CTC Review: 2009 Jeep Compass Limited

[carcrazed]

Wow, this is one of the least, if not THE least, interest on a CTC Day-to-day review vehicle.  I prefer the Patriot's design better, AND it can be Trailed-Rated (with freedom drive II, I think)

[safristi]

wasn't the Patriot tho' BIgger as U say "SIR"....mucho cheaper than a Matrix.......Pomegranetes & Mangoes maybe?...................personnaly Mangoes RULE ...Pommies Suck  seeds..... ..(and have bad teeth!!!"....

[Cortina]

I'm just so underwhelm. I don't think anyone want this soft roader after reading that review. I really like jeeps, but this just sounds so awful. It just so blar.....  It even made Wings blog blar. 

[ovr50]

With so many good alternatives out there, why would anyone want one of these??

[safristi]

..someone MARRIED   ME??

[Jem_hadar]

With so many good alternatives out there, why would anyone want one of these??

j

~16,000 starting price? The ability to get a Jeep for under $20,000 is prolly the only reason I could see. I know of one person who bought the Patriot pretty much bc it was a cheap jeep.

[conwelpic]

I looked at the Compass and Patriot before buying my Rondo.  They had some good ideas but the overall package was a let down and in my opinion I found the fit and finish very poor.  I had also viewed the Caliber and Nitro (don't like those small windows) at the auto show before that and had the same opinion too.  With nearly 16 months ownership on my Rondo, I don't regret my purchase, still solid with no squeaks or rattles, no mechanical problems and good mileage.

[Seafoam]

I looked at the Compass and Patriot before buying my Rondo.  They had some good ideas but the overall package was a let down and in my opinion I found the fit and finish very poor.  I had also viewed the Caliber and Nitro (don't like those small windows) at the auto show before that and had the same opinion too.  With nearly 16 months ownership on my Rondo, I don't regret my purchase, still solid with no squeaks or rattles, no mechanical problems and good mileage.

So how is the mileage with the 4 cylinder ? Your Rondo not the Jeep

[Leviathan]

Looking at this picture

I'm wondering if golf clubs will fit width wise there.

[Sawsan]

This car seems very not indicated.

[conwelpic]

So how is the mileage with the 4 cylinder ? Your Rondo not the Jeep

over a 14 month period that I tracked the mileage it ranged from a low of 26mpg (very bad winter conditions) to a high of 39mpg, average 31-32mpg.  Very smooth and more powerful than the 2.8L V6 I had in my previous car.

[Mitlov]

With so many good alternatives out there, why would anyone want one of these??

I retch at the thought of the Compass, but it's twin sibling the Patriot, I understand the appeal, and here's why:

*  Cheaper than the vast majority of compact cute utes.
*  Far, far more rough-road capable than the vast majority of compact cute utes.
*  Still has an available manual transmission, unlike the vast majority of compact cute utes.
*  With that manual transmission, the four-cylinder Compass AWD gets marginally better fuel economy than an Impreza 2.5 5MT.  Pretty respectable for a cute ute.
*  Lifetime powertrain warranty (though I guess Canadians don't get that).

All that said, though, even in domestic-friendly southern Oregon, I've essentially never seen the Compass and Patriot around, especially compared to the Escape and the new Vue, which are around every corner.

[kenm]

They had some good ideas but the overall package was a let down and in my opinion I found the fit and finish very poor.

In other words, a typical Chrysler product.

KenM

[tpl]

With so many good alternatives out there, why would anyone want one of these??

j

~16,000 starting price? The ability to get a Jeep for under $20,000 is prolly the only reason I could see. I know of one person who bought the Patriot pretty much bc it was a cheap jeep.

Price and Value again.

 

With so many good alternatives out there, why would anyone want one of these??

Exactly. And it is not attractive.

[stodge]

So how is the mileage with the 4 cylinder ? Your Rondo not the Jeep

over a 14 month period that I tracked the mileage it ranged from a low of 26mpg (very bad winter conditions) to a high of 39mpg, average 31-32mpg.  Very smooth and more powerful than the 2.8L V6 I had in my previous car.

Wow those are good figures; the impression I got from other forums was that the Rondo 4 cylinder was not economical. Good to know. How about the overall quality/driving characteristics? Sorry to derail the thread.

[airbalancer]

So how is the mileage with the 4 cylinder ? Your Rondo not the Jeep

over a 14 month period that I tracked the mileage it ranged from a low of 26mpg (very bad winter conditions) to a high of 39mpg, average 31-32mpg.  Very smooth and more powerful than the 2.8L V6 I had in my previous car.

Wow those are good figures; the impression I got from other forums was that the Rondo 4 cylinder was not economical. Good to know. How about the overall quality/driving characteristics? Sorry to derail the thread.

Really you should have this in another thread

[Schmengie]

I had a look at a Patriot which is more or less the same vehicle as the Compass. The first thing that struck me when I got inside was the incredibly cheap-looking hard plastic interior. That and the hard-edged square styling is enough to put me off, never mind that Chrysler's immediate survival is a questionable prospect at best.

[safristi]

BITE_ME Dash........tha Patriot is a fine deal............prolly cost less than half a Hybrid./CUV(Contrived undocumented Vehicle)....and can go where those posuers dare NOT.................

[Milan]

Few years ago Chrysler was American car styling leader. I still do not understand how Jeep comes with this design. Their initial Compass concept from couple years ago was nicely shaped. Hope Canadian Driver has those images to show and to compare those two designs. Couple of my friends and me were impatiently waiting for Chrysler to start the production. Their choice was something what we see now. What a disappointment. No wonder they are in trouble. I know that people would say that we should not discuss about the taste and the tastes are different, but there are some basic aesthetic rules, which should be followed.

[Mitlov]

I had a look at a Patriot which is more or less the same vehicle as the Compass. The first thing that struck me when I got inside was the incredibly cheap-looking hard plastic interior. That and the hard-edged square styling is enough to put me off, never mind that Chrysler's immediate survival is a questionable prospect at best.

What model year?  Remember:

Well maybe I shouldn’t write that I’m at a loss for words, but honestly… I’m at a loss for words. There isn’t that much to say about the interior of the Compass — it isn’t exciting, it isn’t earth-shatteringly good, nor is it earth-shatteringly bad — it’s just there, just another car interior.

I suppose it does have some nice points, like the heated seats, which provide two levels of heat and work fairly well; and the pen holder just in front of the shift lever is great for holding a pen! Seriously, though, Jeep has improved the interior from the 2007 model I drove two years ago.

In my review then ago I mentioned that the grey plastics were monotonous and that some material inserts in the door panels would do wonders. I didn’t get material inserts but I did get some type of rubbery / semi-soft plastic inserts, and a black dash rather than grey. To be honest, it makes a huge difference in the perceived quality and attractiveness of the interior.