I didn't even notice that. Looks like they took the boxy ones off the old designs and forgot to change them to go with the soft looking new one.
I doubt they'd do that, they need a front drive model to help out fuel economy wise.
I actually like the Compass' sibling, the Patriot. It looked pretty nice before, the interior redo a year ago totally transformed things inside (soft touch dash/doors/armrest) and the new exterior/mechanical refresh for this year makes it look and drive better:
Will someone please, please, PLEASE explain to me why we need the Compass in addition to the Patriot? Same car, same brand, same price point, different bodywork, and better available options on the Patriot. The Compass is arguably the most redundant vehicle on the market.
I think I will just pretend that Jeep now only makes the wrangler.I"m not a fan of the new Jeep design direction. But as long as they keep building the Wrangler the way it should be, I'll be happy.
We don't, and I'd actually argue that the Compass brings down the Patriot in terms of cachet along with it. People always think of the two in pairs, and while the Patriot is pretty decent, it's perception is always dragged down by the constant (well deserved mind you..) ragging on the Compass.
I do know that Compass was supposed to be more urban, young, and "quirky", while Patriot is aimed more at the traditional small CUV market, but the fact is that Chrysler failed to do a good job of delineating the two in terms of positioning through advertising/marketing so it all blurs together in the end. Honda managed to do it for years somewhat successfully with the Element/CR-V duo so it's not impossible.
I'm squarely in the segment that Chrysler wanted to target with the Compass (nontraditional Jeep buyer, young, etc.) and I'd take the Patriot six ways to Sunday, in that great Orange color with the tan interior plz?
The Patriot/Compass dichotomy just got even more crazy with the introduction of a trail-rated Compass. source. So instead of the Compass being a more urban, similarly-priced Patriot, the Compass is a more expensive, more luxurious, equally-off-road capable Patriot.
This makes no sense whatsoever.
Doesn't Jeep have different levels of Trail Rated-ness?
Compass is level 1
Patriot can be level 1 or 2
GC is level 3
And Wrangler is level 4.... I thought I remember reading this somewhere.... but I don't know. I'm probably wrong.
The Patriot/Compass twin's aren't bad cars at all.
Never driven one, have you?
I meant from an on paper perspective. :lol: The Patriot makes a lot of sense, got great crash scores, (so it's obviously not totally under-engineered like a Chinese car) and get's great MPG for a AWD crossover.
There's good bones underneath that were just tuned horribly. Look at the first looks at Chrysler 200/Avenger and Dodge Journey. While they weren't as nice to the sedans in terms of improved driving dynamics (more cushy than sport...) many think that the retuned Journey's driving dynamics put it right in the thick of things in it's weird "tweener" niche it's created for itself. (Mazda5/Kia Rondo/Ford Grand C-Max on one end, stuff like Equinox and Edge on the other) I bet with the new rejiggered tuning and class competitive interior the Patriot could create just as good of a impression.
Hand on heart, I'd probably choose the Patriot over a lot of other car's in the segment. I can *gasp* actually see out of it unlike the Sportage which is heartachingly handsome in it's own right but nearly impossible to see out of while reversing. The Black/Tan interior looks posh too, better than the coal bin or never ending shades of gray in the Sportage.