Listen to your wife...I'm sure she knows what she's talking about

 

... so now that the Compass comes with FDII...

I understand, you are talking only about Patriot 2011 vs. Compass 2011?

 

never been a fan of the look of the Compass personally. Even with the new '11s look, I just don't care for it.

 

Yea, to me the Compass had more of a chick car look to it. I preferred the more rugged look of the Patriot. Although the 2011 Compass is nice looking on the front end, but the back end is still rav4ish.

 

Well I like them both but!!

Patriot...Jeep like Jeep.

Compass...Car like Jeep.

 

I didn't consider the Compass due to the lower clearance, and the roof curve to the gate reduces space in the back. And no hooks, skid plates, etc.

I like the look of the 11 Compass, and now that they have a trail rated version it meets more of my needs, but still has less room in the back, and at a higher cost.

When I was first looking at the Patriots I talked to a friend of mine, told him what I liked, etc, and he went and looked too. He ended up with a nicely loaded Compass. He likes it a lot, and has no need for off road options, and he loves the sound system.

 

The PAT edges up the Compass in terms over all look and performance... My 2 cents...

 

I chose Compass because Patriot was not available yet at the time in Europe. I.e. I didn't have to choose at all, Compass was the only option.

As FDII was and is still not avaialable in Europe, the only different thing here is the look (and probably therefore the aftermarket value?).
The MPG advantage of Compass is so minimal (0.1 MPG, who cares?), as is the bigger trunk of Patriot (I've never loaded my trunk full to the roof), so it leaves only the looks and the price.
If those are equal, I'd choose 2011 Compass. Patriot looks a bit boxy and old-fashioned or just too ordinary to me, and old Compass looks just funny...

 

I felt that the Compass was aimed at having a bit more luxury. I initially figured I'd get the Pat due to FDII not being available on the Compass, but now that it is I don't know which way to go and can't come up with much of a difference between the two. It's the wife's car, but I do 95% of the driving.

The Compass is aimed to appear more luxurious, when in fact it is just more expensive.
I recently ordered a Patriot, and for grins and giggles, I Priced out a Compass and a Patriot online, identical to each other in options, similar to what I ordered.

Options:
Latitude X/Limited, FDII Off-road group, Premium Sound, Navigation, Security and Convenience

Price:
Patriot MSRP: $28,525
Compass MSRP: $30,300

Differences:
The compass does have a fancy looking front fascia, and looks great. It has high beams separate from the low beams. It comes with 18" wheels, which do not come on the Patriot, but if you get FDII on the Compass it deletes those wheels.

The Patriot offers better visibility and more rear cargo area. It has a new nice looking front fascia too.

I wanted FDII, and I didn't want to pay more to sacrifice more, in order to get a Compass. At least thats one reason I went with Patriot

 

We have one of each. Compass has very poor visibility compared to the Patriot. Also the interior cargo capacity is less because of the rounded shape of the Compass. Thinner roof pillars like the XJ Cherokee, would greatly improve both vehicles.

 

Can you say any good things about the Compass compared to the Patriot?

 

In 2008, I had considered both. Patriot won me hands down: more classic Jeep boxy look; more cargo space; roof rails easier to use without cross-bars. $1000 less for the same mechanical. Compass looked girly.

 

Hello:

For me, the choice for 2008 was clearly the Patriot due to its shape, its higher stance, its "Jeepier" appearance (to me).

If I were to select again with the 2011 models, I think I would still purchase the Patriot... for all the prior reasons, but also price. But, I would say the Compass is an attractive vehicle (and more so with the 2011 model)... and would consider it for my wife if she was interested.

PipeTobacco

 

Jeep originally couldn't decide between the two designs, they put it out to an audience and they both had good response, Patriot mostly by men, Compass mostly by women. softer lines with curves is not a Jeep traditionally and appealed to the women, so why not grab a new audience.
I like the traditional lines and looking like a Cherokee, plus the larger cargo area. Don't care for the door handles up high on the back doors and that it looks like the original Liberty which to me was also a "chick truck".

 

I bought my Patriot cuz I've always wanted a Cherokee, now that's a thing of the past and the Patriot is the best look a like!! I test Drove both a Patriot and Compass the Pat felt more like a JEEP

 

I bought my Patriot cuz I've always wanted a wrangler Cherokee, and the Patriot is the best look a like!!

x2

Patriot...love the front,

and i now love the new compass, but i've ran out of money and the way oil prices are going, i'll never ever buy another car that does less than 60+ mpg.

 

Patriot looks like a Jeep.
Compass looks like a regular SUV in it's class,nothing too flashy about it.
Patriot really shows Jeep personality.It stands out in traffic,boxy as a true Jeep should be.

 

That's how I feel.

The Wrangler and Patriot are the only Jeeps I care for. They actually say "Jeep" when seen on the road.

I should clarify "Current model Jeeps".

 

We have an '08 Compass that we bought in the Fall of '07. We picked the Compass for a few reasons.

We were able to snag one at a significantly better price than the Patriot, which was the biggest reason. Other than that, we didn't like how the Patriot's roof rack only covered half the roof and didn't think the Patriot looked quite right proportionately; it was too stretched out, too small, and too low to the ground. The Patriot looked like a Chinese knock off of what a Jeep should be and the Compass like an AWD car.

I like both vehicles but just happen to like the Compass slightly better.

 

the compass has the ugly rounded look you can find on asian suv s,like the old hyundai santa fe ,the rav4 and other wannabe off-road vehicles.
except for the seven holes in the grille,doesn't really look like a true Jeep.
i mean,put it next to a cherokee or a wrangler.
it's out of their world.
whereas if you put a Pat next to the Cherokee,you can see they've got the same "blood".
sure, some people like the Compass,but that doesn't make it a true Jeep.

 

the compass has the ugly rounded look you can find on asian suv s,like the old hyundai santa fe ,the rav4 and other wannabe off-road vehicles.
except for the seven holes in the grille,doesn't really look like a true Jeep.

I think he is questioning whether or not to purchase a new one, which looks different. I think it is looking pretty good!

 

I'd agree. That new front really makes it look a lot better. Dare I even say good.

I'd agree with kb01 on the things he doesn't like about the Patriots looks. At least the FD1. It really need to have the rocker up even with the center of the wheel. Even slightly above. The departure angle, while great for off road use, makes the back end look funny. They make all these on road oriented concessions for other reasons, why not give it a few more inches of ground clearance and 3" more space behind the rear seat? It would still keep the same departure angle. The single thing I find most annoying about either car is the fat roof pillars and small windows. Look at an XJ Cherokee. See how nice and big all the windows are? Sorry, but AMC got this one right decades ago. That same XJ body with Patriot mileage is really what this doctor is ordering.

 

These pictures confirm that the only Jeep thing about the Compass is the front grill.

 

And the optional FDII off-road group...

 

To me, the Compass looks like a regular cookie-cutter girly SUV, while the Patriot clearly has Jeep heritage.

 

I have always liked the boxier look over the soft curved/rounded look.Purchased the Patriot due to the appearance and the fact of more room in the back for loading of gear for trips. I too agree that the Compass should get better fuel mileage due to its shape.

 

i like the visibility in the patriot (rear windows) vs the compass... but your wife will miss a lot the charger!!! believe me, I know what I´m talking about... when you drove a Hemi and change for a GEMA 4 cyl..u want to cry!!! LOL

and... I really like the new compass look, very GC!

 

. when you drove a Hemi and change for a GEMA 4 cyl..u want to cry!!! LOL

That is why I am going the other way. 300c hemi here I come!!

At least the 300c has about the same ground clearance as the Patriot.

When I first got the Patriot someone asked me if I lowered it.
Everyone comments on how low it is.

I like how the Compass sort of looks like a mini Grand Cherokee.

I like how the Grand Cherokee looks like a Grand Cherokee.
I'd buy one, but I wouldn't want people to mistake it for a compass.

 

They are the same car, it all depends on what look you like more, and where you want you blind spots to be.

Same Engine / Platform / Drivetrain / Interior / Clearence / almost everything.

There is no better "performance" or "luxary" between the two.

The cars were simply marketed different, with the compass being looking more like a hatchback/CUV, and the patriot looking like a CUV/SUV.

 

I chose the Patriot over the Compass for several reasons.

1. I like the look of the Patriot better than the Compass.
2. The “squarer” shape of the Patriot means more room in the cargo area. I have already used the extra space on numerous occasions.
3. I bought a used 2008 and there weren’t too many in the area but there was more Patriots then Compass’, and I still had to travel to buy mine since there wasn’t a used one in my area at the time.

 

I chose the Patriot over the Compass because to me the Compass looked like a chick car, though I do like look of the 2011's, but when i bought my Patriot, I didn't even look at the 2010 Compass.

To me:
Patriot = boxy, rugged looking, 4X4, guy's car
Compass = crossover car with jeep name, girl's car