Jeep Compass

[GSP4ME]

The other half is looking at a 2014 Jeep Compass. Anyone have any expierence with them or hear any thing good or bad about them

[delcecchi]

From Consumer Reports

Quote:

The 2014 Compass received a freshening that replaces the CVT with a six-speed automatic for most models. But it still comes up short in a crowded market. Its low-speed ride is composed, and handling is secure but not agile. The sluggish 2.4-liter four-cylinder returned 22 mpg overall. The upright front seats are narrow and are not particularly comfortable, and the cabin is cramped. Controls are straightforward, and the interior, though basic, is constructed of somewhat better materials. The high beltline makes the cabin feel claustrophobic, and the styling restricts visibility to the rear. Reliability has been above average, but it scores too low to be recommended.

(their road test is from 2011, but I will post it anyway)

Quote:

Road Test

Latitude 4-cyl CVT

Despite the front face mimicking the look of the Grand Cherokee, the Compass is still a mediocre car. The engine is noisy and lacks punch, and the CVT transmission accentuates the growl. Handling is unimpressive, the seats are second-rate and the driving position is flawed. The cabin feels claustrophobic, visibility is problematic and access is hampered by a tall sill. On the credit side, road noise is low, the ride is absorbent and controls are simple and straightforward. However, the Compass scores too low to be recommended. At least the underachieving CVT has been replaced by a new six-speed automatic for 2014.

The Driving Experience

Ride comfort and noise: The Compass's ride is OK. The suspension absorbs road bumps fairly well and provides some isolation from the pavement. Overall, the Compass feels a bit more tied down than its Patriot stablemate. The highway ride is fairly steady. Guttural engine noise is a constant and unwelcome companion, though, and the noise is exacerbated by the CVT transmission, which forces the engine to rev high for extended periods while accelerating.

Handling: The small footprint helps in routine handling, but agility is not a strong suit. Body lean sets in early on and the steering feels rubbery and short of feedback. In our emergency-handling tests the Compass proved ultimately secure but felt clumsy while cornering and managed only a low speed through our avoidance maneuver.

Powertrain: The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine served up just adequate performance and felt labored despite its 172 hp. Average fuel economy of 22 mpg is decent for a small SUV but not great in view of the lackluster engine performance. The CVT transmission works well. A new six-speed automatic replaces the CVT for 2014. A manual transmission is standard, an unusual feature in this class. There is an optional package that provides some enhanced off-road capability.

Braking: Panic stops were long, especially on wet pavement.

Headlights: Low beams provide very good illumination forward and to the sides. High beams reach a good distance as well.

Inside The Cabin

Driving position: Drivers get to sit upright and benefit from a height-adjustable seat. The wide center console and tunnel make the driving position feel narrow, though. The steering wheel tilts but doesn't telescope, and some of our drivers found the wheel too far away and the pedals too close. The view to the front and sides isn't bad, but visibility to the rear quarters is blocked by the rear-seat head restraints and very thick rear roof pillars.

Seat comfort and access: The front seats are lackluster at best. They are flat and lack both side and thigh support, and their spongy cushioning gives way on longer trips. Two adults can fit quite easily in the back, where they'll find good head and leg room, but three is a crowd. Also, the front-seat tracks limit foot space for any rear passenger.

Controls and gauges: The main gauges are set deep and can be hard to discern and are sometimes obscured by reflections. Most controls are simple and straightforward. The base radio in our Compass was far easier to manage than the optional touch-screen radio, which buries common functions in onscreen menus.

Interior fit and finish: Cabin materials have been upgraded a bit, and most panels fit together well but the ambience remains humdrum. Front door panels are padded but dashboard plastics are all hard to the touch.

Cabin storage and cargo room: A large, open bin above the glove compartment is the highlight of what amounts to a modest ration of cabin storage. The center-console bin is deep but narrow. It's easy to fold down the 60/40-split rear seatbacks, which creates a good-sized cargo bay. The optional fold-down front passenger seat comes in handy when you need to carry extra-long items.

Our Compass had a temporary spare tire stored under the cargo floor. A full-size spare is optional.

Safety Notes

Safety belts: All seats have lap-and-shoulder belts; the front pair has pretensioners.

Air bags: Optional chest-level side air bags protect front passengers and standard head-level curtain bags protect both rows in side impacts. A sensor for the front passenger seat withholds air-bag deployment if it detects a child-sized occupant or if the seat is unoccupied.

Head restraints: Front-seat head restraints are tall enough to protect an adult even when lowered and are active, moving up and forward in a rear crash. The fixed rear outboard restraints are sufficiently tall; the center-rear seat has no head restraint.

Crash-avoidance systems: Antilock brakes, brake assist, traction control, and electronic stability control are standard.

Driving with kids: It might be hard to secure rear-facing infant-seat bases in outboard rear positions with belts alone. LATCH works better. There are three top-tether anchors.

Reliability

We expect reliability to be better than average, according to our latest subscriber survey.

Tested model: 2011 Latitude 4-door SUV 4WD, 2.4-liter 4-cyl., CVT

Major options: Height adjustable driver's seat, folding front seat, heated front seats, all-terrain tires.

This road test applies to the current model year of this vehicle

Percentage of owners that would buy again... 51%

CR ranked it near the bottome of the "small SUV" category.

Top 3 recommended in category were

Suburu Forester 2.5i Premium

Honda CRV-EX

Mazda CX-5 Touring (2.5L 4 cyl)

I hope this info is of some use. Thanks to Rochester Public Library.