Jeep officially certifies many of its vehicles for off-road use by including a Trail Rated certification in the form of emblems on the side of the body. A Trail Rated Jeep meets or exceeds Jeep's specifications in several categories useful for off-roading. These vehicles are tested for traction, ground clearance, maneuverability, articulation and water fording. For many years all Jeep 4x4s were Trail Rated, but newer models, such as the Compass, are intended solely for on-road use and lack Trail Rated badging.
From Jeep.com
From the original Willys MB to the 2011 Grand Cherokee, the Jeep® brand has been the leader in 4x4 innovation and off-road capability for over 69 years. The proof is in our exclusive Trail Rated standard.
We test Jeep® 4x4s on the toughest trails in the world to prove one thing: They can take whatever you dish out. The Trail Rated® badge means that your Jeep 4x4 has been designed to perform in five categories of off-road conditions: traction, ground clearance, maneuverability, articulation, and water fording.