When someone mentions Jeep, the first vehicle that comes to mind may be the Wrangler or perhaps the Grand Cherokee. It’s probably not the Compass. The little SUV is far from the sexiest or most capable SUV in the Jeep lineup, though it’s a night-and-day upgrade from the unsightly first-gen model. The current generation, although heavily updated, has been in production since 2016. But the Compass has been perhaps the lone success story at a time when Jeep sales are struggling.
Key Takeaways
- The Jeep Compass is showing double-digit year-over-year sales growth
- It’s doing so at a time when Jeep is experiencing sales declines
- The Compass is incredibly affordable at a time when most Jeeps aren’t
- But that could change with tariffs and a new model on the way
Jeep Compass Sales Are Doing Very Well
Jeep sold 111,697 Compass SUVs in 2024. That was a 16 percent year-over-year increase from 2023, marking the Compass’s third consecutive year of showing double-digit growth. Jeep’s overall sales fell 9 percent during the same period. That story is continuing in 2025. Jeep sold 31,730 Compass SUVs in America in Q1 2025. That was another 15 percent increase year-over-year from Q1 2024. And it occurred during a period when Jeep’s overall sales declined by 10 percent.
That’s not enough to overtake the Wrangler or Grand Cherokee in sales. But the Compass is outselling the Wagoneer lineup and the Gladiator pickup combined.
Why Is The Jeep Compass Selling So Well?
The Jeep Compass sells so well because it’s cheap. The Compass currently starts at just $26,900 MSRP. The lineup tops out with the $32,990 Trailhawk trim. Jeep has dropped the Renegade and the Cherokee from its crossover lineup, leaving the Compass as the lone reasonably priced vehicle. Yes, vehicles like the Wrangler have nominally low starting MSRPs. However, even the most basic of real-life builds can get pricey.
A base model Jeep Wrangler Sport, equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission, a hard top, and floor mats, starts at $43,160 MSRP. The price increases to $45,155 when the mandatory destination and handling charge are included. That is the absolute base model version of the Wrangler. Want a paint color besides white? That will bump up the price. The Compass might not be what a buyer wants, per se, but comparatively, it’s a great deal.
TopSpeed’s Take
Despite the sales success, the Compass’s future appears somewhat uncertain at the moment. Trump administration tariffs could become a critical issue for the Compass. Jeep assembles the current Compass in Mexico with an engine imported from Italy. Jeep reportedly has a new Compass coming soon. But that reported Compass is supposed to be larger and hybrid, which suggests a price bump. The new vehicle is supposed to be assembled in Canada, which could subject it to tariffs. Jeep also has a reported new Cherokee SUV on the way that could steal some of the Compass’s sales thunder.
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