Is it just me or does anyone else think that Jeep is heading in the wrong direction? Take the Compass and Patriot for example, neither come with a true four wheel drive system and are more "car like" than anything else. Jeep building "cars" is kind of like Buick building four wheel drives, it's just well, uh wrong. If they wanted to fill in a missing gap in the industry it would be to bring back the mini-truck "ala Jeep style". Look at all the success Toyota had in the 70's and 80's with the SR5. Their Tacoma now is now the size of a Dodge Dakota and the fuel mileage is poor. Nissan is in the same boat and Mitsubishi's attempt gave us a different body on a Dakota platform. I say design a mini 4x4 with a seven slot grille, a real lever poking through the floor for a transfer case ( not some wishy-washy viscosous coupling device), coil sprung optional locking axles and a choice of a 4 or 6 cylinder motor. Don't make the cab big enough for the whole family, after all it won't be competeing in the suv market, but the old buckboard bench seat could remain in the dumpster. What do you think?  

I think that a lot of it has to do with CAFE requirements.  For every Commander DCX sells they have to push two or three "mini" cars to balance the numbers.  And with the JK being taller, longer, wider, heavier than the TJ, well, that has to have a balancing agent too.

Also, IMHO, all of the managers today are "brand" managers not "product" managers which means that they will sell you anything as long as it has the right name on it.  Who cares what underpins the body, people just want to drive a Jeep and it doesn't have to live up to anything like a reputation.  I guess that cubic zirconias are the same thing; it isn't a diamond but who really cares, right?

With all of the bad news coming from DCX these days, maybe the Jeep line could be marketed to someone else, after all, it has a long string of "owners", what would one more be?

Disclosure:  Since I don't have an MBA I can't possibly know what business is all about so you can probably disregard all of the above.  An MBA probably brought us the "Compass Karaoke" though...

Keep the shiny side up, if you can.

Jay  

Point taken... I guess I'm just a dying breed or old an set in my ways. What's that adage? Oh yeah, something about old dog and new tricks!  

Jeep builds SUVs. Why shouldn't they have a product in every esgment of the market? The hottest growing market right now is the small SUV, and until now, Jeep has lagged in a market they pioneered. The Patriot fills a void where the Ford Escape and others are filling. It amazes me to see people ignore the fact that the beloved XJ was indeed a station wagon. Yes, it was a car. A uni-body station wagon.  

You know, I don't really have a problem with Jeep building Cars. But don't do it at the expense of your heritage. Jeep got rid of the Cherokee, one of the best 4x4's ever, and in its place offer the new Grand Cherokee, Liberty, or Commander. No. None of these are an acceptable alternative.

In short, if you are going to do this at least leave the Trail Rated badge off of it. How many Commanders or Patriots have you ever seen on a trail? For me the number is 0.  

I don't think the sport's problem is whether someone wants to buy a car with a stripe on it to think he's got a race car or if some moussehead wants a Compass for the slotted grille. Our challenges are to keep bubba from damaging trails, littering and trespassing. Between the tree huggers, developers, Bush trying to sell off BLM, National Forest land and the blue-nosers, trail closures are going to be coming fast and furious without diligence. Back to topic, let's hope an American entity buys Chrysler and has an inkling of what Jeep stands for.  

If you do not like the Patriot or Commander, fine, don't buy one. They still are jeeps, and in trail rated form, you are unlikely to fine any other brand of vehicle that can match the their off-road performance. Sure, they are not hard-core like a Wrangler, but they still are far more capaple than just about anything else in their respective classes. On another note.... I do agree with everyone else about the lunacy that is the Compass. ????????? Not a Jeep.  

I bet I could wheel a Ford Exporer, Nissan Xterra, Chevy Tahoe, or any other full size SUV just as well if not better than the Patriot of Commander. And none of them have a 'Trail Rated' bade.

They may as well slap SRT on the 4-Bangers as well while they are at it. It is the same thing. All it is doing is taking away from the brand and discrediting the "Trail Rated" badge.  

I'm not too familiar with the Commander, but I am with the Patriot. The Patriot has features and abilities that none of its competitors have. Do a little research and you will see. As far as taking away from the brand, I disagree. Even Porsche made a four banger (914), and their reputation is intact. Jaguar make an entry level car also, the X type and their brand was not cheapened. Jeep has made 2 wheel drive 4 bangers as well. The XJ. And jeeps reputation is still intact.  

You are missing one thing I said there... it is the fact that Jeep is placing the 'Trail Rated' Badge on everything they make, including the not so capable vehicles. That is taking away from the brands integrity, and the integrity of being 'Trail Rated'. Jeep could slap a 7-Slot Grill on a rebadged Neon for all I care, just for the love of pete don't stick the *** 'Trail Rated' badge on everything.

Anyway, that is just my personal opinion.  

At least the Compass doesn't have a Trail Rated Badge!    Jeep has some sort of standard for the trail rating, but I have no Idea what it is....  

That is true. At least the Compass doesn't.  

Is everyone too shallow to remember that Jeep is first and foremost a CAR company?

Takes only a little bit of research here folks, but Jeep has built CARS since it's beginning.

Anyone remember the utility station wagon?  Came out about 1946?  Not offered in 4wd for several years?

How about the DJ???? Anyone ever heard of a Surrey?  Anyone check the mail 10 years ago?

How about the original Jeepster?
How about the original Wagoneer?  Torsion bar front end?

The XJ was a fine station wagon.  Period.
The Compass makes a great commuter car.  The Patriot makes a great grocery getter.
The Commander makes a great tow rig.
The Wrangler is finally where it should have been 20 years ago.  There's a reason old Land Rovers and Land Cruisers are everywhere in the third world.
Yes, there should be a Gladiator.  Until then, build a Brute.