Sharp New Compass Takes Jeep in a New Direction

Jeep has just whipped the covers off its bold new completely reinvented third generation Compass with an edgy new look and upmarket cabin.

Jeep has just whipped the covers off its bold new third-generation Compass. Completely reinvented with an edgy new look, a more upmarket cabin and even an EV option the first time, the all-new Compass breaks new ground for the Stellantis all-terrain brand.

The Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson rival Compass is the first Jeep offered with the choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure-electric powertrains. Two front drive combustion variants, a 143 HP gas mild-hybrid and a 192 HP 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid with 192bhp and a 21kWh and 53 battery miles are backed by the electric versions.

Compass Comes in Hybrid, Plug-In and EV

Also available as an EV, there are three battery only models. The front driver versioan have either 211 or 229 HP motors on the front axle. They are good for 311 miles on a 73kWh battery or up to 404 miles with a 96-kWh pack. The flagship all-electric all-wheel drive Compass 4xe adds a second 177 HP rear motor for 370 HP total output.

The bespoke 170 lb.-ft Jeep rear motor runs through a 14:1 reducer box to muster up to 2380 lb.-ft. That enables the Compass 4xe to pull up a 20% incline without the assistance of any front wheel traction.

Taller, Chunkier and Chrome Free

The base Compass gets a suspension lift up to 200 mm of ground clearance and a 470mm wading depth. Shorter overhangs bring trail ready 20-degree approach, 15-degree breakover and 26-degree departure angles. Ass a selection of terrain and drive modes run by a great red knob on the center console.

Riding another 10 mm taller, the 4xe ups approach to 31 degrees, breakover to 16 and departure to 27-degree angles. 4548 mm long and riding on a significant 159 mm longer 2795 mm wheelbase, there’s also far more leg room both front and rear.

Compass Picks Up Avenger Design Cues

The third-generation Compass was penned by Jeep’s Turin design team. In collaboration with various global studios. It takes its cues from the smaller Avenger. Chrome-free and chunky It does not forget its Jeep’s heritage. A dramatic cockpit gets a 10.0-inch digital gauge cluster, a 16-inch touchscreen and touch controls.

A most important car for Jeep, and especially for its European aspirations the Compass is one of the brand’s most popular and significant models. Launched in 2006 with 2.5 million units sold worldwide, new Compass is said to be ‘a key driver for future Jeep growth’.

Photos: Stellantis

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Michele Lupini

Once a handy engine and chassis tuner, and a combative racer and rally driver, Michele took up the pen to express his passion for cars, racing and motoring over 30 years ago. He published South Africa’s go-to enthusiast motor magazines Cars in Action and Bakkie — some say against all odds — for a quarter century. In that time, Michele had a hand in nurturing many of South Africa's motoring media leaders. Today Michele keeps himself busy with his a range of international motoring media duties alongside his own theauto.page. And a little racing on the side.