Comments on: Chrysler to overhaul Jeep Compass, Patriot, Dodge Caliber interiors

By: farout

farout — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:21:26 +0000

It’s a darn shame that DCX even produced this over priced, plastic, basic transpertation, and it sure doesn’t even come close to being a Jeep! I had one of these tin boxes a Compass bought in April 2007. The CVT is a cheap excuse for a transmission, and the engine is gutless! The gas mileage suckes, 21 to 23 mpg! Traded it in after 4 months and 10,000 miles! Bought a Chrysler Pacifica and it gets 21 to 24 mpg and rides like a dream. Should not the Compass get better fuel mileage than the 4,500 lb Pacifica????
If Chrysler had doubts about the Caliber, Patriot, and Compass but threw them out the door as they were then shame on them! Unless Chrysler starts making the insides like that of the Pacifica they won’t last to long!

farout

By: mazdaman

mazdaman — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:43:11 +0000

rockstars: If that’s the case, then Chrysler LLC needs to discontinue the Compass. They keep saying they are going to cancel the underperforming models; it sounds like the Compass would be a candidate. The Patriot seems like it’s more than capable of handling entry level duties for the Jeep brand if the Compass is not selling well.

By: rockstars

rockstars — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:07:26 +0000

Just a little FYI… we make hardly any Compasses. It is all Calibers or Patriots with a Compass sprinkled in every 50 cars or so for good measure.

By: tripleonefive

tripleonefive — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 04:44:46 +0000

Blakkar
I think BMW made that Dodge lol Its called the x6

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:39:07 +0000

1c3d0g: now if I can only convince the wife to get the 5 spd over the CVT. Could happen- at least I’ve got until fall to work on that.

By: Get Real

Get Real — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:37:36 +0000

Filled with hard plastic…you listening Ford ??

The Mustang is full of it, so was the doomed LS.

By: 1c3d0g

1c3d0g — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:53:01 +0000

Maybe this is a good time to kill off the Compass which IMO is just Chrysler’s version of an Aztek. If they discontinue the Compass it’ll also give a sales boost to the other Jeep model. And the Patriot is still a worthy vehicle if you select the Freedom Drive 2 package along with a Diesel engine (available outside North America only). Now that they’re planning on improving the interior, I also will be waiting like johnnycanuck before buying one. The weight of the vehicle is pretty amazing considering its size and class (3300~3500 lbs. compared to a now discontinued ~4300 lbs. Blazer).

By: Elvio

Elvio — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:33:08 +0000

even if they make the interiors better….the exteriors still FUGLY.

By: S-60-driver

S-60-driver — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:07:03 +0000

^^ 2,500 dollars*

By: S-60-driver

S-60-driver — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:06:25 +0000

It said they KNEW the interiors were crap and cheap before they built them…… my god, who were these people running at Chrysler??
Its not that hard to take a look at the interior and feel it. Then cancel the launch unitl the interior is done right.

Stupid friggin’ overpaid old farts approving everything in 5 mins out of a year! Rest of time are golfing, sailing, farting in their 2,500 leather chairs at home, showing off their lame ass Mercedes at local country clubs, etc etc.

By: mazdaman

mazdaman — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:00:17 +0000

As much as I would really like to see both the Compass and Patriot discontinued (I still think they dilute Jeep’s image, especially the Compass), there have been reports that these vehicles are selling well for Jeep outside of the U.S. That being the case, it is a good thing that they are addressing the shortcomings in the interior. Maybe this might improve their sales performance in the U.S.

As far as Chrysler realizing their blunders in interior design/execution, I guess it’s better late than never. It seems that they would have saved themselves a lot of effort and money if they did it right the first time, but then they were being totally mismanaged by Daimler at the time that these vehicles were conceived/engineered. I hope this new attitude about interiors means that the next generation of Chrysler LLC products will have great interiors at their introduction time, not a couple years later.

By: purdue

purdue — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:19:53 +0000

I love the Patriot the way it is. $14,000 for some great features is a BARGAIN. I would NOT want them to sissy-fy them to placate bloggers who won’t care if you give them a Bugatti at a Yugo price if it has a Chrysler logo on it.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:35:19 +0000

The wife and I checked out a Patriot 2 weeks ago and we’re seriously considering doing the 2 for 1 and replacing her PT and my Tracker with the 4WD version before next winter. We’ll definitely wait now knowing a new interior is on the way. We both like the size and the look of the Patriot, and I like that it’s a fairly robust 4 cylinder as opposed to a more expensive 6. I also like the price, and the great thing with Chrysler is if you can play a few dealers off each other you can usually get a pretty sweet deal.

By: Astonman12

Astonman12 — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:29:40 +0000

im glad they are changing those awful interiors. they are so boring and cheap but im glad they recognized them right away.

By: sctdiverdown

sctdiverdown — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:45:10 +0000

Amazing …..i really like the Commander interior and the fit and finish are very good (at least in the 2006, 2007 model years i drove for long periods of time).
They did have mechanical problems / recalls on it if i remember correctly ;-(
But i love the boxy look, skylights, Ergonomics etc etc
If they could improve the reliability and gas mileage a bit – they could have a real winner ….

BUT NO !!! They want to kill it in 2009 or so, meanwhile they keep building embarrasing vehicles like the Compass and the Patriot.

The Liberty seems to be taking a beating also as far as quality, fit and finish, etc etc.
The “sky dome” option or whatever they call it is the nicest design on that SUV….

By: SwerveEarly

SwerveEarly — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:32:55 +0000

Start with the interior but keep going these rides are horrible. Also think they are redundant kill the Compass and redesign the exterior of Pat so it looks more like a Jeep. Then rename it and relaunch it. Patriot is a lame ass name and as a Chargers fan I cant buy anything named Patriot.

By: Blakkarr

Blakkarr — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:26:41 +0000

I wish that the Compass was more like the Avenger concept they showed a few years back.

http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z6647/Dodge/default.aspx

that would have been a much nicer machine than the Compass, which looks and feels, completely superfluous and out of place, against the rest of the Jeep line-up. Plus it would have given Chrysler a “rally car”. Who wouldn’t go for a New Jeep “Eagle” after Chrysler builds on to chase up Pike’s Peak and maybe a couple of all-road rallies around the world.

But back to the interiors…

Good news. But next time do it right the first time!

By: TomF

TomF — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:21:11 +0000

I was primed to write the same thing. Kill the Compass, streamline the damn lineup, put some more effort into Liberty fit and finish / trim levels / curb appeal. They’re throwing two bad vehicles at the same niche. Try one OK one instead.

By: 6ix

6ix — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:26:44 +0000

2nd that!! Drop the Compass!!

When comparing modern Chrysler interiors to the old minivan interiors from the early 1990′s, they’re noticeably colder and more sterile. They need to integrate more fabric into them. The door panels especially.

By: corvette

corvette — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:22:56 +0000

about time. Chrysler is finally getting on point. how long did it take them to address all the issues with their dodge chrysler and now jeep interiors.

By: golf4me

golf4me — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:22:46 +0000

Just dump the Compass while they’re at it! At least the Patriot looks somewhat like a Jeep even though it’s still a POS.