Jeep may be a very popular brand with a loyal following, but Q1 2023 didn’t do the brand justice. The sales simply weren’t there, and only one model showed any growth. So which vehicle was it and why?

Q1 2023 was not good for Jeep

Stellantis has posted the sales numbers for Q1 2023, and it’s certainly nothing to brag about. Jeep has seen a volume change of -20% since 2022, and there was a drop in sales across the board.

In 2022, Jeep sold 193,281. For Q1 2023 the Jeep sales numbers fell to 154,203. This is a loss of 39,078 vehicles.

The Renegade saw the largest drop in volume change, with a loss of 59%. The Grand Wagoneer sales fell 36%, and the Grand Cherokee 27%.

The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is not only the best-selling plug-in hybrid in the U.S., but it also saw an increase in sales of 72%. When you add this to the total number of sales for the Wrangler, however, it still has a total loss of -17%.

The sole Jeep model that saw any true growth was the Cherokee, and it saw an increase of 31%. So what is so special about the Cherokee that shoppers continue to purchase it over all other Jeep models?

The 2023 Jeep Cherokee

The 2023 Jeep Cherokee has some decent power to it. It is equipped with a 2.4-liter inline-four engine that generates 180 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque. The Trailhawk offers a more powerful engine, which is the 2.0-liter inline-four that produces 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.

The 2023 Jeep Cherokee can tow up to 2,000 lbs and has a max payload capacity of 1,000 lbs. There aren’t a ton of safety features, but you’ll get blind spot and lane departure warnings and lane keep assist. You can access Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on your 8.4-inch infotainment display size.

The cost for a 2023 Jeep Cherokee starts at $37,695. If you want a fully loaded Cherokee Trailhawk, it’s $51,095.

Given that the 2023 Jeep Cherokee isn’t exactly on the same level as the Wrangler, it’s not clear why shoppers are so drawn to it. There is one potential reason, however. 

The Cherokee may be outperforming other Jeep models because it’s officially dead, at least for the time being. We recently reported that Jeep has stopped production on all Cherokee models, as the Belvidere, Illinois plant where they were being produced was shut down so that Jeep can switch over to manufacturing electric vehicles.

It’s possible that the Cherokee could be making a comeback, this time as an EV. We’ll just have to wait and see if this comes to fruition or not, however.

Why is the Compass more popular than the Renegade?

Even though the Jeep Compass saw a loss in sales volume, it wasn’t as high as the other models. It lost only five percent, while the Renegade lost 59%. There’s actually a solid reason for this.

Both have a similar MSRP. The Renegade starts at $28,345, while the Compass costs $28,400. This is where the similarities end. The Compass offers eight trim levels, as compared to the Renegade’s five, so there are more choices for the Compass.

The major reason shoppers are more eager to embrace the Compass is the engine. It has a four-cylinder turbo 2.0-liter engine with 200 hp. In comparison, the Renegade is equipped with a four-cylinder turbo 1.3-liter, which gets 177 hp.

Then there’s the cargo space. The Compass has 27.2 cu-ft, while the Renegade only gets 18.5 cu-ft.

Even though things aren’t looking so hot for Jeep right now, this could change going forward. We’ll just have to wait for more data to see if things are turning around for the American automaker.