2012 Jeep Compass Test Drive

[FXjohn]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Originally Posted By: FXjohn
Originally Posted By: sciphi
LOL, I was getting on my Cruze hard with just a few tens of miles on the odometer! I did wait until about 500 miles to hit the rev limiter.

MIL is interested in a new Impreza hatchback. Much better fuel economy with little sacrifice in on-road capability. If I needed a cheap rock-crawler, I'd be looking hard at a new Compass. Unibody doesn't mean junk, as the Cherokee proved. And, one of the big car mags showed that the new Compass (when properly equipped) was pretty capable off-road.


the gas mileage of the impreza is way overstated.


Can you please explain?


huh? overstated. it doesn't get near as good as advertized. I was looking into one at one time

 

[addyguy]

Get one of the last 2012-style Ford Escapes, either with a 2.5 4-cylinder, or the V-6. As you know, you can get AWD with them as well.

Very roomy, smooth-driving vehicle.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I don't know if I could recommend a 2012 Escape, especially with the 2013 models being so close on the horizon. Every review of the 2013 model notes how far and away it is from the old model, in terms of how it drives, interior quality and refinement, powertrain efficiency, etc.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: FXjohn

the gas mileage of the impreza is way overstated.


So far it does look this way.

There's ~89 posters over at fuelly for new 2012 Imprezas and the avg is only ~27mpg.

I can beat that tank/tank with my larger, heavier 2012 Legacy and the trips it sees are not easy.

Joel

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: JTK
Originally Posted By: FXjohn

the gas mileage of the impreza is way overstated.


So far it does look this way.

There's ~89 posters over at fuelly for new 2012 Imprezas and the avg is only ~27mpg.

I can beat that tank/tank with my larger, heavier 2012 Legacy and the trips it sees are not easy.

Joel

But on average the 2012 Impreza fuelly folks get better mileage than the 2012 Legacy group. Not as much better as the EPA ratings would suggest though, but on your drive you would get better mileage with the Impreza.
Also I think most manufacturers submit their own test data to the EPA for mileage ratings, so I bet most cars are done on a 2wd test rig and the rest "modelled" so subaru may do something silly like disconnect the rear axle, as in the EPA test the car never uses AWD anyways?
I know my Tracker has a pretty optimistic Canadian hwy mileage rating that's only achievable with a full tank of long trip driving on 55mph highways with no city driving at all. I suspect they just used the 2wd version data with a small increase in fuel usage for the 4wd version.

 

[wander2039]

All I can say is I'm glad to be back with the Escape and Focus after 5 days with the Compass. Very unpredictable with the drive by wire and CVT. You have to press the pedal more than 1/4 way before it would take off instantly and then you were flying off the line. Otherwise it would take a second before it would do anything, trying to get into busy traffic wasn't fun! Not my driving style by any means. I can give either one of my cars a little pedal and it's a very predictable take off. But I will say the CVT is a little better on the highway, or maybe it's just the engine. Also on a previous trip with a 2011 Mazda 5 never had a single issue.. so as they say maybe it's just a Jeep thing!

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
I don't know if I could recommend a 2012 Escape, especially with the 2013 models being so close on the horizon. Every review of the 2013 model notes how far and away it is from the old model, in terms of how it drives, interior quality and refinement, powertrain efficiency, etc.


After seeing the 2013 Escape and the new body style I certainly won't even consider it. IMO ugly would be an understatement. That's coming from a Ford guy.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
I don't know if I could recommend a 2012 Escape, especially with the 2013 models being so close on the horizon. Every review of the 2013 model notes how far and away it is from the old model, in terms of how it drives, interior quality and refinement, powertrain efficiency, etc.


After seeing the 2013 Escape and the new body style I certainly won't even consider it. IMO ugly would be an understatement. That's coming from a Ford guy.


Agreed. Like somebody left a Focus out in the sun too long and it swelled up. Also, I read an article saying the 2013 Escapes would on average cost about $30,000 based on trim packages and engine choices. Too rich for my family...

 

[Marco Esquandoles]

Originally Posted By: MrCritical
A good shopper can get an Outback for 26k out the door...way more vehicle than the Compass.


I had the dealer something like $800 under invoice on an Outback Premium last week. I ended up going another direction and got a Mazda. I really wanted a Forester but the 4 speed auto (wifes car) was a deal breaker. CVT in 2013 they say.

 

[Marco Esquandoles]

Originally Posted By: FXjohn

huh? overstated. it doesn't get near as good as advertized. I was looking into one at one time


http://www.fuelly.com/car/subaru/impreza/2012

Looks l like most drivers are getting reasonable figures. 29mpg is the most 'common' range, I guess it'll get up to 36 highway.. but I never seem to get close to EPA specs on my rides (always lower) and I'm not that much of a lead foot.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Also, I read an article saying the 2013 Escapes would on average cost about $30,000 based on trim packages and engine choices. Too rich for my family...


That's a good point. I went on Ford.com to price a 2013 Escape, and the very cheapest AWD model you can get is an AWD SE, which ~STARTS~ at $27,645! Unreal.

 

[kb01]

I drive an '08 Jeep Compass, with around 90,000 miles on it, which we bought in the late summer of '07. It's a very utilitarian vehicle that does many things well but isn't particularly amazing at any of them.

It's been reliable, has a great deal of storage space, does well in the snow, interior is easily cleaned, reasonable power & mileage, etc. Ours was very well equipped and we were out the door, including taxes & registration for less than $20,000.

At the time, we couldn't find any other comparably equipped CUV or AWD station wagon for much less than $24,000 or $25,000.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: sciphi
Also, I read an article saying the 2013 Escapes would on average cost about $30,000 based on trim packages and engine choices. Too rich for my family...


That's a good point. I went on Ford.com to price a 2013 Escape, and the very cheapest AWD model you can get is an AWD SE, which ~STARTS~ at $27,645! Unreal.


OUCH! It amazes me that people are willing to pay so much for a compact SUV.

And while the Compass may not excite you, it seems to be a fairly economical alternative for many. We see a ton of them around here, they must do something right. Some of my best cars have been the ones that simply ran well and got you there for ages without complaint.