Jeep's Verison of a Dodge Caliber

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Joey D

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Jeep Compass
Source: www.autoweek.com

The Compass is based on the upcoming Dodge Caliber. It will be offered with either 2wd or 4wd. The U.S. street-racing Jeep fan will get a 2.4-liter gas mill fitted to a 103.7-inch wheelbase.

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Blazin's Note: Maybe this means an AWD Caliber?
 
It looks swollen.

The wheels don't seem to match the giant fenders. They should be a little bigger for looks at least.
 
Can't say that I like it. I don't care for the Caliber, either, but the Jeep just looks like it has too much bodywork. That bumper shouldn't have those two "chunks" on the edges.
 
That's just the worst case of platform sharing I've ever seen.
 
I like it, its definatley better than the Liberty. It will probably sell well here in Michigan where people buy AWD Crossovers just because of the snow.
 
Who street races Jeeps?

Maybe it's a Jeep thing we don't understand...in fact I think the Compass is a Jeep thing that even Jeepers don't understand. :lol:
 
Emohawk
It's an answer to a question that nobody asked, and it's not even a good answer.

Who street races Jeeps?

:lol: sig material, if I were the sigging type.
 
They are obviously shooing for the HHR and Element/CR-V here... I would take a look at this before going to the Honda dealer...

Pros: Jeep looks and cababilities for the price of a well-equipped Neon, AWD for the "light-use" offroaders.
Cons: Car-based parts are a no-go for "Trail-Rated" rating, is the public really in need of a sub-Wrangler Jeep?
Verdict: An interesting new model from Jeep that neither wows or impresses.
 
A mini-Jeep, eh? And here I thought the Caliber was a bad idea. :rolleyes:

Emohawk
Who street races Jeeps?

A geeky friend of mine loved to gun it from stoplights in his parents' Grand Cherokee...
 
If by trail rated they mean the dirt path between my house and my barn... THEN TRAIL RATED IT IS!
 
I hope (and honestly believe) that this thing will tank so badly that Chrysler will be paying for the sheer stupidity of the very idea for the next 27 years. Jeep doesn't need and shouldn't have a car-based SUV. Remeber, this was the same crowd of buyers that complained when the Liberty wasn't made with a live front axle. Besides, Jeep moves near-millions of Wranglers, and they can't make enough Grand Cherokee's. Why in hell do they need this? The only good thing about this is that when Dodge SRT's the Caliber (which I actually like quite a lot, but I wish there was a sedan version), it will be a mini-Evo and fully smite the twins over at GM.
 
looks like some kind of fetal twin.

All the cars in the jeep lineup look like a family of DNA-cloned mutation thingies.
 
Toronado
I hope (and honestly believe) that this thing will tank so badly that Chrysler will be paying for the sheer stupidity of the very idea for the next 27 years. Jeep doesn't need and shouldn't have a car-based SUV. Remeber, this was the same crowd of buyers that complained when the Liberty wasn't made with a live front axle. Besides, Jeep moves near-millions of Wranglers, and they can't make enough Grand Cherokee's. Why in hell do they need this? The only good thing about this is that when Dodge SRT's the Caliber (which I actually like quite a lot, but I wish there was a sedan version), it will be a mini-Evo and fully smite the twins over at GM.

Actually, an AWD SRT Caliber would be more of a micro-Forrester than anything else... but who knows? Lowered to the ground, it just might pass muster. 👍

27 years? That's a bit too optimistic. I'd say they'll be paying for it till the end of time.
 
Well, the problem is that Jeep does not have a small, afordable, and capable AWD vehcile to capture sales from crossovers like the CRV, RAV-4, etc which sell exceptionally well in states with snow... Thats the percieved void that Jeep feels they need to fill...
 
The Liberty is somewhat there, but it's not really a Crossover.
 
Liberty has some serious build quality issues and even with the "economical" diesel option, it still cant fetch the EPA numbers it needs to lure in buyers from Honda and Toyota... Plus, with Hyundai and Kia now in the SUV market, Jeep will be fighting not only domestic competiton, but also the Japanese and Koreans...
 
worst looking jeep ever :yuck:
if it runs well with good features, that may help the sales
but I don't feel optimistic for them
 
YSSMAN
Well, the problem is that Jeep does not have a small, afordable, and capable AWD vehcile to capture sales from crossovers like the CRV, RAV-4, etc which sell exceptionally well in states with snow... Thats the percieved void that Jeep feels they need to fill...
The problem is, though, that this will destroy the brand image. Ask Porsche what happens when you do that. This may sell like hot cakes (I doubt it), but the fact that by doing so Jeep has just pissed away 60 years of brand image doesn't make it worth it. And this doesnt even look like it can compete with those other crossovers, as, besides the fact that it's ugly as sin, it's simply not proportioned like an SUV like those you listed are, and likewise can't be sold as such. It's like trying to have a Magnum wagon compete with a Trailblazer.
 
Ebiggs
Can't say that I like it. I don't care for the Caliber, either, but the Jeep just looks like it has too much bodywork. That bumper shouldn't have those two "chunks" on the edges.

yeah those look like a fat kid's cheaks
 
The Dodge Nitro is the same as the Jeep Liberty, so, yeah...

This may sell like hot cakes (I doubt it), but the fact that by doing so Jeep has just pissed away 60 years of brand image doesn't make it worth it.
Brand image is obviously something that matters, there is no doubt in it. But when Porsche built the Cayanne, people were pissed... Now it's their best selling model and gives them their greatest ammount of profit on a single vehicle. I'm not a dedicated Porscheophile, so my opinion may be skewed a bit, but the truck is nice and has done a good job a stirring up the sport-lux SUV market...

I highlt doubt the Compass will have the same effect, but I would wait to drive it before completely discounting it. Having the seven-slot grille on the front may drive sales, and with rising gas prices, it gives Jeep a reason to say: "Hey, one of our models can get 30MPG!"
 
Toronado
The problem is, though, that this will destroy the brand image. Ask Porsche what happens when you do that.

Make lots of money and buy 20% of the shares of a company much, much larger than you are?
 
Id have to say the Cayanne is the best colaboration between Porsche and VW since the origional 356 and 550 Spyder... I wouldnt necessiarily call the 914 a huge success, but hey, some people like them...

Considering that Porsche just bought 20% of VW, it looks like they are finially trying to get back together and do what they used to do. Hopefully the new Panamera will kick ass...
 
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