In short, Some Jeep Compass Trims like Trailhawk are equipped with a 4 wheel drive drivetrain as standard and can also be added as an option in other trims which costs $1500+-.
This is because it has a center differential that can share torque between the front and rear axles, and a transfer case that can proportion the power output from the transmission to each axle.
The Compass also has an electronic locking differential which provides increased traction by preventing any slip between wheels. In sum, 4 wheel drive is the terminology to describe any four-wheeled vehicle that has an on-demand all-wheel-drive system available as standard. The Jeep Compass comes standard with a full-time 4-wheel drive.
How does Jeep Compass 4wd work?
The four-wheel-drive system on a 4×4 jeep compass is designed to allow each wheel to have a portion of the power applied to the vehicle. This means that if one of the wheels loses traction, or is slipping in wet conditions, other wheels can provide a better grip for the driver.
This may sound quite complex, but it’s actually quite simple to operate and is essentially part of the electronic locking differential feature that prevents any slip between wheels. 4×4 is engaged automatically by the vehicle, however, it does allow you to manually lock or engage the system.
Which Jeep Compass is 4×4?
Jeep Compass Trailhawk is equipped with a 4wd feature as standard. This is because it is a higher model that has more equipment and other options that might make it less appropriate for off-road use.
Jeep Compass Trailhawk, is therefore the name of a higher model than the regular compass, which has general 4wd and convenient exterior features that make it ideal for off-road use. For other Compass trims, you can have 4×4 as an option.
How do you turn on 4 wheel drive in a Jeep Compass?
Usually, the Jeep Compass 4wd is engaged automatically, You can also engage it manually by pressing 4wd lock/unlock in the drive select-terrain switch.
depending on the type of compass you opt for there is another button called “4wd low” which can be used when coming across slippery and loose road conditions only.
Make sure that every time you want to manually switch to four-wheel-drive the vehicle is stationary and the transmission is in neutral to prevent and damages to the transmission and engine.
Jeep compass 4wd switch
The 4wd switch is a button on the left-hand side of the steering wheel, which is pressed to manually engage and disengage 4wd. If you are not in need of a four-wheel drive, you can simply press this switch to send power to the front wheels only when needed. On top of that, if you are in need of a 4×4 and want to lock it, then simply press this button instead.
Jeep Compass 4 wheel drive (4×4) vs 2 wheel drive (4×2)
If you are interested in purchasing a Jeep Compass, which one should you choose? 4x4x2 or 4×2? In short, there is not a major difference between the two models.
Both can be used on off-road terrains and both offer similar design and features. It’s only the price that differs as the 4×4 costs $1500 more than the regular compass.
On top of that, the 4X4 also has an electronic locking differential which makes it even more comfortable to be used for off-road purposes. 4 wheel drive jeep compass is better than 2 wheel drive compass when you are looking to drive the vehicle on rough surfaces that are not pavement or concrete.
If you are looking for a compass that is comfortable to drive in normal conditions, then the 4×2 jeep compass would be your best choice. On top of that, if you don’t plan to take the car on rough terrains and you have a limited budget, then the 2 wheel drive model will be your best option as it will save you some money.
Difference between 4 wheel drive and an all-wheel-drive Jeep?
All-wheel drive is a system that typically has two differentials for power between the front and rear wheels. This allows providing power to each wheel individually when a four-wheel drive is engaged, which increases traction on both wet surfaces and steep inclines when compared with 4-wheel drive passenger cars
A four-wheel drive is not a system that engages all four wheels together, so all four wheels are not involved in transmitting power through its use of differentials.
A vehicle with 4 wheel drive will typically have at least two differentials providing power to each of the fronts and rear axles, whilst some vehicles may also have a center differential providing additional torque for improved traction during hard cornering.
However, a four-wheel-drive does not directly improve the traction at either axle and does not provide a better grip on slippery surfaces than a two-wheel-drive vehicle. The benefit of having 4 wheel drive is that the vehicle has greater traction when more than one tire loses traction in low-speed conditions compared with 2 wheel drive.
Jeep Compass Trim Level Options
- Trailhawk
- Sport
- Limited
- Latitude
Credit: Photo by Travis Essinger on Unsplash
