socket.

        The interior looks snazzy, and a broad, clean cockpit dash is handsome. Headroom and legroom are sufficient. Sport seats, embroidered with the GXP letters, hold passengers in well enough through the twisty roads, but the seatback has an odd curvature that could strain the upper back or neck on a long drive.

        But this little roadster isn’t really built for that, is it? It is built for sheer fun -- it is all that. And it is supposed to be sexy, and it is that, too. And now, for those who once wished it could just be a little quicker, too, your wish has been granted.

         Price range: $20,395 to $25,395

TALKIN’ CARS:

        • Inrix, a leading provider of traffic information, can now be picked up on Windows mobile devices. Inrix offers traffic updates by the minute, hour or day. It can relate information on weather, special events that may tie up traffic and road conditions up to five days ahead. Thirty-day free trials are available, too. Visit mobile.inrix.com

        IntelliChoice.com, which helps car shoppers do their homework, announced its choices for best deals of March. And for the first time crossovers are part of the equation (what took it so long, we don’t know). The 2007 Volkswagen Touareg TDI was tops among midsize crossovers, while the ford Escape Hybrid took top honors in the compact SUV/crossover category and the Lexus RX350 placed first among the luxury entries.

        Verizon Wireless and Motorola have introduced a new Motorola music and hands-free system called T-605. The new car kit offers access to digital music and phone calls hands-free through one sound system. It’s available beginning Friday (April 6) at Verizon stores. Or visit verizonwireless.com for more information.