[Adventurer55]

The reason why the Cherokee wasn't involved in this test was because the model to compete with Ford was over 4 grand more.

 

[Doug D]

Compass, Renegade and Patriot never deserved the Jeep name. From day one IMO.
The Cherokee barely makes the Jeep cut IMO but would be a more apt comparison to the Bronco Sport. The three mentioned above I compare to “entry level” models which always cheapen even a stellar brand name.

Agreed.

I have posted it before and I'll post it again - This was Norm's concern and fear for Jeep. The only models worthy of the Jeep name are Wrangler and Grand Cherokee and maybe the Cherokee.

The rest should have been under Dodge or Chrysler.

 

[Dave Z]

Pursuing short term profit over long term sustainability ... is a problem. Hard to blame SM when he was focused on putting out fires and did allow Renegade a lot more time and money to be more credible than the original prototypes. I really was disappointed in the new Compass, though, I thought they'd have taken that time to go a lot further. I know it's "bad" to want yet another platform, but they really need something unique to Jeep that can spread from Renegade size up to Cherokee, and is not based on a car.

 

[allparman]

I very much doubt that the next Renegade, Compass or Cherokee will be based off what's in hand now. The group as a whole has the means to produce a dedicated platform and I suspect Tavares will push for this. Even the KJ for all its shortcomings was far more of an offroader than those three.

 

[rapidtrans]

Had they let Chrysler, Dodge or Fiat handle the FWD/AWD mass market, Jeep could have stayed true to its roots.

The good news is that Jeep can still have its brand secured and strengthened.

Agree.
Put those vehicles under different brands or just be frank, call them “ Street Jeeps” and play it up. My sarcastic side suggests “Weak Jeeps” but probably wouldn’t help sales. I would quit with the suv look and go with Subaru style cross-over wagons and such. But that’s just me.

 

[Dave Z]

Agree.
Put those vehicles under different brands or just be frank, call them “ Street Jeeps” and play it up. My sarcastic side suggests “Weak Jeeps” but probably wouldn’t help sales. I would quit with the suv look and go with Subaru style cross-over wagons and such. But that’s just me.

They're not weak.

 

[Bob sheaves]

Dodge Came So Close To Producing This Off-Road Version Of The Caravan

Тhe management loved the project so much that a one-off, full-size prototype was built for test and promotional purposes.

www-motor1-com.cdn.ampproject.org

This thing was weak.

 

[CherokeeVision]

Knowing that Bob was involved with the Bronco Sport adds to my desire to check it out.

 

[jclick]

It’s time to put the 2.0t in the Compass. This one change along with the new interior would put Compass ahead of the pack. The interior makes it nice, the 2.0t makes it desirable. Or give us a Dodge CUV with the 2.0t.

 

[06PTElectricBlue]

The thing about the new Bronco's is, it's not a one-trick pony but rather a stable of choices, with several trim levels available on each version, so with numerous choices available, there should be something appealing to almost everyone.

I had a '90 Bronco II and I loved it, I like the new Bronco's, too

 

[tomaz]

Ok but how would it far with the 4xe Trailhawk Compass? or the Current Renegade Trailhawk?

 

[Zagnut27]

Quote from the off-road minivan article posted above:

“The challenge was to try and find a way to radically change the minivan’s appearance without spending any money,”

Change it to read, “The challenge was to try and find a way to radically change (insert subject) without spending any money.” and that just about sums up my marching orders for my entire managerial experience.

Still, I like the concept of an off-road capable van. Just not THAT van.

 

[page2171]

Quote from the off-road minivan article posted above:

“The challenge was to try and find a way to radically change the minivan’s appearance without spending any money,”

Change it to read, “The challenge was to try and find a way to radically change (insert subject) without spending any money.” and that just about sums up my marching orders for my entire managerial experience.

Still, I like the concept of an off-road capable van. Just not THAT van.

My suggestion for an off road minivan for when Chrysler gets shut down.... Pacifica Trailhawk.

 

[David S]

Pursuing short term profit over long term sustainability ... is a problem. Hard to blame SM when he was focused on putting out fires and did allow Renegade a lot more time and money to be more credible than the original prototypes. I really was disappointed in the new Compass, though, I thought they'd have taken that time to go a lot further. I know it's "bad" to want yet another platform, but they really need something unique to Jeep that can spread from Renegade size up to Cherokee, and is not based on a car.

Bronco sport is car based, there are no BOF small SUVs. They already have 2 non car based midsize SUVs, Wrangler and Grand Cherokee (to be replaced by a car based Giorgio model). A BOF large SUV is coming. No more non car based SUVs are needed. What is needed is more competitive car based SUVs.

I very much doubt that the next Renegade, Compass or Cherokee will be based off what's in hand now. The group as a whole has the means to produce a dedicated platform and I suspect Tavares will push for this. Even the KJ for all its shortcomings was far more of an offroader than those three.

No more dedicated platforms. Bronco Sport is not on a dedicated platform. The way this merger will make money is reducing the number of platforms, not increasing them.

 

[David S]

Ok but how would it far with the 4xe Trailhawk Compass? or the Current Renegade Trailhawk?

The current Renegade Trailhawk is essentially the Compass Trailhawk with a slightly shorter wheelbase and the 1.3T. Not competitive with the 2.0T Bronco sport. I haven't seen enough tests of the 4xe Compass to know how it would do.

 

[Lone Renegade]

All you hear from Ford and the journalist suck ups is Compass Compass Compass. The Cherokee Trailhawk destroys it and the Renegade I view is superior as well, a lot more approach/departure/breakover angle and is lighter weight since they wanted to bring that up. The tires yes are a problem. I sliced the sidewall on those Wildpeak H/Ts my first run, the engine I think was fine for the most part. Compass and Renegade have a shorter crawl ratio of 20:1 or 21:1 vs the Bronco Sport Badland's 18:1

 

[Adventurer55]

If the Compass had the 2.0t with its new interior, plus some decent off road tires, it would at least be competitive. Crack management simply isn't interested in making these competitive it seems. As long as these Jeeps have that ancient 2.4 they're never going to compete.

 

[Erik Latranyi]

The Bronco Sport vs Compass/Renegade illustrates the difference between management commitment to a brand and management milking a brand's equity.

All Broncos are AWD and have rear lockers. Broncos have far better suspensions for their most capable trims than what Jeep offers. Broncos have far better tires for their most capable trims than what Jeep offers. There is much more.

This is cheap vs engineers. Ford set the engineers loose and the Broncos have superior VCI to the Jeeps, which were given red tow hooks, a Trail-Rated badge and cheap tires.

We all saw, and feared, that FCA was milking the Jeep brand with this cheapness and shortcuts. There was no commitment to protecting and strengthening the Jeep brand. Instead, the Jeep name was being diluted and abused.

The Bronco family (and more is coming) is what Jeep should be from a branding perspective.

No excuses. Jeep had many years to prepare for the Bronco. Instead, like so many, they dismissed the voices of those who saw the threat. Now Jeep has taken its first hit. More will follow....especially if the Broncos launch without significant quality issues.

 

[T_690]

The Bronco Sport vs Compass/Renegade illustrates the difference between management commitment to a brand and management milking a brand's equity.

All Broncos are AWD and have rear lockers. Broncos have far better suspensions for their most capable trims than what Jeep offers. Broncos have far better tires for their most capable trims than what Jeep offers. There is much more.

This is cheap vs engineers. Ford set the engineers loose and the Broncos have superior VCI to the Jeeps, which were given red tow hooks, a Trail-Rated badge and cheap tires.

We all saw, and feared, that FCA was milking the Jeep brand with this cheapness and shortcuts. There was no commitment to protecting and strengthening the Jeep brand. Instead, the Jeep name was being diluted and abused.

The Bronco family (and more is coming) is what Jeep should be from a branding perspective.

No excuses. Jeep had many years to prepare for the Bronco. Instead, like so many, they dismissed the voices of those who saw the threat. Now Jeep has taken its first hit. More will follow....especially if the Broncos launch without significant quality issues.

Bronco doesn't have rear "locker".

What Bronco has is a GKN Twinster AWD system with TV rear differential.

 

[Erik Latranyi]

Bronco doesn't have rear "locker".

What Bronco has is a GKN Twinster AWD system with TV rear differential.

Bronco Sport uses an electronic rear locker....something Jeep does not offer on the Compass.

Serious vs non-serious.