2012 Jeep Compass Test Drive

[sciphi]

I "agreed" (read, roped into) helping the MIL get a new car/SUV with AWD. I had some time to kill today at the multi-franchise dealership my Cruze was getting a malfunctioning trunk release looked at. The staff suggested I look at a 2012 Compass while comparing other smaller SUV's.

I was quite shocked by how much of an improvement over previous Chrysler products this was. It drove like it wanted to be driven, with fairly well-controlled body motions and a smooth ride over the many bumps in the road we went over. The engine was strong enough to accelerate it briskly at WOT. It's not quick, and it's not a slouch, either. Noise during acceleration was acceptable. This has a CVT, so it pegs itself to redline while the speedo catches up at WOT. I didn't get a rubber-band feel from this CVT. Most of the time it felt like a very smooth regular automatic. Kudos to Chrysler for making the Compass drive as well as it did.

The interior was comfortable, and laid out decently. It was still a plastic-fantastic interior, but it was at least decent to the look and touch. I got a comfortable driving position quickly.

I'm going to recommend my MIL take a look at it. It was competent at moving around, the interior is comfy if still full of plastic, and the price for all of it was decent.

Kudos to Chrysler for a vastly-improved smaller SUV that can be put on the radar of smaller SUV buyers.

 

[Rand]

Whats the pricerange.
Why does she want AWD?
What does she expect from the vehicle.

if she answers those you might know where to point her.

if she is afraid of winter driving an extra set of wheels with snow tires is an economical and practical solution.(even with awd)

 

[LoneRanger]

Just make sure if she buys, its not that same one. Not great on the engine to redline it before its broken-in.

 

[NHGUY]

A lot of people overlook Chrysler because they believe they are total c r a p,without knowing the truth...

 

[mcrn]

Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
Just make sure if she buys, its not that same one. Not great on the engine to redline it before its broken-in.





A lot of people believe and have numbers to back it up that this is the best way to break in an engine. I say a lot of people....its mostly motorcycles that I am referring to. They have higher HP when broken in hard.

 

[sciphi]

She wants a small SUV because her friends all have them, and she wants space to put a horse saddle. The AWD is because she's convinced she "needs it". She's looking at spending about $25-26k out the door.

I'm leaning toward a 2012 Subaru Impreza, and wanted to test-drive a bunch of small SUV's before arguing for a choice. This one earned a spot on the list of AWD vehicles she will be test-driving. It was a decent small SUV.

I gave my Cruze the beans from about 250 miles through 1000 miles. It averages better than EPA highway fuel economy most tanks in rural 2-lane driving with power enough for me.

 

[jigen]

I like the Compass a lot actually. Seems like a lot of car for the money. And coming from someone who isn't crazy about SUVs, I think it's a great looking vehicle.

 

[k24a4]

This from CR Oct. 25 2011 regarding Ford vs Jeep reliability:


First-year flaws in its Explorer SUV and Fiesta and Focus small cars wrecked Ford's scores in Consumer Reports magazine's latest predicted-reliability report card.

The three new Ford models "all had below-average reliability in their first year," dropping the Ford brand's overall ranking to No. 20 this year, from No. 10 a year ago. CR said that until now Ford has been "a model of American reliability, competing well against Japanese makes." But not now. It's 10-spot tumble was the biggest drop of any major brand in the report.

Particular problems included the MyFord Touch electronic control system and a dry-clutch automatic transmission in the Fiesta and Focus.

On the other hand, Chrysler Group's new designs mostly fared well, and Chrysler's Jeep brand rose seven spots, to 13th overall among 28 brands rated, making Jeep the highest-scoring Detroit brand.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: mcrn
Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
Just make sure if she buys, its not that same one. Not great on the engine to redline it before its broken-in.


A lot of people believe and have numbers to back it up that this is the best way to break in an engine. I say a lot of people....its mostly motorcycles that I am referring to. They have higher HP when broken in hard.


Higher hp, less blow by, longer life... the list goes on.

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
Just make sure if she buys, its not that same one. Not great on the engine to redline it before its broken-in.


Gotta drive your car how you want to drive it when you buy it.
I treated mine the day I drove it off the lot, how I knew I was going to treat it as long as I had it. That does mean the occasional redline pass on the highway (rural commute)

 

[LoneRanger]

You want maximum cylinder pressure to seat the rings, but you should not bounce it off redline in the first 1000 miles. 75% of redline rpm is the max it should be revved until 1000 miles. e.g. if tach redline is 6500 then WOT to max the cylinder pressure but let off when the tach hits 4800 rpm (75 % of 6500). She's too tight below 1000 miles to be bouncing it off the rev limiter.

 

[wander2039]

Ahh so I thought there was something odd about the Compass. Have one for a rental for this week. Takes a bit getting used to versus a standard drive vehicle. On top of that the drive by wire, I'm assuming that's what it has. Only has 2k miles so that could be part of the problems. From a stoplight at first it was making nervous as acceleration isn't instant and when it is it just goes. It's hard to make a controlled low rpm take off. Maybe with time I'll coordinate it better. I've noticed also while accelerating around 30mph it jumps a bit, like when a transmission isn't engaging as it should. Other than that it's nice quiet SUV even up to 80mph, not nice enough to go into debt again and replacing the Escape though.

 

[MrCritical]

A good shopper can get an Outback for 26k out the door...way more vehicle than the Compass.

 

[97tbird]

the OB is a pretty big SUV isn't it?

What about the Forester?
The impreza is not really a SUV, is it? I thought it was more of a 5-door hatchback.

oh and I wouldn't put too much value into what CR says about cars.

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
You want maximum cylinder pressure to seat the rings, but you should not bounce it off redline in the first 1000 miles. 75% of redline rpm is the max it should be revved until 1000 miles. e.g. if tach redline is 6500 then WOT to max the cylinder pressure but let off when the tach hits 4800 rpm (75 % of 6500). She's too tight below 1000 miles to be bouncing it off the rev limiter.


I better run outside and tell my Trans Am that...On the Dyno with 151 miles on it. Most LSx cars I know did not follow that regiment and still run just fine with lots of miles on them.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Don't tell my car either. less than 700 miles and I was at the strip for 19 passes!

Not a drop of oil use between OCI's and the best time for a stocker!

 

[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.

 

[wander2039]

I've been getting on the Compass a little bit, probably not as much as a few of the drivers in 2k miles. With a CVT the rpms really don't climb high anyways I haven't figured it out. It likes to stay at 2250 till around 40mph if you stay on it. Something odd today I hit the power windows to roll up the window and it jumped like I was rear-ended! Woke me up! 3 more days to go lets see if it does it again.

 

[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.

 

[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?