Jeepin'
05-20-2008, 05:53 PM
When comparing Jeep's Compass to the Honda CR-V, we came upon some key features in both that is helping us make our decision. While I'm not a Jeep Compass owner, I was hoping this info might help some others on the fence. Started this in a different thread, but I've cleaned it up and thought moving it here would be beneficial to potential owners as well as the site! Hope you mods agree. :p
Here's a summary of key items not so obvious during a first impression, test drive, or prominently listed in a brochure.
1. Jeep offers a choice of 4 cyl engines: standard 2.4L 172hp/165ftlbs or optional 2.0L 158hp/141ft.lbs. Jeep buyers can also choose between a 5-spd manual or a CVT automatic. Honda buyers must get the 2.4L 166hp/161ft.lbs. w/ a 5 spd automatic transmission. No tranny or engine choices are available in a CR-V. Advantage Jeep.
2. Jeep's Unlimited Powertrain warranty is clearly a bonus. Honda's limited powertrain coverage ends at 5/yr 60,000miles. Both vehicles feature 3yr/36k bumper to bumper warranty's. Honda's do not typically include Roadside Assistance - it is a separate and additional charge for this "Honda Care" coverage. If you belong to AAA, this may not matter to you.
3. http://www.fueleconomy.gov Compass 2WD 2.4L 5M rated at 23/28mpg, 2.0L 2WD Auto at 23/27, and 2.4L Auto 21/25mpg. Honda FWD CR-V 2.4L 5A at 20/27mpg So, 2 out of 3 Jeep Compass 2WD powertrains surpass the 2WD Honda on Hwy and 3 out of 3 in the City. 4WD is 20/26mpg on the Honda and Compass offers choices of 2.4L 5M 22/27mpg, and 2.4L Auto 21/24mpg. So in the City, all the Jeeps are the champ by up to 3 mpg, while on the highway the 4WD results are split: 5 speed manual Compass is the overall mileage champ, while the Honda's 5spd auto beats the Compass CVT by 2mpg per EPA.
4. There is ~$5,000 base price difference between the 2 vehicles. This can swell when working a deal. The CR-V we were interested in was well over $32,500. While the Compass offered the same features at ~$27,000. All this before dealing, incentives, and the like.
5. Rear seats do NOT fold flat on a CR-V! We tried flipping them forward vertically, but they take up a lot of fore/aft space and also affect front passenger seats ability to slide/recline this way. Both seat backs recline as well. Advantage Compass.
6. A CR-V can only tow a max of 1,500lbs vs. 2,000lbs max on the lil Jeeps. That's a healthy 33% advantage to the Jeeper.
7. The rear hatch window does NOT open on the fully loaded $31,500 Honda CR-V either! :( In other words, neither vehicle offers this feature regardless of pricing.
8. Frontal crash testing http://www.safercar.gov http://www.iihs.org cannot be compared on these 2 vehicles because the vehicles tested varied in weight by >300lbs. with the Jeep being the heavier of the two. In overall testing on the CR-V is given hi marks, but read the fine print...pelvic fracture(s) are a likely outcome from a 31mph side impact! Ouch. Up to 65 pelvis g's vs. 42 for the Compass. So much for the heavily touted ACE body structure on the Honda. Side impact testing CAN be compared across weight classes. The Jeep held the advantage in side impact testing. The lighter Honda had better numbers in the frontal, but they can't be compared. Frustrating. Heavier and larger vehicles do better in real world crashes however, which would favor the Jeep. We'll call this a split decision.
9. Even a basic Compass offers nearly an extra inch of ground clearance at 8.1" vs. 7.3" for CR-V. For those of us in snow country or bound for the dunes at the beach, this can be an important number. You can buy skid plates for your Compass/Patriot from Jeep. Honda sells no such thing as a skid plate for any of their vehicles.
10. The CR-V's are assembled in El Salto, Jalisco, Mexico or Sayama, Japan (both w/ only 10% US/Canadian parts content). The Compass/Patriots are assembled in Belvidere, Illinois, USA with 67% US/Canadian content. Let buyers think of that what they will of course, but interesting to note. We had thought the CR-V's being made in Ohio would be available to the buying public, but apparently they are all bound for Canada.
11. Sirius Satellite trial period is only 90 days on a Honda vs. 360 days on all Jeeps! Nice touch Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep.
12. Rear seat DVD entertainment is unavailable in a new CR-V! Gasp. This alone would sway my Niece and Nephew. Compass has a factory one available in the Mopar accessories catalog.
13. Payload capacity (people & gear) in a Compass is 925lbs. vs. 945lbs max for the Honda. Actual amount dependant on options chosen. A wash really. Look inside your drivers door for specific amounts on your vehicle.
14. Factory Accessory Roof rack capacity on a CR-V is only 75lbs. vs. 150lbs on the Compass OEM roof rack! 100% is quite a difference. Advantage Compass.
16. CR-V curb to curb turning radius is 37.8ft vs. only 35.5ft in a Compass Sport w/ 16 or 17" wheels. A Compass limited and special edition Rallye w/ 18" wheels can still turn in 37.2ft Agility goes to Jeeps.
17. Rollover (a calculation only) likelihood in an accident is 17/15% 2WD/AWD for the CR-V and 18/16% 2WD/AWD for the Compass/Patriot. 1% difference is not significant however. These are both above average for the class and clearly show being based on a Civic/Caliber car has its advantages.
18. The CR-V's seats did have active head restraints. A nice feature. Advantage Honda. Jeep needs to improve the head restraints on the MK's.
19. Not only are the engine's in the Jeep's more fuel efficient, but they are cleaner burning and top the compact SUV class! http://www.greenercars.org/highlights_byclass_csuv.htm
20. It's a genuine, original, One and Only Jeep! :pepper::banana:
Here's a summary of key items not so obvious during a first impression, test drive, or prominently listed in a brochure.
1. Jeep offers a choice of 4 cyl engines: standard 2.4L 172hp/165ftlbs or optional 2.0L 158hp/141ft.lbs. Jeep buyers can also choose between a 5-spd manual or a CVT automatic. Honda buyers must get the 2.4L 166hp/161ft.lbs. w/ a 5 spd automatic transmission. No tranny or engine choices are available in a CR-V. Advantage Jeep.
2. Jeep's Unlimited Powertrain warranty is clearly a bonus. Honda's limited powertrain coverage ends at 5/yr 60,000miles. Both vehicles feature 3yr/36k bumper to bumper warranty's. Honda's do not typically include Roadside Assistance - it is a separate and additional charge for this "Honda Care" coverage. If you belong to AAA, this may not matter to you.
3. http://www.fueleconomy.gov Compass 2WD 2.4L 5M rated at 23/28mpg, 2.0L 2WD Auto at 23/27, and 2.4L Auto 21/25mpg. Honda FWD CR-V 2.4L 5A at 20/27mpg So, 2 out of 3 Jeep Compass 2WD powertrains surpass the 2WD Honda on Hwy and 3 out of 3 in the City. 4WD is 20/26mpg on the Honda and Compass offers choices of 2.4L 5M 22/27mpg, and 2.4L Auto 21/24mpg. So in the City, all the Jeeps are the champ by up to 3 mpg, while on the highway the 4WD results are split: 5 speed manual Compass is the overall mileage champ, while the Honda's 5spd auto beats the Compass CVT by 2mpg per EPA.
4. There is ~$5,000 base price difference between the 2 vehicles. This can swell when working a deal. The CR-V we were interested in was well over $32,500. While the Compass offered the same features at ~$27,000. All this before dealing, incentives, and the like.
5. Rear seats do NOT fold flat on a CR-V! We tried flipping them forward vertically, but they take up a lot of fore/aft space and also affect front passenger seats ability to slide/recline this way. Both seat backs recline as well. Advantage Compass.
6. A CR-V can only tow a max of 1,500lbs vs. 2,000lbs max on the lil Jeeps. That's a healthy 33% advantage to the Jeeper.
7. The rear hatch window does NOT open on the fully loaded $31,500 Honda CR-V either! :( In other words, neither vehicle offers this feature regardless of pricing.
8. Frontal crash testing http://www.safercar.gov http://www.iihs.org cannot be compared on these 2 vehicles because the vehicles tested varied in weight by >300lbs. with the Jeep being the heavier of the two. In overall testing on the CR-V is given hi marks, but read the fine print...pelvic fracture(s) are a likely outcome from a 31mph side impact! Ouch. Up to 65 pelvis g's vs. 42 for the Compass. So much for the heavily touted ACE body structure on the Honda. Side impact testing CAN be compared across weight classes. The Jeep held the advantage in side impact testing. The lighter Honda had better numbers in the frontal, but they can't be compared. Frustrating. Heavier and larger vehicles do better in real world crashes however, which would favor the Jeep. We'll call this a split decision.
9. Even a basic Compass offers nearly an extra inch of ground clearance at 8.1" vs. 7.3" for CR-V. For those of us in snow country or bound for the dunes at the beach, this can be an important number. You can buy skid plates for your Compass/Patriot from Jeep. Honda sells no such thing as a skid plate for any of their vehicles.
10. The CR-V's are assembled in El Salto, Jalisco, Mexico or Sayama, Japan (both w/ only 10% US/Canadian parts content). The Compass/Patriots are assembled in Belvidere, Illinois, USA with 67% US/Canadian content. Let buyers think of that what they will of course, but interesting to note. We had thought the CR-V's being made in Ohio would be available to the buying public, but apparently they are all bound for Canada.
11. Sirius Satellite trial period is only 90 days on a Honda vs. 360 days on all Jeeps! Nice touch Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep.
12. Rear seat DVD entertainment is unavailable in a new CR-V! Gasp. This alone would sway my Niece and Nephew. Compass has a factory one available in the Mopar accessories catalog.
13. Payload capacity (people & gear) in a Compass is 925lbs. vs. 945lbs max for the Honda. Actual amount dependant on options chosen. A wash really. Look inside your drivers door for specific amounts on your vehicle.
14. Factory Accessory Roof rack capacity on a CR-V is only 75lbs. vs. 150lbs on the Compass OEM roof rack! 100% is quite a difference. Advantage Compass.
16. CR-V curb to curb turning radius is 37.8ft vs. only 35.5ft in a Compass Sport w/ 16 or 17" wheels. A Compass limited and special edition Rallye w/ 18" wheels can still turn in 37.2ft Agility goes to Jeeps.
17. Rollover (a calculation only) likelihood in an accident is 17/15% 2WD/AWD for the CR-V and 18/16% 2WD/AWD for the Compass/Patriot. 1% difference is not significant however. These are both above average for the class and clearly show being based on a Civic/Caliber car has its advantages.
18. The CR-V's seats did have active head restraints. A nice feature. Advantage Honda. Jeep needs to improve the head restraints on the MK's.
19. Not only are the engine's in the Jeep's more fuel efficient, but they are cleaner burning and top the compact SUV class! http://www.greenercars.org/highlights_byclass_csuv.htm
20. It's a genuine, original, One and Only Jeep! :pepper::banana: