Small SUV
Compare: 2007 Jeep patriot FD1 5 speed manual/2011 Jeep Compass Off Road wioth CVT.
Well, yes, I test drove another vehicle. I am not interested in buying it; I just wanted to see what has really changed since 07. I just want to do kind of a comparison.
2007 Jeep Patriot, 2.4 4 cylinder, 5 speed manual, FD1 4x4 (not trail rated)
2011 Compass: 2.4 4 cylinder, CVT trans with low range, off road FD2 4x4 system.
Yes, mine is a Patriot and the 11 I drove was a compass, but the only difference is the exterior. The drive trains, interior, suspensions, etc, etc are exactly the same. So let’s get started.
Exterior: The Compass is now a really good looking vehicle. The Grand Cherokee style front end really works with the rest of the body, and it, indeed, looks a lot like a small Grand Cherokee. I still like the Patriot better, especially with its 2011 updates.
Interior: This is a revelation! The interior is far and away one of the worst parts of the 07-08 Patriots. Everything you touch is a hard grainy plastic, except for the plastic surrounding the climate controls, head unit, and center vents which is that silver finish that, thankfully, a lot of manufacturers are finally moving away from. Even the arm rests are hard. Seems are also visible everywhere. I am problably making it sound worse than it is as I have really not been bothered by it, by I am trying to stay Objective. Now, the 2011 Compass is totally different. The shape and coloring of the interior are FAR better, the armrests and most touch points are now a soft material. The head unit and gauges are FAR more attractive. The seats are also far superior, no more of the open center headrest, but a true usable full, soft headrest. The new steering wheel is also a HUGE improvement with the cruise controls finally moved to it, rather than the Toyota like stalk (as a note, my Patriot does not have cruise control). The cargo area, which in 07 only had a plastic floor covering, The 09-11s now have a carpeted floor, which is 2 sided and you can flip it over for a plastic tray. The extra sound deadening has also quieted down the interior a lot. VERY NICE! The only qualm and this is a small one, is that the wheel still only tilts and does not telescope. Overall, I am jealous and really loved this interior.
Ride/Handling: Keep in mind my Patriot is an 07 with just over 70k miles, but the ride and handling are still good for a tall crossover, though I can attest all the miles and occasional off-road use has taken it's toll. The Compass suspension was noticeably stiffer than the Patriot, but still not rough even when it was new. The extra inch of ground clearance is really more noticeable from the seat than I expected, you defiantly feel higher off the ground. Steering felt better on center and just the slightest bit heavier. It felt better, but the major difference I was expecting with it being the off-road package and with all the improvements for 2011.
Drivetrain: This is the deal breaker. Both the 07 and 11 have the same 2.4, 172 HP 4 cylinder. The Patriot has a 5 speed. The government highway rating is 27MPG highway. I average anywhere from 26-30+ these days. The 5 speed is actually pretty good. It is easy to use, shifts are longer than a sports car of course, but it is not too long and actually injects some fun in the little SUV. The 07 Patriots engine is quiet and not audible at idle. It is no powerhouse, but it is plenty for a daily driver and getting going, heck, it'll bark em going into second lol. You would think the Compass should be fine here, but when you pair the CVT with the 2.4, it's a mess..... Climbing the engine made lots of noise as the CVT held the revs steady and the power seemed way down compared to the 07. It may have been more livable if it had the autostick feature with 6 programmed gears like the 2WD and FD1 models, but it simply has Drive and Low. The CVT also felt weird wt times. Slowing to a stock, it would like it downshifted an actual gear set and then lunge forward. It was not a pleasant feeling. Also, being the off-road package the fuel mileage is a rather dismal 23 MPG HWY, where the non off-road 4x4 CVT is rated at 26, and the manual at 28. In any case, he CVT needs to go and in my opinion, is the major fault of this vehicle. If makes the drive noisy, it loses power, and seems to be far less efficient than a modern 6 speed automatic.
Overall: I generally liked it. The lack of a telescoping wheel is not a deal breaker............ The CVT transmission is. When I bought my Patriot 3 years ago, the auto being a CVT is the main reason I got the manual. It is a decision I do not regret and would do again.
Thanks for reading
