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| Blazing new trails at affordable prices, the Jeep Compass (top) and Patriot (bottom) are long overdue for a a makeover. That makeover/replacement is coming soon. |
Did you
know that the Jeep Compass and Patriot are still in production? If you did, you
must have a very keen eye for Jeeps, as this compact SUV duo fly FAR under the
radar nowadays. Now here’s another question for you: Do you know how LONG they’ve
been in production? If you guessed nearly a decade, you’re a winner! Introduced
for the 2007 model year, the Jeep Compass and Patriot ride on Chrysler’s MK
platform, meaning they share their underpinnings with the long-gone Dodge
Caliber subcompact (last made in 2012 before being replaced by the Dart). That
should give you a better idea of the age and roots of this platform. To say it’s
time for a full-on redesign or replacement model would be a statement that’s
roughly five years late. Well save your voice, because Chrysler has heard it
all before, and while the current Compass and Patriot will roll on into the
2017 model year, FCA is currently developing and testing out the duo’s
replacement now. Recently captured spy shots give us a closer look at what we
can possibly expect from this upcoming new model.
The Scoop
According
to various sources, this new replacement model will be produced in Mexico
starting in early 2017 (not long after the Patriot and Compass cease production
at Chrysler’s Belvidere, Illinois plant). It’ll also be officially unveiled in
Brazil after being a no-show at the earlier auto shows this year, making it a
truly international product. Among other buzz about this model, its speculated
that it will use one of the current model’s names: Patriot or Compass. If this
is true, my bet is that the Patriot name will continue on, as the Patriot has
almost always been more popular than the Compass (although the Compass has always
been my personal favorite of the two SUVs). Styling based on spy shots appears
to be a blend of the Compass and Grand Cherokee. Thus, if this model actually
does end up using the Patriot name, it’ll really be a truly diverse blend of
the Jeep lineup.
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| This new small Jeep appears to combine styling cues from the models its due to replace. It may also pick up one of their names as well. |
My overall initial impressions of
this pre-production model are that it is likely going to continue Fiat-Chrysler/Jeep’s
trend towards high quality, yet functional interiors. In an age where a “high-quality”
interior now seems to also mean “overly complicated”, FCA’s recent interiors have
been a breath of fresh air. Chrysler’s large, well-regarded UConnect infotainment
touchscreen can be seen in various spy shots of the inside of this new compact crossover,
and it also appears to be slightly larger than both outgoing models. Of course,
this means more comfort for occupants, and better ride quality as well due to a
more stretched wheelbase. This should also help Jeep to deliver better on the
off-road capabilities of this new model compared to its predecessors. Speculated
powertrains to be offered are Chrysler’s 2.4-liter four-cylinder “Tigershark”
engine, which I found to be underwhelming in my Chrysler 200 tester, and also a
2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that’ll likely be reserved for top-end
models. It’s also possible that the new “Hurricane” four-cylinder that’s in
development for the upcoming Wrangler may be offered as well. All engines will
likely be paired to a 6-speed or 9-speed automatic transmission, assuming that this
model will follow in the footsteps of Chrysler’s other recent offerings.
Pricing is
still an unknown of course, but the Patriot and Compass are two of the most
affordable small SUVs on the market today ($17,695 base for the Patriot,
$19,695 for the Compass). Expect pricing to fall nearly in line with those
models, but also to likely cut into the Jeep Renegade and Cherokee’s price
ranges as well. Perhaps the biggest missing piece of this new car puzzle is definitely
the reliability bit. It’s no secret that this is a spot where Fiat-Chrysler has
struggled in recent years. But we’ll have to wait quite a while longer still to
see how this model fares.
So what are
your own initial impressions of this new small Jeep? Do you think it will be
any notably better than the models its replacing? How do you think it will
compare to its competition, such as the RAV-4? What are your feelings about
Chrysler’s decision to focus more on crossovers and trucks moving forward? Let
me know what your thoughts are! Jeep is certainly going to play a key role in
Chrysler’s product portfolio moving forward, and this model is likely going to
play a major part in determining Jeep’s corporate position. Stay tuned for more
info!
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