Jeep Compass vs Wrangler

[doc]

Talk to me about a Jeep Compass vs a Wrangler 4 dr I have now.
Towability? Weight? Desirability as a towed?
I saw one yesterday and liked the looks but it occurred I have never seen one behind a MH. Well, not that I paid any attention to if I even saw one.

[Skip426]

The Jeep Compass was just introduced the year I retired from Chrysler ,so I'm not 100% sure , but I believe the transmission ( CVT ?) makes them , not flat towable .

What year of Compass were you looking at ?

[PKI]

Quote from a Google search - The Jeep Compass and the Jeep Renegade aren't suitable for flat towing (no – not even if you shift them into Neutral). With certain vehicles like these, towing with the drive wheels on the ground is likely to result in damage to the powertrain.Nov 21, 2021

I thought that was the case, but could not remember what my previous search turned up. The Compass is a nice looking SUV. There are several at our local dealer. I can understand your interest.

The Cherokee is the four door Jeep SUV 4-down dinghy tow candidate if you don't like the Wrangler. It must have the Active Drive II transfer case and current models are only available with ADII on the Trailhawk.

The Cherokee Trailhawk with the leather seat option is comfortable (lumbar on the passenger side) and the independent suspension has a good ride. We felt it made the best compromise for our requirements. The rough/rugged design of the Wrangler was not appealing, but the reality that Wranglers hold their value kept us looking at the option. Keeping your Wrangler is not a bad strategy.

[theroc]

The Compass was approved for flat towing during several years of first generation models. The model years they were listed in the dinghy towing guides, I believe, were 2009 through 2016.

The second generation, 2017 forward, are not listed in the towing guides as being approved by the manufacturer.

[Isaac-1]

Note that only the manual transmission version of the first generation compass is flat towable. We had one of those 2009-2010 Compasses with manual transmission as a runabout vehicle at work, gear shift feel was awful, (like a 1980's econo box, it was like shifting a bowl mashed potatoes), also gear shift position was bad, and this is coming from someone that currently owned 3 manual transmission vehicles (Toyota Yaris, Dodge Challenger SRT-8, and 2000 F250), and have owned at least another 3-4 over the years.


As to the Cherokee, we like ours, it is the fully loaded 2017 Overland edition with leather dashboard, lane centering, heated leather seats, adaptive cruise control, etc. Note only the Cherokees with the optional Active Drive II are flat towable, this is a standard feature on the Trailhawk and optional (rare) on other trim levels. Active drive I, and 2 wheel drive models are not flat towable.


p.s. Someone mentioned the Jeep Renegade, I had one as a rental car for about 7 weeks 3-4 years ago, the thing was flaky dashboard would light up like a Christmas tree at random and it would loose power at random, it only had about 10,000 miles on it, but it was a rental so who knows.

[2cyber71]

Just my opinion but the only Jeep I can recommend to tow 4 down is a Wrangler.
Why
1. Easy setup, the manual transfer case shifter 4x4 makes it simple. The electronic 4x4 transfer case is just too much
2. Designed to be pulled out of gear
3. Blueox Baseplate almost invisible, or after market approve bumpers with no baseplate
4. Goes anywhere.
5. Built like a tank
6. Holds it’s value
7. You can put 2 Lectric XP Lite Ebikes in the back easy.
Looky at my video
https://youtu.be/2IYbbn_IoBE
8. The Sunrider Top is a great accessory
Looky at my video
https://youtu.be/YXRE3Uj9D6Q
Only negative is the price, but who cares?

[AllegroD]

Jeep Cherokee with Active Drive II is flat towable. Allows placing transmission into Neutral Mode. This is more than just shifting to neutral.

[doc]

Originally Posted by Skip426

The Jeep Compass was just introduced the year I retired from Chrysler ,so I'm not 100% sure , but I believe the transmission ( CVT ?) makes them , not flat towable .

What year of Compass were you looking at ?

I don't know what year it was. He passed me yesterday and I liked the size and I assume it would be lighter than my Wrangler. Looked good and my wife liked it as well. We have a tough time getting her into the Wrangler sometimes because she cannot use her legs and I have to pick her up and put her in the seat. Figure it might be easier in a lower seat vehicle
It looks safer to just stay with the Wrangler and take some weight training

[PKI]

Originally Posted by doc

-- snip-- Figure it might be easier in a lower seat vehicle
It looks safer to just stay with the Wrangler and take some weight training

OK - that requirement throws a wrench in the Cherokee suggestion. It can only be towed four down with the ADII transfer case and that option comes with a chassis lift. Wife is 5-3 and is challenged a bit to enter and exit. We will give some thought to using smaller diameter tires when we replace the OEM Firestones, unless our use changes to more off-road travel.

Given your issue, I wonder if a seat with power adjustment could be retrofitted to your current ride. Wife struggles to enter our X5, but it's because she raises the seat to sit higher and does not lower it for entry and exit. A seat change might also deliver a more comfortable ride for both driver and passenger.