CTC Review: 2007 Jeep Compass

[wing]

So it does!  I guess I didn't have to scrape the windshield of the Rav when I had it a few weeks ago. 

[Giant Dwarf]

Like so many others here, I too find the styling of the Compass to be less than stellar -- but of course, styling is a subjective matter anyway (afterall... some people actually DID buy Azteks too!).

From a marketing perspective though, the simple fact that the Compass is a 'cute ute' and is NOT 'Trail Rated' is certainly doing the Jeep Brand no favours.  After so recently (and proudly) announcing in every ad that "Every Jeep is Trail Rated" -- only to turn around and offer such an inept off-road vehicle completely devalues the brand positioning for Jeep. 

Like LandRovers, no matter how tarted up and luxurious Jeeps became, you could always at least rely on the macho aspect that they would also kick-ass if ever all the roads were washed away en route to the Muskoka cottage.  Now, Jeep is simply becoming another clone brand under the D-C umbrella.  Haven't we seen this thought process before with GM... and look how well it worked for them!  If you keep duplicating models across Dodge and Jeep, you will very quickly render one of the brands redundant... and something tells me (sadly) it would be Jeep first. 

Wake up DaimlerChrysler!

[Loudpedal]

What the heck is that gaping hole in the passenger dash?  Is that a space to hide your face when trying not to be seen in this thing?

No kidding.  I just followed a green one to work.  Ridiculous was the first word that came to mind.  

A guy was driving it.  For a male, that's the truck equivalent to slamming ones genitals in a door.  

[Giant Dwarf]

A guy was driving it.  For a male, that's the truck equivalent to slamming ones genitals in a door.  

Second only to a man driving a peach-coloured VW new Beetle Convertible I'd say. 

[sirAQUAMAN64]

A guy was driving it.  For a male, that's the truck equivalent to slamming ones genitals in a door.  

Second only to a man driving a peach-coloured VW new Beetle Convertible I'd say. 

I love those peach orange New Beetle Convertibles. Would have to be a Turbo, which boosts the testosterone factor, no doubt 

[Rovert]

I think Car And Driver review on the Jeep Patriot sums it up quite nicely.

Thanks.......Rovert

[Wolfe]

Wing don't those solid rear headrests not impede visibility pretty badly? They look very large in your pictures.


I saw a Compass parked in the lot at my local Crappy Tire before Christmas and was surprised at how awkward it looks. I haven't seen a Compass since.

I think Car And Driver review on the Jeep Patriot sums it up quite nicely.

Thanks.......Rovert

Welcome Rovert! I don't understand why you're rolling your eyes, but welcome nonetheless.

[Leviathan]

There is one saving grace here: it would be difficult to get a speeding ticket in the Compass — there just doesn’t seem to be enough power to keep it moving. I would classify the Compass as a momentum car: once you have it, try not to lose it.

Really? Does the CVT tranny really suck the life out of the thing that badly? Edmonds lists the curb weight at 3326lbs which is 26lbs lighter than the listed curb weight of my Tribute and I haven't found it to be lacking in power* The Jeep has a more powerful engine too.

* well, more is always better and I'm not fooling myself that I can beat a CX-7 in a drag race  However, even with 3 adults + luggage there is no problem with 80-120km/h acceleration for highway passing.

[safristi]

"slamming ones genitals inna door"........I hate it when that happens DAILY.....

[Rovert]

Thanks for the welcome Wolfe,
Have not seen neither the Jeep Compass nor the Patriot up close but my $$$$$$ is on the latter. They are basically the same vehicle but the Patroit being superior in the looks dept....it does look like a Jeep and, according to the C&D Jeep Patriot review, a better all-wheel drive platform (see article in C&D for further info).
The price of a Patriot is less than that of the Compass (the same vehicle) so the question is why is there a Compass in the first place?
I say Chrysler, drop the compass.....it's pointing the wrong direction.
 

[safristi]

Is that ROVERE'"T" the crossover "V" "W"................

[Rovert]

Well Safristi.....can't fool you for a second.........
A week or two perhaps......
 

[gottarondo]

We looked at the Compass by accident recently when car shopping. 

We went to look at the Dodge Caliber as we were in the market for a small wagon with a better/higher seating position than the Suzuki Esteem Wagon we were driving.  We found the Caliber to be so cramped that we didn't consider it for even 10 seconds, and with the tailgate speakers and in-dash cooler it was aimed so far from our market segment that we almost ran screaming from the dealership.  But before we could leave, the salesman gently pointed us toward the Compass.  It might actually have been exactly what we were looking for but besides the styling and finishing not really speaking to us, we really didn't feel inclined to drive anything bearing the Jeep name - we are SO not Jeep people.  There is the downside of building a strong brand identity - not only do you disappoint your regular customers if you try to break out of your mold, your image may also be a barrier between you and the new customer niche you want to enter. 

But interesting point that Giant Dwarf makes above, that it may be a step toward phasing out some of the brands by making them less specific, overlapping, and ultimately redundant.