1989 Jeep Cherokee Base Sport Utility 4-door 4.0l on 2040-cars

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Poor headlights cause 40 cars to miss IIHS Top Safety Pick rating

Over the past few months, we've noticed a number of cars and SUVs that have come incredibly close to earning one of the IIHS's highest accolades, the Top Safety Pick rating. They have great crash test scores and solid automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning systems. What trips them up is headlights. That got us wondering, how many vehicles are there that are coming up short because they don't have headlights that meet the organization's criteria for an "Acceptable" or "Good" rating. This is a revision made after 2017, a year in which headlights weren't factored in for this specific award. This is also why why some vehicles, such as the Ford F-150, might have had the award last year, but have lost it for this year. We reached out to someone at IIHS to find out. He responded with the following car models. Depending on how you count, a whopping 40 models crash well enough to receive the rating, but don't get it because their headlights are either "Poor" or "Marginal." We say depending on how you count because the IIHS actual counts truck body styles differently, and the Infiniti Q70 is a special case. Apparently the version of the Q70 that has good headlights doesn't have adequate forward collision prevention technology. And the one that has good forward collision tech doesn't have good enough headlights. We've provided the entire list of vehicles below in alphabetical order. Interestingly, it seems the Volkswagen Group is having the most difficulty providing good headlights with its otherwise safe cars. It had the most models on the list at 9 split between Audi and Volkswagen. GM is next in line with 7 models. It is worth noting again that though these vehicles have subpar headlights and don't quite earn Top Safety Pick awards, that doesn't mean they're unsafe. They all score well enough in crash testing and forward collision prevention that they would get the coveted award if the lights were better.

Trying the new Compass and other Jeeps on for size

If any brand has license to sell several like-sized SUVs, it's Jeep, which invented the concept in the first place. Yet, with the Cherokee, Renegade, and the redesigned 2017 Jeep Compass revealed at the LA Auto Show, just how like-sized is this trio of compact SUVs? Well, as it turns out, that answer is more complicated than just looking at various spreadsheets of specifications. After the cover was pulled off the new Compass, I managed to explore each back-to-back-to-back to see how their back seats and cargo areas compare. Perhaps obviously, the Renegade is the smallest of the trio no matter how you look it. Well, it actually has the most headroom, but rear legroom is cramped (a 6-footer can't sit behind another 6-footer) and it's quite obvious the cargo area is about nine cubic feet smaller with the rear seats raised. However, the Cherokee and Compass are surprisingly similar both on paper and in person – and even more surprisingly, the newer, smaller-on-the-outside Compass is actually a bit more spacious despite being nine inches shorter in overall length. View 14 Photos When seated in back, my knees were just touching the driver seat when it was motored most of the way back to accommodate my 6-foot-3 frame. However, the Cherokee's slightly chunkier seatback meant the Compass actually had a bit more rear legroom. I then set the passenger seat to a more average distance and again, the Compass had a slight advantage. The Cherokee did have a bit more under-thigh support, however, which indicates the seat is mounted a bit higher. But that creates a problem, as headroom is more significantly affected when the panoramic sunroof is specified. In the Cherokee, my head was into the sunroof cavity and resting against its rigid surround. In the Compass, there was just enough clearance. It should be a difference, both in terms of headroom and perceived roominess that those of average height should notice. As for their cargo areas, the Compass' is larger and more useable. With the rear seats raised, it has 27.2 cubic feet versus the Cherokee's 24.6. You can scoot its sliding seat forward to nearly equal the Compass, but of course doing so reduces its rear legroom. The main reason is width. The Cherokee is noticeably narrow and it gets worse when equipped with the optional subwoofer. In terms of maximum cargo volume with the rear seats lowered, the Compass has 59.8 cubic feet to the Cherokee's 54.9.

2017 Jeep Com-Patriot looks like a mini Grand Cherokee

Jeep plans to merge the Compass and the Patriot into a single model, and today we're getting an undisguised look at the compact crossover. These images from Brazil's Autoo were captured before a photo shoot. The SUV, which retains the same shape as the prototypes our photographers captured testing earlier this year, borrows a sizable amount of styling cues from the larger, more expensive Jeep Grand Cherokee. If the SUV's badging is anything to go off of, Jeep will retain the Compass moniker for the upcoming vehicle. At the front, the SUV has a similar grille to the Grand Cherokee with seven rectangular openings, which are smaller than the ones found on the current compass, with chrome trim. The headlights and LED daytime lights are also similar to the ones on the Grand Cherokee. The black roof, which is a new touch for Jeep, is a nod toward the SUV's European competitors like the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque. The new model loses the square-like taillights on the previous model for oval-shaped ones. Overall, the SUV adds modern touches to the aging Compass and Patriot models while staying true to Jeep's iconic look. The SUV is expected to utilize a modified version of the platform found on the Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X. Power could come from a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that's mated to either a nine-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual gearbox. Just like the current model, the upcoming Compass will have front-wheel drive as standard with all-wheel drive as an option. The next-gen Compass will be manufactured at Jeep's new plant in Brazil, where the vehicle will also makes it official debut later this year. The baby Grand Cherokee will make its first appearance on American soil at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show. Related Video: News Source: AutooImage Credit: Autoo Design/Style Spy Photos Jeep Crossover SUV jeep compass jeep patriot