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Considering a new Compass?

2K views 21 replies 9 participants last post by  cherox 
#1 ·
Howdy folks

Right now i'm in a 2010 ford escape. Been looking at the compass and I really like it. Well, honestly, it's the grand cherokee I really like, but can't afford, so I'll take a baby grand instead.

Main reason I want to switch is to get real 4WD, and I just like jeeps. I don't plan to do any off roading but I want to feel safe in the snow and everything else this size is using that wannabe AWD stuff.

I'm kind of hesitant with the compass though, because I read that it's getting discontinued next year. Is that true? Are there any real negatives I should know about? Been trying to find some good reviews, but most are for earlier models.
 
#2 ·
The 2012 Escape was my Compass' main competitor. I haven't regretted my choice at all (you can see my review on Edmunds). The Compass' biggest drawbacks in my mind were that it was 2 in narrower and had less thigh support in the seats. The 4cyl Escape was indeed a bit quieter at cruise, but just as noisy under acceleration (and with a higher pitch). But, what swayed me were a number of things: Comparably equipped, the Compass was substantially cheaper, rode better, towed more, had a better stereo, more leg room in back (plus the rear seats recline), and well...frankly I was bored of Fords (I've had several). I haven't had the chance to use my Jeep's 4x4 in the snow yet (fugative, I'm jealous...), but have had it on some rather steep terrain on grass and found the 4x4 to work well. And although the 4x4 is always avail too, I definitely like the option of "locking" it in with the lever on the console.

Lots of threads about the MK's future in general, but certainly Jeep's not going anywhere. If you like it, there seems to be some great deals out there right now.
 
#3 ·
thanks for the info. I'll have to take one out for a test drive. I don't think the seats would bother me, my ford isn't all that comfy so anything would be an improvement. One annoyance though is I really want a GPS, and it seems like those are only available for the limited. Maybe I'd be better off just getting the generic radio and having a new GPS put it at Best Buy. Are heated seats standard for all models? I think I read that they were.
 
#4 ·
I know heated seats are avail on the Latitude, but perhaps just as an option, you'd have to double check. I'm not sure you can get them on the Sport model at all.

Interestingly to me at least, the Latitudes' heated seats are cloth. I'd always thought they'd always be leather, such as on the Limited. I have the Limited with GPS, and it's terrific. In general I like it better than my wife's Mercedes, her only advantage is it gives you traffic alerts. If mine does that, I haven't figured out how to make it work. Good luck!
 
#5 ·
That's good to know. I prefer cloth seats but figured I had to get leather to get heated. Just not a fan of leather seats. Going by jeep.com build & price, it seemed like I can get the touch screen radio in a Latitude, but it only lets you add a GPS if you get a Limited. Guess I'd have to ask the dealer about that.

Do I need to get the off road package to have real 4WD? I don't want all wheel drive, I want to be able to pull a lever and know I'm in real 4WD till I'm good and ready to turn it off, like my old wrangler had. I just don't like the idea of having to slide first before my car decides I need to have more wheels going. I won't really be driving off road unless the zombie apocalypse happens, but I just want to know I'm covered when the snow gets real bad, even though it's only a few days a year.
 
#6 ·
There's a good link that animates how the Freedom Drive works the Jeep web site, you can search for it on line if you don't see it. I'll defer to others, but the FD1 and FD2 mechanics are basically the same. They're both always AWD, with the ability to lock it in full-time 4WD through the lever (electronically I believe, not a mechanical differential). Like you, I like the ability to force it into full time 4WD, that's where the lever comes in. The manual says you can engage it at any time and any speed.

The major difference between FD1 & FD2 is gearing and ground clearance. If you typically stay on roads (even dirt roads) then FD1 should work well, if you are off road quite a bit, then definitely consider an FD2.
 
#7 ·
The major difference between FD1 & FD2 is gearing and ground clearance. If you typically stay on roads (even dirt roads) then FD1 should work well, if you are off road quite a bit, then definitely consider an FD2.
Good advice. In our times of high gas prices it's also worth pointing out that the Freedom Drive 2 system knocks off a few more MPG's from the vehicle's rating than does the Freedom Drive 1, so it's not a case of one system being better than the other. They're optimized for different things.

Some other Jeep drivers don't consider the Compass' four-wheel drive to be "real" 4x4 because we don't have the 4-Lo mode. Meh. The Compass is front-wheel drive that transfers power to the rear wheels automatically if there's slipping, but you can lock it into powering all four wheels with the 4WD switch. My Compass is an automatic (CVT) with the autostick ("fake shifting"), which isn't as good as 4-Lo but paired up with the full-time 4x4 provides more power and control than other vehicles. My only complaint is that "first gear" (in quotes because CVT don't have gears) still gets you going pretty fast, up to around 20 MPH before the engine is revving and slowing things down, but it's nice to have that support instead of relying purely on the brakes, and it's nice to be able to shift between more than just first and second (as my previous cars were).

Also, I have cloth seats and the seat warmers. Highly recommended, I love that feature! My Compass takes a good while to heat up, but the seat warmers start providing warmth in about a minute.
 
#8 ·
I have a FD2 compass reason i chose it over the FD1 is bc extra ground clearance, and the 4low mode with hill descent control. Also front rear tow hooks and skid plates underneath. Downfall you lose a few mpg but i can deal with that. But finding fd2 are harder i wanted one with navigation and heated seats but none in my area..still happy with mine though.
 
#9 ·
Cool, I'll talk with my dealer over the next week or 2. I'm kind of hesitating because I read that the new liberty is gonna be unveiled at the detroit auto show in a couple of weeks and I might wanna wait and get that instead if it's as awesome as I'm hoping. But we had some snow here today, my ford was sliding all over the place.. I guess the tires are 40,000 miles old so that didn't help, and last time I was in for an oil change they said I'd probably need new brakes by the time my next service is due. So new tired and brakes on the horizon might be a sign to just get rid of it now and get something new with all the bells & whistles I want. My local Jeep dealer does have 1 latitude in stock with FD2 according to their website, but no nav. Maybe there would be a way to have em upgrade it after the fact? I'd rather not go to best buy for an all new radio and have em hack up my dashboard.
 
#10 ·
heated cloth seats are standard on the latitude, and leather heated seats are standard on the limited. but oddly enough, remote start is standard on the latitude, but nto the limited. navigation is not available on the latitude, only limited. you are correct in that you can get the touch screen radio on the latitude (i have it on mine, combined with the boston speaker system).

op, if you have any questions, shoot me an email, we aren't too terribly far from each other :)
 
#11 ·
Gps

Just my 2 cents on in dash GPS. My daughter has the 08 Grand Cherokee and it came with the 08 Navteq maps (on a DVD). In 2011 she was interested in an update and was told she would need to purchase a DVD at around $125. For that amount she got a nice Garmin with free maps for life. I have always used Garmin GPS and get at least 2 map updates a year as road names change as well as additions.

I used her car once and the display was nice, however after hearing how Jeep (and I guess others) put it to you on updates I would not opt for any GPS from the car manufacturer.
 
#12 ·
Yeah, I think I decided against the GPS. Right now I'm looking at a Latitude with freedom drive 2 and the touch screen radio, just no GPS. For the 2 or 3 trips a year where I think I'll need it, I think I'll just get one of those portable GPS things. Might do a test drive later this week :)
 
#20 ·
Yeah. I was considering a new Compass. See the thread about the 5-speed transmission. I drive upwards of 40,000mi. per year. I live in PA in snow region. I drive on some rough roads. I hunt so I go the game lands.

I do not own and will not buy a 4WD vehicle. I must say it a waste of money. Good winter tire will out perform and normal tires and a 4WD system.

I look at my driving habits. I'm losing about 2MPG to have the 4WD system. Was losing about 3 more for the CVT. My window sticker is 27 and 30 MPG. I can average better than sticker says. Driving the miles I do I have figured costs. It about 2 grand to buy the 4WD system. It costs me about an extra thousand in gas just to haul it around every year. I have never had any issues getting to where I needed. EVER in a front wheel drive vehicle.
Snow are not really an issue. I can oly use one set at once. So the normal tires appear to last longer. Sooner or later you will need new tires anyways. Look at it as buying them in advance having two sets. The only extra cost I have had was buying a used set of factory wheels for the snow tires.
Fuel mileage means alot to me and my setup is saving me thousands to buy and operate each year. So if weather is that bad and I can't get work a day, so be it.
 
#21 ·
You also don't have big mountains to go up there either. The steeper it gets the more useful 4wd is. Oh and also, some states and mountain passes require you have 4wd or Awd to pass in certain weather conditions, less you stop and put chains on your front wheel drive vehicle. 4wd is worth every penny to not have to do that if you drive in aforementioned mountain passes alot.

One more thing, studded snow tires are not legal everywhere. I used a front wheel drive vehicle with studs for years before moving to California. I'll have 4wd as long as I'm here though.
 
#22 ·
To the OP.. If you're in love with the Grand's looks and features, you might not be aware that the 2014 Liberty replacement will feature that style and a certain level of creature comforts/ soft touch areas.

Though, the Compass will continue to be the cheapest by at least a few thousand, I figured I'd let you know in case you were unaware.

Check out the 2014 Liberty Replacement Revealed link in the Future Models & Prototype Discussion Forum for more info.
 
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