The long awaited replacement for the very popular Jeep Compass has now been announced. Built in Italy for outdoor adventures yet perfect for everyday use, this latest iteration of the Jeep Compass represents the brand's forward-thinking philosophy for the years to come. This car comprises the expected Jeep ruggedness, performance and state-of-the-art technology while preserving the brand’s commitment to electrification and sustainability, a mantra now for the whole industry.
The Exterior
This car certainly stands out from the SUV crowd. It’s a very modern design that appears to have been meticulously crafted to deliver both enhanced performance whilst retaining that iconic Jeep style. True to the brand's legacy, the Compass features the unmistakable but refreshed seven-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel arches and rugged cladding, all designed to honour the brand's heritage, while ensuring the vehicle retains its off-road prowess and signature look.
The Compass, they say, has been engineered with functionality and safety in mind; the addition of the anti-scratch modular Jeep shield and reinforced bumpers (fenders) provides enhanced protection for both urban and off-road environments. To ensure optimal protection, the vehicle’s radar has also been re-positioned to avoid damage in tight spaces or when encountering obstacles.
On Or Off The Road
The capabilities of the new Compass are extended across the range, including on front-wheel-drive versions which are also perfectly capable off-road. With a ground clearance of up to 200mm, approach angle of 20 degrees, ramp break-over angle of 15 degrees and departure angle of 26 degrees, this latest Jeep is equipped to handle tough terrains with ease. The vehicle’s water fording depth of up to 470mm highlights its ability to tackle the most challenging environments. ‘Selec-terrain’ (you choose what the surface is like) will feature as standard across all versions.
New suspension tuning with dedicated springs, dampers and anti-roll bar offers a good compromise between handling and comfort. The all-wheel-drive versions will offer even greater capabilities, thanks to the extra-functional design that ensures 27 degrees of approach angle, 16 degrees of break-over, 31 degrees of departure angle, and improved ground clearance and water fording. Hill descent control is also standard on all-wheel drive versions.
The Interior
Beyond its off-road prowess, the new Compass offers more interior space and added versatility, while remaining one of the most compact vehicles in this class of vehicle. It now provides 55mm of additional legroom, a larger 34 litre front interior storage compartment, and a 45 litre increase in boot (trunk) capacity to 550 litres. The 40/20/40 rear seat split, standard across all versions, allows for ultimate flexibility, making it as functional for passengers as it is for cargo.
The new infotainment system offers a 10 inch instrument cluster and a 16 inch infotainment screen, while connected services ensure that the vehicle will always be up-to-date, receiving over-the-air (OTA) updates throughout its life. Level 2 autonomous driving also ensures safety for customers on longer journeys or in congested urban areas. All these features are standard across the entire line-up. The driving experience is further improved with head-up display, semi-automatic lane change and matrix LED headlamps, features which are normally found in the premium segment.
A Choice Of Power
With a full range of power-trains, the new Compass enhances the freedom of power choice that motorists want today. There’s a 145BHP (147PS) 48V Hybrid; a 195BHP (198PS) Hybrid Plug-in and three full-electric versions, ranging from a 213BHP (159kW)) front-wheel drive version up to 375BHP (280kW) in all-wheel drive powertrain. To achieve the latter figure, Jeep introduced a new, dedicated and more powerful rear electric motor that provides an additional 49kW of peak power and up to 232 Nm torque. Coupling this with a 14:1 rear reducer, it translates into an impressive 3,100Nm available at the rear wheels. This ensures maximum traction in the most challenging driving conditions, with the ability to climb a 20% slope, even with zero traction on the front wheels. Now that is impressive.
EV charging is also quick, with a rapid 160kW DC solution offering a 30 minute 20-80% recharging time, and an onboard charger with up to 22kW. The BEV (battery electric vehicle) range up to 403 miles (650 km) is another key attribute of the power-train offering, positioning the Compass to be highly competitive on range. The improved aerodynamic efficiency of this new Jeep does not compromise the practicality or spaciousness of the vehicle. The aerodynamics have been improved by ten percent, following the introduction of the active grill shutter directly integrated into the front bumper, the air duct on the front and rear wheels, sharp rear edges and a fully flat under-body design.
After the great success of the brand’s Avenger model, Jeep are expecting big things from this premium model and why not. It seems an ideal choice for those drivers who need all-round use-ability without going to the extra-rugged extreme of the evergreen Wrangler model. There now really is a Jeep for everybody. You can see the current stock of vehicles at MHH International here. We export from the UK to many destinations around the globe including New Zealand, Kenya and Caribbean destinations. You can see the full list of countries served and vehicles from prestige manufacturers available from MHH International on our website.
