Jeep Tries to Hide the Compass' Ugly Older Sister as New Model Bows

Thanks to the weird and inexact science of pinning down a model year for a new introduction, Jeep finds itself playing a game of “hide the Compass.” The old Compass, that is.

You know the one. Barely updated over its decade-long lifespan, hated by TTAC but loved by consumers? That Compass. Certainly not the larger, second-generation model, with its new platform, upgraded looks and carryover engine. That global model is the one Jeep wants everyone to know about and, of course, buy.

Unfortunately, the model year conventions found in some overseas countries means the global model launching this spring carries a 2017 designation. As does the final cohort of the old Compass.

If you weren’t there for the funeral, the Jeep Patriot and Compass twins walked the Green Mile back on December 23. There’s still plenty of stock left ( Jeep sold 2,737 units in February), but the new Compass looms large. Trying to pin down an exact on-sale date has proven difficult, though Jeep lists “late spring” as its dealership debut.

That leaves Jeep with the odd problem of having two wholly different models with the same name and model year. Unlike other models that soldiered on alongside a next-generation sibling as a fleet or value option — older-generation Impalas, Malibus, and the Canadian fourth-generation Golf and Jetta come to mind — this overlap is just temporary. No need to affix a “Classic” or “City” to the name.

To solve this annoying issue, Jeep has taken an obvious approach. Get the old model out the door and out of the way while calling absolutely no attention to it. The automaker’s website lists no 2017 Compass, though it does herald the 2017 “All-New Compass.” The now-defunct Patriot remains.

As for when the “All-New Compass” drops the 2017 prefix, well, that’s another unknown.

While Jeep has already shoved the old Compass behind the curtain, there’s still deals to be had on remaining models — not that you’ll read about it on the website. Automotive research site CarsDirect.com claims there’s good deals to be had for buyers who aren’t concerned by the old model’s obsolescence.

“Most versions still feature $3,500 cashback, plus a $500 bonus for financing at non-promotional rates,” writes Alex Bernstein, the site’s senior pricing analyst. “There’s even a $1,000 lease conquest bonus for anyone coming from a non-Chrysler lease. Alternatively, you can choose 0% financing for 60 months plus $1,000 cashback.”

Bernstein claims he’s seen a local dealer asking $14,500 for a 2017 Compass, based on an original MSRP of $22,285.

[Image: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]