This is a fairly interesting 13-minute video. In it, Jon defends some of Jeep's policies, and criticizes others. He makes a good case for both Jeep's past and some of its present mistakes.....among them questionable value for what Jeep is charging today, and why sales are down from the all-time high in 2018. The brand, as a whole, has also been noted for reliability problems.

I myself was a big fan of the 4th-Generation (2011-2020) Grand Cherokee, and thought quite highly of it, at least with its comfort-level, interior, and how it drove. Steve (SW17LS) had two of them, and (if I remember correctly) bitkahuna also had one.....(correct me if I'm wrong, bit). But, after reviews and/or test-drives, I had a very low opinion of the Compass, Renegade, and Liberty, (particularly the early versions of the Compass, which were cheap as **** inside and out), and, while I found it acceptable as a daily-driver, was not terribly thrilled with the regular-grade Cherokee.

 

I looked at the Jeep.compas in some ads and pics and it was a hard pass for me.

I didn't hook me in any way. Lol

 

If you had seen and test-driven one personally, particularly the early ones, it probably would have verified your conclusion. Jeep made the interior at least a little nicer after a lot of complaints about the 1-Generation model.

 

Of course, everything is.

 

Jeep Wrangler has been overpriced for a while. But they make plenty of sales, so why should they lower the price and leave $ on the table?

 

Are they overpriced? No. If anything they are well priced, and they always have tons of Chrysler trunk money.

 

Thats the entry level Jeep lol. Look at a loaded Grand a Cherokee or Grand Wagoneer and you’ll feel differently.

 

Oh yeah, the loaded full size Grand is super nice.
I was only looking at the Compas because that was closer to my budget. Lol 😃

 

Their plug in hybrid wrangler has been an abomination.

 

If you want one, right now, there's Employee-pricing on the Compass...plus $2000 off some models in stock.

The first-generation Compass was an abomination.....the latest one, although no luxury-vehicle, is significantly nicer inside and out.

https://www.jeep.com/compass.html

 

Top end of the fleet, is having issues whether mechanically or attracting customers willing to pay escalade money. The 392 ruby personally is my fav tho, the wrangler just calls for it be all motor.

 

I think what Jon was talking about in the video was their relative value compared to competitors.....some of which are significantly better-built and more reliable.

 

I think the main problem with Grand Wagoneer sales is that they marketed it under the Jeep nameplate, and then charged 100K for it....basically competing with the full-luxury-class Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. Even considering Jeep's admitted popularity, shelling out 100K for that nameplate may be just a bit much for a lot of potential buyers. If they had marketed it instead as a Chrysler, perhaps bringing back the old Chrysler Imperial nameplate (which until the 70s, and a brief later version, used to compete with the Caddies and Lincolns), my guess is it probably would be selling better.

VW tried that in the past (marketing an ultra-luxurious W8/W12-engine Phaeton sedan competing with the BMW 7-series and Mercedes S-class), and the results were a sales-flop, even though the Phaetons had a significantly lower price. It probably would have sold at least a little better had it been marketed as an Audi....although Audi, of course, had its own A8.

 

The Phaeton failed here yes but did great overseas and they really didn't care if it did or didn't....the point was revenge on Mercedes for the A class. That and to just outright show off and provide a platform for the the newly acquired Bentley.

The comparison to Audi is one people often make but couldn't be more wrong, they share nearly nothing and the feel/goals of the cars couldn't be anymore different!

The A8 is far sharper, lighter, direct, and made to please the driver as the first goal vs the Phaeton being intended to RELAX everyone in it. That's why they chose steel instead of aluminum, it was an intentional choice to make the car more damped and heavy to further the feeling of serenity.

The Phaeton also has insane attention to detail and bespoke systems that nothing else has ever used, the powered trunk is a hydraulic system for example with hidden latch. The HVAC system is a masterwork as well with Mercedes air scarf like shoulder heater systems for all 4 outside passengers and a draft-less diffuser system for air. All lights fade in/out and interior lights are only by individual door etc, just so many little things it's amazing to behold

Its a level of attention to detail greater than an LS430 and backed up by a world class suspension and driveline

 

I don't agree at all. If you look at what they cost relative to their competitors thet feel much more upscale and they are far more substantial vehicles.