Does anyone drive a late model Jeep vehicle?

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slantflat

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Hi everyone.

Been looking for a car that an elderly person who doesn't walk well, would find fairly easy to get in and get out of. I'm thinking about a Jeep Patriot or Jeep Compass. Right now we ride around in a first gen Ford Transit Connect. Low passenger seat, wide passenger door, these two Jeeps seem to look about the same.

We're planning a trip to Orlando(from Atlanta) in the summer and the TC is shabby and the AC doesn't work, and really isn't fixable. So something nicer is definitely due.

Are these Jeeps reliable? Easy to work on? Do they have Dodge cousins that are the same but different badges?

Thanks everyone.
 
Dodge Journey is pretty much the same as Jeep Compass. Like most models, don't get the first year. Pretty decent otherwise. Ever consider a Pacifica? Know a few people that absolutely love theirs.
 
We have a 96 jeep Grand Cherokee and my daughter (5'-5") has a 2021 renegade (similar to compass)

She said it is easier to get into the Renagade then the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

She drove the GC for 9 years and never complained getting in. I always hit my foot on the threshold getting in.

As to easy to work on... IMHO after computers were introduced nothing is easy to work on.
 
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Dodge Journey is nothing like a Jeep Compass, completely different platform, but also a very good and dependable car. Depending on year, the The counterpart to the Compass and Patriot would be the Caliber. The Caliber was dropped after the restyle of the Compass. the Caliber, Patriot and Compass were decent cars, although plagued with weak steering and suspension components, and cross member assemblies that rusted through. These were covered by an extended warranty. the Patriot is still a good vehicle, (not sure they are still making it,now), they are relatively easy to work on, and dependable. I have had Caliber(07), Cherokee(2015) and Grand Cherokees. ('96,'98,'05,'14, and currently, 2018).
 
Dodge Journey is nothing like a Jeep Compass, completely different platform, but also a very good and dependable car. Depending on year, the The counterpart to the Compass and Patriot would be the Caliber. The Caliber was dropped after the restyle of the Compass. the Caliber, Patriot and Compass were decent cars, although plagued with weak steering and suspension components, and cross member assemblies that rusted through. These were covered by an extended warranty. the Patriot is still a good vehicle, (not sure they are still making it,now), they are relatively easy to work on, and dependable. I have had Caliber(07), Cherokee(2015) and Grand Cherokees. ('96,'98,'05,'14, and currently, 2018).
You're right- it's the Caliber I was thinking of, not the Journey... OFD kicking in again. :thumbsup:
 
We have a 2019 Compass. My wife drives it, and likes it fine.
My complaint is the sway bar links are shot at 25K miles. They're plastic junk. They're covered by warranty, but I just ordered aftermarket replacements. Why put on factory junk that will need to be replaced in 18 months?
I wouldn't recommend it for someone who has mobility challenges. It's rather high, and the door openings aren't very large. Someone with knee or hip joint pain will find it uncomfortable to get in and out.
My son in law has a Renegade. It's been a good car for him and has much easier ingress/egress.
 
I tried many different style Jeeps several years ago. Nothing worked for me. Ended up buying a Chrysler PT Cruiser. Still love it. Easy in --- easy out. Timing belts are expensive to have replaced. It's been dependable for me.
 
I have a 2015 (first year) Renegade.

I LOVE it.

Ingress/egress is pretty easy.

I bought it 2 years old and now have 83,000 miles.

The only issue I've had is a warning light that my license light is out, and it isn't.

Mine has the 1.4, and you can see and get to every thing.

I can even reach the oil drain plug without getting under the car!
 
Thanks everyone.

I forgot about the Renegade, I like those. Also looks like it would be a good fit for someone not quite fully mobile.

I appreciate all the responses. Times were I could look at a few cars and know what I wanted/needed. It's tough trying to find something for someone else, especially when there's some issues at hand.
 
We have a 2015 Renegade as well (for my daughter), bought it new off the lot. She was going to school across the country in cold weather we got the 4WD, cold weather package remote start, heated seats, steering wheel, We have one of the last lifetime warranties that MaMopar was selling in the vehicle so always serviced by a Dealership. First off be aware the Renegade is made in Italy. She has the Latitude model 2.4L 9spd auto (ZF co-designed), every option we could get at the time. Couldn't find a Trailhawk to save my life. I'm HUGE Mopar fan my Dad retired (medically) from ChryCo in 97 after working 30 years there. I wanted the 2.4L engine, no turbo, no 93 octane required. The 9spd automatic transmission HAS ALWAYS shifted odd. It seems to hesitate out of the gate, like its trying to figure out what gear it wants to be in. We've had countless software updates. The brakes ALWAYS squeak, every 20K miles needs a brake flush?? She has driven this car twice from coast to coast she has 90K+ miles on it now. She loves it She loves the size.

She needed a car I SHOULD HAVE insisted she waited for the remodeled Compass. Very similar platform, bigger feel. The Cherokee is even slightly bigger inside, but we both hated the first few years look. Chock some of this up to DON'T BUY the first year of ANYTHING. (Dad sorry I should have listened) But she NEEDED a car. I'd personally look at a 2nd gen Compass (which supposedly shares the Renegade platform) but seems to have all the drivability issues worked out or a Cherokee which has a downsized version of the 3.6L (to 3.2L) v6 available in the Trailhawk version of it.
 
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Get a Toyota. The new smaller compact Jeeps have had many issues . Mechanical and electrical. Not to mention air and water leaks.
 
That's the exact reason I DID want the 1.4 and the six speed manual.
The 1.4/6 speed was in the Dart GT before the Renegade, so it's not a first year drive train.
There were a LOT of issues with the auto trans the first few years.
I wanted max MPG. Lifetime avg is 33.6 Recent 450 mile highway trip was 38.5.
It does not require premium fuel.
It does require "Ferrari spec" oil. The 1.4 was designed by Ferrari (and you can tell).

I also wanted as few options as possible.
Mine is the Latitude (which gives you alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel, and the mid level sound system) but has no options.

I installed a Mopar brand trailer hitch and it's actually a pretty good trailer hauler (I've pulled my Dakota with it, too).

My BIL recently bought a '20 Renegade 2.4/9 speed auto.
It won't shift into 9th until almost 100 MPH.
 
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We have a 2016 Grand Cherokee and love it. It's got the 5.7 Hemi so, power is not an issue. It also has the air ride suspension so you can lower it to what is call exit/entry mode that makes it real easy to get in and out.

My daughter has an 18 Compass and it's been very good for her. The only things I have done to her Compass is brakes, tires, and sway bar links and, it's got 95,000 miles on it.

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20210109_142335.jpg
 
My son has a Cherokee exactly like your white one. He loves it. He talked our friend into a new Jeep. He bought a Renegade what a piece of junk was his comment when he came here last. He pulled in with a loaner. His Renegade was in for repairs for the 4th time. He is the owner of the Gold Demon we did. A real Character. We were laughing the whole time he was here. And mostly about his choice of Jeep.
 
The Cherokee will lower for getting in and out? The town I'm from originally had city busses that would "kneel" when they stopped for the people. I was thinking before that I needed a car that would kneel. I'm gonna check this out.

Again, thanks everyone.
 
The Cherokee will lower for getting in and out? The town I'm from originally had city busses that would "kneel" when they stopped for the people. I was thinking before that I needed a car that would kneel. I'm gonna check this out.

Again, thanks everyone.
If you get the right one they will raise for ground clearance and lower to let you out. Ours has the Overland package and comes with that, I believe the Summit editions have it also.
 
I guess we should probably talk about the OP's budget.

IDK what a Grand Cherokee costs, but my 2 year old Renegade was 15K in 2017.
My brother in law's 1 year old Renegade was 20K last year.
 
I tried many different style Jeeps several years ago. Nothing worked for me. Ended up buying a Chrysler PT Cruiser. Still love it. Easy in --- easy out. Timing belts are expensive to have replaced. It's been dependable for me.

Three years ago I bought a low mile PT to drive my mom around, she’s 96 now.
I’m glad I got it because she can get in and out of it.
I’m not sure there’s a car on the market that has the same ingress & egress.
 
I LOVED my 2003 PT.

Fold flat seats and ample front seat storage are 2 things the Renegade falls short of.

Getting in to and out of that (and first gen minivans) is incredibly "natural".

You basically turn and slide. Almost no bending or up/down movement
 
Couple things, Renegade is not the same platform as the remodeled Compass, though it has similarities. I had four PT Cruisers over the years, they are good cars but never got the mileage you would expect, loved the versatility of the seats. As a former Jeep tech, with my own experiences servicing them, I wouldn't recommend them to anyone; even more so, the earlier ones. Water leaks, trans issues (the Cherokee had them too), software updates that never changed much - though did help with trans issues in early buids, if the relearn strategy was done right. various radio issues, radiator fans - had a recall on those; also varied electrical issues, sometimes as a result of the water leaks, as well as pin fit. They're not all bad, but I saw enough to never want one or recommend. Toyota was mentioned - my wife had a RAV 4 after the Cherokee. It was a very good vehicle; but she wanted more features, so we went back to the Grand Cherokees. Be aware the 2.4 in the Cherokee, Dart and others is /was a real oil burner, In a Cherokee I preferred the 3.2. Again many people have great luck with them and others don't.
 
We have a 2019 Jeep Cherokee Trail Hawk. The front seats just hug you. We haven’t had any trouble. Handles great. We really like it. Kim
 
Couple things, Renegade is not the same platform as the remodeled Compass, though it has similarities. I had four PT Cruisers over the years, they are good cars but never got the mileage you would expect, loved the versatility of the seats. As a former Jeep tech, with my own experiences servicing them, I wouldn't recommend them to anyone; even more so, the earlier ones. Water leaks, trans issues (the Cherokee had them too), software updates that never changed much - though did help with trans issues in early buids, if the relearn strategy was done right. various radio issues, radiator fans - had a recall on those; also varied electrical issues, sometimes as a result of the water leaks, as well as pin fit. They're not all bad, but I saw enough to never want one or recommend. Toyota was mentioned - my wife had a RAV 4 after the Cherokee. It was a very good vehicle; but she wanted more features, so we went back to the Grand Cherokees. Be aware the 2.4 in the Cherokee, Dart and others is /was a real oil burner, In a Cherokee I preferred the 3.2. Again many people have great luck with them and others don't.
Some of the 2.4 do use some oil but, the did a recall on them finally and, my buddies Dart is not using oil anymore. My daughters 2.4 in her Compass has been perfectly fine with no oil consumption so, it's not all of them.
 
Some of the 2.4 do use some oil but, the did a recall on them finally and, my buddies Dart is not using oil anymore. My daughters 2.4 in her Compass has been perfectly fine with no oil consumption so, it's not all of them.
Yep, just as my last line says -some people have great luck with them. Those that did not take their oil changes out too far probably never even noticed. I don't remember any re all on them, but it could have come out after I left. They did have service bulletins on them, though. I can't tell you how many engines I did because of it.
 
Lots to think about, thanks guys. As far as budget, I can't afford something brand new but only a few years old would probably be okay. This car is actually going to sit a lot, it would only be driven when my Mom is with me, I'd drive something else when I'm schlepping my dog around or going to work.
 
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