The freshened 2022 Jeep Compass, enhanced with a redesigned inside and a brand new infotainment system, made its debut final July by ascending a hill on the model’s impediment course on the Chicago Auto Present.

A 12 months later, it is nonetheless climbing.

After the compact crossover battled by slowed manufacturing in 2021, U.S. gross sales are selecting up. It is one of many few Stellantis fashions that outpaced its 2021 gross sales efficiency within the first half of the 12 months.

The Compass is not as flashy as different Jeep debuts final 12 months, such because the upscale Wagoneer line or the Grand Cherokee L, nevertheless it has nonetheless been a vibrant spot in 2022.

Compass deliveries rose 54 p.c within the second quarter and jumped 36 p.c after six months, placing gross sales at 46,335 by June within the hotly contested compact crossover phase that is dominated by the Toyota RAV4, Chevrolet Equinox and Honda CR-V. The Compass sits at No. 11 within the phase, simply behind the GMC Terrain.

Some analysts say Jeep will not be happy with this place out there, they usually consider electrification may very well be the important thing piece that sends Compass quantity to the subsequent degree if Jeep brings a plug-in hybrid model to the U.S. because it has in Europe.

“After years of huge gross sales, provide chain points final 12 months introduced [Compass] manufacturing nearly to a cease, ravenous stock and dragging down gross sales,” Sam Fiorani, vice chairman of worldwide automobile forecasting for AutoForecast Options, stated in an electronic mail. “Manufacturing lastly began to get better final August with the up to date mannequin, offering sufficient quantity to regain a few of the misplaced gross sales.”

Stellantis CFO Richard Palmer stated in Might that the Compass was performing effectively, which was a welcome sight for a model that he admitted has had challenges in constructing momentum on the decrease finish of the utility market. Palmer stated Jeep will proceed to be sturdy within the increased finish, however the model desires to create demand and loyalty within the smaller crossover segments as effectively.

Compass gross sales peaked in 2018 at 171,167 deliveries, however they’ve slipped annually since, sinking to 75,642 in 2021.

Randy Dye, chairman of the Stellantis Nationwide Vendor Council, stated the Compass might attain that 2018 quantity once more in the future if stock ranges return to regular. Dye, who owns Daytona Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep-Ram in Daytona Seashore, Fla., stated the Compass hasn’t been sitting on his lot for lengthy.

“We have to construct extra,” Dye stated. “I feel it is actually tough in at this time’s surroundings to take a look at gross sales quantity by way of the way in which we historically take a look at issues.”

The Compass should vie for positioning for a number of extra years with out a full redesign. The final makeover was for the 2017 mannequin 12 months.

Fiorani stated the crossover should make do with the varied updates Jeep rolled out for 2022 because the automaker seems to develop quantity.

“An all-new Compass remains to be years away, which suggests updating expertise and inside consolation is the naked minimal wanted to maintain the present mannequin related,” Fiorani stated. “Value and the Jeep model proceed to be causes to purchase the Compass, however as one of many smallest choices within the phase, consumers appear to be prepared to spend a bit of extra for the bigger Honda and Toyota.

“Jeep must navigate this path steadily to maintain the Compass pointed in the best path till the subsequent era arrives.”

Ivan Drury, senior supervisor of insights for Edmunds, would not assume Jeep will likely be content material with “middle-of-the-pack efficiency” within the gross sales race.

One strategy to make an upward transfer, Drury stated, is to broaden the portfolio with an electrified Compass.

Drury pointed to the success of the top-selling RAV4, which has a various slate of choices, from a traditional hybrid to the RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid. On high of that, he stated, there are the standard gasoline fashions that embody the TRD trim for these searching for off-road functionality.

The RAV4 Hybrid had its finest first half ever, with 86,673 gross sales, up 65.5 p.c from the year-earlier interval, Toyota stated. RAV4 Prime gross sales by June rose 5 p.c to 10,153.

Drury stated the phase calls for electrified powertrains.

“Whether or not it’s plug-in hybrid, full-on EV or simply a typical hybrid, that is one thing that positively offers a leg up,” Drury stated.

“It is going to add parity as a result of we see so many plug-in hybrids and hybrids on this realm already.”

Karl Brauer, govt analyst at iSeeCars.com, stated a plug-in hybrid variant would work within the U.S.

“We have seen actually optimistic reactions to each [Jeep] 4xe model that has come up to now,” Brauer stated. “In the event that they wished so as to add that element to the Compass, it might solely additional bolster its competitiveness in that class and prolong the time-frame of which the automotive ought to be able to sturdy gross sales.”