Sales of the new Jeep Compass are starting off slow. Some blame it on sales incentives now being offered on the Jeep Liberty, which makes the Liberty more attractive to many would-be Compass buyers. Others blame it on the Compass' rather quirky styling. Whatever the reason, it's not selling as hoped...
So is it too early to say: "I told you so!"?
I've been saying from Day One that the Jeep Compass is all wrong for the Jeep brand. It's the wrong image for Jeep, and its kissin' cousin Jeep Patriot can do everything the Compass canâand more. Speaking of the Patriot, once that goes on sale, I bet life will get even tougher still for the Compass.
So, anyone betting it will be around for a Gen-II model in five years or so? Not me.
I've been saying from Day One that the Jeep Compass is all wrong for the Jeep brand. It's the wrong image for Jeep, and its kissin' cousin Jeep Patriot can do everything the Compass canâand more. Speaking of the Patriot, once that goes on sale, I bet life will get even tougher still for the Compass.
So, anyone betting it will be around for a Gen-II model in five years or so? Not me.
mercedesman1 says:
03:02 PM, 10/11/06
the patiots design was much better they should have come out with the patiot first
mercedesman1 says:
05:08 PM, 10/11/06
patriot**
estreka says:
08:32 PM, 10/11/06
No argument from me. This thing's a dud.
firstwagon says:
12:25 PM, 10/12/06
The only advantage I can see is you can get the larger 2.4 with a 5 speed manual while the Dodge version forces a lame CVT on you.
I originally was very pleased when I heard Jeep was coming out with a small 4 cyl truck to slot in below the Wrangler. I pictured a 2600lb open jeep along the lines of a CJ3 or Samurai. Solid axles, coil springs, 2 speed transfer case and a full frame. Simple enough to be modifiable but modern enough to still be a good daily driver. Light enough to be powered by a 2.4 but strong enough not to be considered a toy. In other words, a real Jeep.
You can guess I don't have a very high opinion of the Compass (or the Patriot).
ahightower says:
05:37 PM, 10/12/06
I could see the logic of Jeep going after the WRX/Evo crowd. I have no problem with them stretching their image from hard-core off-road to also include rally stuff. But it just turned out too ugly and underpowered.
bwhitty says:
12:53 PM, 10/14/06
Maybe if it had good looks or a high level of quality going for it, it would sell better. Instead, its incredibly ugly, poorly made, and even the top-spec powertrain is weak at best. So... who's going to be surprised that it's not selling as hoped?
firstwagon says:
04:38 PM, 10/14/06
I too heard talk that this they were going to aim at the rally car crowd. I could accept that but it appears whichever marketing whiz who thought of that angle forgot to tell the people how designed the car.
researchqueen says:
03:37 PM, 10/18/06
Jeep also said it was going after more young women with this car, but it's a bit aggressive-looking, both inside and out, to appeal to the same buyers as the CR-V, the RAV-4, or the Highlander.