jeep compass badge
Carsales Staff25 Mar 2016
NEWS

"No problems" with new Jeep Compass

Despite being axed from the New York motor show, the small SUV is ready to rock, says Jeep

Jeep had planned to debut the long-awaited replacement for the Compass and its similarly-sized compact SUV sibling, the Patriot, at the 2016 New York motor show.

It was a no-show, however, and motoring.com.au wanted to know why, so we asked the head of Jeep, Mike Manley, what the problem was.

"There's no problem with it," he responded, before confirming it will be shown first in South America later this year.

"We decided to launch the new C [segment] SUV in Brazil. It'll be the first plant that gets the global vehicle, so no delays — it's on track."

However, there clearly has been an interruption to the affordable SUV's rollout as the Jeep boss confessed the model was originally set to launch this week, but has now been pushed back to the end of the third quarter of the year, representing a half-year delay.

"We thought it was more appropriate [to launch it in Brazil]," said Manley.

"Anyway, the vehicles released today... what more could you expect from a show? Phenomenal right?" he said of the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk and Summit models.

The ageing Patriot and Compass SUVs will be replaced by this new C-segment or small-sized SUV, but Manley wouldn't be drawn on which of the two names the new model will wear, if any.

It's motoring.com.au's understanding the Compass name will be used, as the US-centric Patriot name isn't considered suitable for global markets, into which the new SUV will slot above the pint-size Renegade.

Roughly the same size as a Volkswagen Tiguan or Nissan QASHQAI, the small Jeep is a crucial model for the brand and it's been rumoured it required further fine-tuning before being released – just like the mid-size Cherokee it will be positioned beneath – which could be another reason for the delay.

Share this article
Written byCarsales Staff
See all articles
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Stay up to dateBecome a carsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Looking for a family car?Get the latest advice and reviews on family car that's right for you.
Explore the Family Hub
Family
Disclaimer
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.

If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
Download the carsales app
    AppStoreDownloadGooglePlayDownload
    App Store and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
    © CAR Group Ltd 1999-2024
    In the spirit of reconciliation we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.