Jeep Killed Its Small ’80s Pickup Truck, But Is The Market Ready For The Comanche To Return?

Jeep first introduced the Comanche in 1986, built on the Cherokee’s platform. The compact truck found fans with its impressive cargo capacity and 4.0-liter inline-six engine.

Sales peaked in 1988 at 43,718 units, but numbers trailed off, and the truck was discontinued after 1992. With Ford’s Maverick selling over 131,000 units in 2024 and 155,051 in 2025, Jeep may reconsider reviving the Comanche.

Slate Auto’s 150,000 deposits for its compact truck and the success of Hyundai’s Santa Cruz suggest a strong interest in the segment. Jeep should act fast to avoid repeating history and missing the compact truck market opportunity.