Highlights from the Motor Trend article and my 2 cents worth: Wranglers are priced firmly in FJ Cruiser Territory (I had an FJ40, fixed it up, had some fun and doubled my money in 2 years). The Patriot will have the Freedom II with Trail Rated low range and the Compass only has high that's recommended for deep snow ( like when I have to go to work before the snow plows do and sometime leave for home long after they've quit for the day), the FWD is for daily use, including snow and rain. 60% of Compass buyers will be female. "On (Oregon's) twisty mountain roads, the Compass shines. It's not a sports car of any kind, but it's a well-tuned, tall hatchback - about the size and height of the old Cherokee." It rides taller than a conventional car (Caliber/Vibe/Matrix) and provides enough confidence for carrying speed in fast corners, with moderate body roll. (I lived in S. Oregon for 12 years, believe me they are mountains with some very fast corners and with the rain it's white knuckle driving!) . For an entry level…SUV…comfortable ride, right amount of firmness, precise steering, good weight and feedback. (The line I LOVED) If these are "girl car attributes", it's time to get in touch with out feminine side. Road noise on rough roads is not excessive for a small car, but not as good as some of the small cars that have reached a premium feel. The drivers seat is 2" higher than the Calibers (both front seats actually and the rear is kind of stadium seating). The 5 speed is precise and positive, perhaps the best stick shift in the sport/utility area. The taller (higher) front seats also allow better rear seat foot room and the rear has good head room, but tight knee room (daughter and her 6'1'' boyfriend fit just fine). The 5 spd makes better use of the engine, sprightly and fun and the CVT is a normal CVT (I like it, but some may think that I drive like an old man, well, I'm practicing). Towing capacity is 2000 according to them (and my owners manual) when equipped with the DC towing package, otherwise 1000. Jeep is being careful of having it called a "Cute Ute". Buyers looking for a sport/utility with good road manners and exception fuel economy will find most everything they need in the Compass.
Dimensional Differences: (Keep in mind that the Compass front sears are 2' higher that the Caliber. This information is a comparison between the Compass Limited 4X4/Caliber R/T (if known).
Cargo Area: 38.5" wide X 28" Tall, all seats up: 30" deep; rear seats down 64"; front seat down 97".
Cargo volume: seats up 22.7/19.5; rear seats down 53.6/?; Front Passenger and rear seats folded 61.8/?.
Head Room front: 40.9/40.0; Rear: 39.9/38.9; Leg Room front: 40.6/41.8; Rear: 39.3/35.6.
Overall height: 64.2/60.4; Ground Clearance: 8.5/7.0.
Pluses in Compass's favor: ESP, ERM, Fold-away mirrors, Side Curtain Air Bags Front AND Rear, 1.5" more Ground Clearance, 2" extra Seating Height, Interior Volume, 4X hi range lock, 7 cargo hooks in cargo area and pre-cut holes in the roof rails for cross bars.
Pluses in Caliber's favor: Front Passenger Storage, Chill Zone (if it worked better), Illuminated Cup holders. Better TV commercials.
Improvements that Compass could use: Flex Fuel, Voltage and Oil Pressure Gage, Raise the front cup holders (like they did the seats) and illuminate them, padded arm rests all around including the console) to lose some of the plastic feel, don't bother with a dash pad, some one will make an after market and another set of 12V and 115V outlets in the rear cargo area. Maybe add the Freedom II as an option. Get rid of the "Urban" bobble head advertising. This fits rural and bedroom community people far better. Good mileage and enough room to haul your crap back from in town. Also great for camping excursions and "treasure" hunts for us old farts.
Friends and others at work like it and have been asking questions and appear to be impressed. One friend, a Vibe owner, said it had a lot more room than hers.
If I think of things to add to this list, I'll simply add them here instead of doing a new post so you may want to revue this from time to time. If someone from DC ever reads it they can get all of the should of's in one post. If any of you think of something, I can go back into this and edit some more if you like.
1st fill up @338 miles 23.26 mpg; 2nd @ 532 miles 21.78, 3rd @ 782 miles 24.0, 4th @1050 miles 24.22, 5th@1297 miles 23.14, 6th@1510 miles 22.37.
Update 8/26: Frankly I was getting the feel for the handling etc. this last tankful before the big trip and wasn't caring about "good" mileage at all. Oil change scheduled in Albuquerque. So far, the Compass has been really great. It's comfortable to drive, visibility is good, road noise is not bad at all, instruments are easy to read, controls easy to reach. Nothing unexpected, very smooth and pretty agile. I'm only able to get the radio to play about 50 or so mp3's on each disk so far. I'm pretty sure it's the way I've got Music Match configured on my computer. My Alpine had some problems, too.
10/6/2006
Here is a more "friendly" link to a Compass review by The Car Connection. Nothing really new, just all in one article and not full of negatives. I think that it's worth reading.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/Vehicle_Reviews/Sedans_and_Coupes/2007_Jeep_Compass.S180.A10590.html
Dimensional Differences: (Keep in mind that the Compass front sears are 2' higher that the Caliber. This information is a comparison between the Compass Limited 4X4/Caliber R/T (if known).
Cargo Area: 38.5" wide X 28" Tall, all seats up: 30" deep; rear seats down 64"; front seat down 97".
Cargo volume: seats up 22.7/19.5; rear seats down 53.6/?; Front Passenger and rear seats folded 61.8/?.
Head Room front: 40.9/40.0; Rear: 39.9/38.9; Leg Room front: 40.6/41.8; Rear: 39.3/35.6.
Overall height: 64.2/60.4; Ground Clearance: 8.5/7.0.
Pluses in Compass's favor: ESP, ERM, Fold-away mirrors, Side Curtain Air Bags Front AND Rear, 1.5" more Ground Clearance, 2" extra Seating Height, Interior Volume, 4X hi range lock, 7 cargo hooks in cargo area and pre-cut holes in the roof rails for cross bars.
Pluses in Caliber's favor: Front Passenger Storage, Chill Zone (if it worked better), Illuminated Cup holders. Better TV commercials.
Improvements that Compass could use: Flex Fuel, Voltage and Oil Pressure Gage, Raise the front cup holders (like they did the seats) and illuminate them, padded arm rests all around including the console) to lose some of the plastic feel, don't bother with a dash pad, some one will make an after market and another set of 12V and 115V outlets in the rear cargo area. Maybe add the Freedom II as an option. Get rid of the "Urban" bobble head advertising. This fits rural and bedroom community people far better. Good mileage and enough room to haul your crap back from in town. Also great for camping excursions and "treasure" hunts for us old farts.
Friends and others at work like it and have been asking questions and appear to be impressed. One friend, a Vibe owner, said it had a lot more room than hers.
If I think of things to add to this list, I'll simply add them here instead of doing a new post so you may want to revue this from time to time. If someone from DC ever reads it they can get all of the should of's in one post. If any of you think of something, I can go back into this and edit some more if you like.
1st fill up @338 miles 23.26 mpg; 2nd @ 532 miles 21.78, 3rd @ 782 miles 24.0, 4th @1050 miles 24.22, 5th@1297 miles 23.14, 6th@1510 miles 22.37.
Update 8/26: Frankly I was getting the feel for the handling etc. this last tankful before the big trip and wasn't caring about "good" mileage at all. Oil change scheduled in Albuquerque. So far, the Compass has been really great. It's comfortable to drive, visibility is good, road noise is not bad at all, instruments are easy to read, controls easy to reach. Nothing unexpected, very smooth and pretty agile. I'm only able to get the radio to play about 50 or so mp3's on each disk so far. I'm pretty sure it's the way I've got Music Match configured on my computer. My Alpine had some problems, too.
10/6/2006
Here is a more "friendly" link to a Compass review by The Car Connection. Nothing really new, just all in one article and not full of negatives. I think that it's worth reading.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/Vehicle_Reviews/Sedans_and_Coupes/2007_Jeep_Compass.S180.A10590.html