Tribute To The Compact Pickup: Jeep® Comanche Concept

This 2016 Concept, Created A True Jeep Mini Truck For The Modern Day...

Robert S. Miller March 23, 2024

The Jeep® brand has showcased many interesting concepts over the past decade at the annual Easter Jeep Safari. While the brand has enjoyed considerable success with its Jeep Gladiator (JT) pickup lineup, a smaller concept caught the eye of many mini truck buyers a few years back. The Jeep Comanche Concept paid homage to the compact pickup the brand offered from 1986 to 1992 while utilizing the underpinnings of the brand’s subcompact Renegade.

Based on the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk, the Jeep Comanche Concept was designed to be off-road-ready and feature practical utility. The Comanche takes styling cues from military and civilian Jeep heritage. With a stretched wheelbase of an additional 6 inches over the standard Renegade Trailhawk, the Comanche utilizes a very functional 6-foot pickup box. The Jeep design team initially planned to create a box flush with the cab; however, after some thought, the team designed a separate box using design elements from the popular Nukizer Concept, giving the Comanche a more militaristic feel.

Inside, the Comanche Concept features a full cage that protects the passengers and allows the vehicle to feature a soft-top-covered roof. Custom seat covers with the headrest removed, while potentially not meeting crash test standards, give the cabin a more retro look. Custom pedal covers, door sill guards, and Mopar all-weather mats tie the interior with the militaristic feel from the outside.

Painted in a concept exterior paint called “Beige Against the Machine” (a nod to those who lived in the 90s), the Comanche is accented with a Satin Black hood, a concept lower front fascia, winch, a custom steel rear bumper from a Wrangler (JK), and even a bed-mounted spare tire. The concept lower front fascia improves the Comanche’s approach angle while allowing the front of the vehicle to feature a winch, something a Renegade had never had before.

Under the hood of the Comanche Concept is a 2.0-liter Multijet inline-four-cylinder diesel from the European market. The Multijet diesel is rated at 170 horsepower and 203 lb.-ft. of torque (350 Nm) at 1,750 RPM. It is paired with a ZF-based 9-speed automatic transmission and can achieve 0 to 62 mph (0-100 kph) in about 8.9 seconds in the Renegade. The stout little diesel is paired up with Jeep’s Active Drive Lock 4×4 system, which includes a low range and locking rear differential.

Adding to its off-road prowess, the Comanche Concept features some Jeep® Performance Parts (JPP) like a set of off-road rock rails and a 2-inch lift kit. To help with traction, the Comanche rolls on 16-inch painted wheels and 32-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A tires.

While the Comanche Concept will likely never make it to production, it is still an amazing little package that could work in areas around the globe where the Gladiator is too pricey for most of the public. We could see such a vehicle being a hit in Latin America and India.

2016 Jeep® Comanche Concept Image Gallery:

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bill burke Mar 23, 2024 #1

Please, feel free to call this a tribute, but it should also be viewed as a glimpse into the possibilities for Jeep, domestically and globally, with a variety of compact segments. I must submit that the Italians and Brazilians under Stellantis leadership have done significant work in this segment, but the chemistry, reputation and allure of the brand and their efforts is “All-American”.
Jeep currently is struggling with it lineup, product development and marketing and pricing structure, but the ingredients and unlimited brand potential remain. Even the most skeptical among us must admit, Jeep has the most potential in the Stellantis constellation and the most marketable and recognized credentials,something that needs talented leadership. The compact segment to the luxury segment all await Jeeps unique attributes,and signature, something that given the right organization and planning will fulfill Jeeps almost unlimited potential The tributes rendered to those guiding talents will truly be monumental. Bravo!

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patfromigh 4 days ago #2

With the announcement of the Slate EV I was immediately reminded of this concept. There is an alleged inexpensive replacement for the Jeep Renegade on the way. How about a pickup version as well? That Slate pickup borrows a lot from the Fiat Centoventi concept. The cell phone as the infotainment screen is found today in some Fiat models. Stellantis could build their own Slate competitor if they wanted to and at a competitive price.

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redriderbob 1 day ago #3

The cellphone as the infotainment screen is something they recently did with the new Fiat Grande Panda...

james.mooney. 1 day ago #4

Still cool 20+ years later:

The Dodge M-80 Concept: A Back-to-Basics Pickup Truck

patfromigh 24 hours ago New#5

The Slate EV truck does bring to mind both this Jeep Comanche Concept as well as the Dodge M-80. The Slate also seems to have borrowed other FCA features. From an op/ed found on The Fast Lane Truck (tfltruck-dot-com) :

This is a start-up that is based in Troy, Michigan. It has the backing of many wealthy individuals and companies. One of the main investors is Jeff Bezos of Amazon. They are rumored to have the funding (at least $100 Million) and the expertise to bring a small electric pickup to market. Slate Auto is listed to have 341 employees, according to the company’s LinkedIn page. We recognize several names on the employee list, including engineers from Ram Trucks / Stellantis.

I should also add that the op/ed was in response to a spy photo and posted about a week before the Slate's public debut. Before the departure of a certain CEO from Stellantis that person said there was to be an inexpensive Jeep EV to replace the Renegade. Is the Slate like the original minivan that Ford started and was then completed at Highland Park by the employees that Hank the Deuce canned? This is just idle speculation on my part.

How far is Stellantis along on the cheap Jeep? Don't get me wrong I love the now departed from our market Renegade, but I think the Slate shows a better idea worthy of reclaiming. Most likely the Renegade replacement will likely be built on the Smart platform. We already get a hint of this with the straight edged Fiat Grande Panda. The Smart platform has been stretched to C-segment size for some Citroen models and soon for the Giga Panda which arrives with a different name. The wheelbase and length come very close to that of the Slate EV truck. So what I propose will be pretty close in size to the Slate.

Many of us liked to M-80 when it made the rounds on the auto show circuit, and fell in love this Jeep Comanche Concept when it debuted at the Easter Jeep Safari. The designers should use the style of the Comanche from the cab forward, but instead of the step-side bed, I propose it be of one slab sided unit from bumper to bumper. I would draw inspiration for the cab rearward from the 1967-73 Jeepster Commando. Like the Comanche Concept what I propose is front drive transversed engined for the IC engined models. There would also be a battery electric offering like what the unnamed CEO originally proposed.

Here are some details and photos from brochures.

The rear tailgate can be more upright, it doesn't have to be an exact copy. The styling would blend both the Comanche concept and the Jeepster.