Jeep is hard at work readying a replacement for its compact crossovers, the Patriot and the Compass.
The design of this new model will be proably inspired by the larger Cherokee and Grand Cherokee SUVs. Jeep announced last year, in conjunction with the reveal of its five-year product plan, that the Patriot and Compass would be replaced by a single new model in 2016. This unnamed new SUV will fit in between the Renegade and the Cherokee in the Jeep lineup, and will use a stretched version of the “Small Wide 4x4” platform from the Renegade and the related Fiat 500X.
The new Jeep small SUV goes for a more refined, upscale appearance akin to the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee, rather than the more rugged look of the Renegade and Wrangler. The classic slatted Jeep grille should feature prominently up front, and looks to be flanked by small, traditional-looking headlights like those on the Grand Cherokee. The high-riding body carries a fairly upright profile, but a slightly raked rear tailgate makes it clear that the new SUV won’t go for an overly boxy shape like the smaller Renegade.
