Roughly once a decade since 2006, a new Jeep has been unveiled sporting the Compass nameplate. It seemed like a puzzling one to stick with, but stick with it Jeep did, and soon we’ll see a third-generation Jeep Compass debut. Jeep really needs it to be a success now, because even though the current Compass isn’t exactly class-leading, it’s a bright spot in a dismal time for Stellantis. Let’s have a closer look.
The first Jeep to bear the Compass name debuted at the 2006 Detroit auto show, and this rebodied Dodge Caliber wasn’t exactly great. Alright, it was reasonably priced, but it looked a bit dorky, suffered from the typical Chrysler cost-cutting of the time, and soon had a deadly rival in the Jeep lineup, the mechanically identical yet much boxier Patriot that debuted at the 2006 New York auto show. God, these really were different times, huh?
Anyway, the original Compass would float around Jeep showrooms for a decade, eventually becoming more and more Jeep as time went on. In 2011, it gained a Grand Cherokee-inspired facelift and an off-road package that would make it Trail Rated, and then it basically stayed the same before getting replaced by an all-new, Fiat-based model.
Riding on a stretched version of the platform underneath the Renegade, the second-generation Jeep Compass set its bearings firmly for Subaru Forester territory. Not content with a slightly quirky yet cheap-to-a-fault crossover for urban dwellers, Jeep was seeking wider appeal, and that shows with the more grown-up appearance and powertrain lineup of the second-generation Compass.
See, instead of a continuously variable transmission, the second-generation Compass launched with a range of conventional automatic transmissions as two-pedal options. The base two-liter World four-cylinder engine was gone, with a 180-horsepower Tigershark 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine being standard across the board. The interior gained an optional 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and an available 506-watt audio system, and you could even get an off-roady Trailhawk trim. It really made you wonder how much this second-generation Compass would eat into Cherokee sales.
Well, that’s a good question, because the Compass had its best-ever sales year in 2018, shifting 171,167 units. That sounds pretty good, until you realize it was outsold by the Cherokee and Wrangler, not to mention several competitors. The Ford Escape shifted 272,228 units that year, more than 100,000 more than the Compass. The Chevrolet Equinox sold 332,618 units that year. The Honda CR-V did 377,895, the Nissan Rogue sold 412,110 units, and Toyota managed to find homes for 427,170 RAV4s. Ah.
Cue the facelift. For 2022, the Compass received updated styling and a brand-new interior with an optional 10.1-inch touchscreen, much nicer materials, and a completely redesigned dashboard. One year later, the naturally aspirated 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine was ditched in favor of a turbocharged two-liter four-banger with 200 horsepower and 221 lb.-ft. of torque. Promising moves, but product decisions that were initially undermined by a global pandemic and an overall product that just doesn’t drive with quite the refinement of its competition. As Car And Driver noted:
On the open road, however, the Compass requires undue attention, owing to the steering’s spongey on-center feel. When it’s time to slow things down, the firm but overly sensitive brake pedal is difficult to smoothly modulate, and stops from 70 mph require a lengthy 195 feet.
That’s not great, but there is an upside — the Compass is relatively inexpensive for the segment. Pricing for the 2024 model starts at $27,495 including freight and that includes all-wheel-drive, alloy wheels, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and a six-speaker sound system. On paper, it sounds pretty good, and while sales still aren’t otherworldly with 34,632 sold last quarter, it’s one of the few models to buck Stellantis’ sales declines in the past quarter, and the only one to do it with real consequence since a multinational corporation can’t eat on 236 electric Fiat 500e hatchbacks. In fact, third-quarter sales are up 71 percent year-over-year, which means that Stellantis desperately needs the next Compass to be a hit.
Ah yes, the next Compass. While few details and only one teaser image have been released so far, here’s what we know. Going off this sketch published by Jeep, it seems to be taking on a boxier silhouette, which ought to appeal to crossover buyers looking for a more assertive look. It’s also expected to debut in Europe next year, and gasoline, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric variants will be on offer. No word yet on which of those would make it to America, but don’t be surprised if there’s at least one electrified option. After all, North American models will be built in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, and that’s down the highway from electric Dodge Charger production in Windsor.
Jeep needs the next Compass to succeed because at the moment, the current compass is the only Jeep model with rising sales figures. It’s an entry into the hottest segment in North America, the compact crossover market, so although the task at hand is difficult, a slice of an enormous pie should still be enough to feast on.
(Photo credits: Jeep)
Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.
-
Stellantis Can’t ‘Micromanage’ Itself Out Of This Crisis
-
Stellantis Is Already Looking For A New CEO
-
Everyone Seems To Hate Stellantis Right Now
-
Stellantis Doesn’t Deserve Jeep
-
Stellantis’s Aluminum Corrosion Issues Might Go Well Beyond Just Jeep
Got a hot tip? Send it to us here. Or check out the stories on our homepage.
The post Here’s How Badly Jeep Needs The New Compass To Succeed appeared first on The Autopian.
