Moving new inventory hasn’t been the easiest of tasks in the auto industry in recent quarters, given rising inflation and interest rates. One vehicle that has proven extremely difficult to move for the Jeep brand is the Renegade. Despite the brand’s inability to move the Renegade, Jeep has been able to sell quite a few units of the Jeep Compass during Q1 2023, a model that is a very similar caliber to the Renegade.

Here’s a look at why the Jeep Compass seems to be more popular than the Renegade. 

Here’s a look at Q1 2023 data for the Jeep Compass and Renegade 

Jeep been struggling to sell inventory in the U.S. market as of late. According to Kelley Blue Book, the non-luxury brands with the highest day supply or inventory levels in the U.S. are all Stellantis brands, including Jeep, Ram, Dodge, and Chrysler.

Despite the Jeep brand as a whole having trouble moving inventory, some models within the Jeep lineup are fairing better than others. This is definitely the case when comparing the Jeep Compass to the Jeep Renegade. 

Data compiled by GM Authority shows in the subcompact crossover segment, the Jeep Compass sold 23,209 units during Q1 2023 and made up 8% of the total market share within this category. In contrast, the Jeep Renegade only sold 4,129 units and made up only 1% of the total market share.

While the Compass clearly outperformed the Renegade during Q1 2023, both the Compass and Renegade saw a decrease in sales year over year when comparing Q1 2023 sales with Q1 2022 sales.

Compass sales decreased by nearly 5%, while Renegade sales saw a nearly 60% decrease in sales, going from 9,900 units sold in Q1 2022 to only 4,129 units sold during Q1 2023.  

A subcompact Jeep showdown 

According to Jeep, the Jeep Renegade has a starting MSRP of $28,345, while the MSRP of the Compass is $28,400. The 2023 Renegade is available in five trim levels, including Latitude with an MSRP of $28,345, Upland with an MSRP of $29,190, Altitude with an MSRP of $29,345, Trailhawk with an MSRP of $32,465, and Limited with an MSRP of $32,970. 

In comparison, the 2023 Compass is available in eight total trim levels. The base Sport trim starts at $28,400, Latitude starts at $32,890, Latitude Lux starts at $34,390, Altitude starts at $34,785, Limited starts at $35,745, Trailhawk starts at $36,490, RED starts at $38,335, and High Altitude starts at $39,235. 

While the Renegade and Compass offer similar starting MSRPs on their base models, the Renegade is still considered the entry point into the Jeep lineup. However, according to U.S. News, the Renegade is actually ranked number 15 in the category of Subcompact SUVs, while the Compass takes the number 16 spot.

Despite the Renegade ranking slightly higher than the Compass, the Compass remains a more sought-after Jeep model. 

Why is the Jeep Compass outperforming the Jeep Renegade?

While the Jeep Renegade and Compass are quite similar subcompact SUVs, there are some key differences that allow the Compass to move more units than the Renegade. One factor that elevates the Compass is its power and performance. Both Renegade and Compass base models have an automatic transmission and 4WD drivetrain. However, their key differences become apparent with their engines. 

The Jeep Compass is powered by 4-Cyl Turbo 2.0 Liter engine, while the Jeep Renegade has a 4-Cyl Turbo 1.3 Liter under the hood. The Renegade offers only 177 hp, while the Compass can muster up 200 hp.

Despite the clear power and performance benefits of the Compass, the Renegade does provide a better fuel economy. The Compass offers consumers 24 city / 32 hwy, whereas the Renegade provides 23 city / 29 hwy. Despite the slightly more efficient fuel efficiency of the Renegade, it seems that consumers still prefer the Compass. 

In addition to the enhanced power and performance that the Jeep Compass provides in comparison to the Renegade, the Compass also offers more cargo space. The cargo capacity of the Compass with all seats in place is 27.2 cu-ft In comparison, the cargo capacity of the Renegade with all seats in place is only 18.5 cu-ft.

While it’s clear that the Compass offers more cargo room than the Renegade, it’s also important to note that neither one offers great cargo capacity for a vehicle in the subcompact SUV category. Overall, it seems that the Jeep Compass triumphs over the Renegade due to the enhanced power, performance, and cargo capacity that it provides to Jeep fanatics.