The Jeep Compass 4xe cuts a distinctive rug in a mid-size SUV segment that’s filled with anonymous cookie-cutter models, but is that bold US design enough to keep up with the competition?
A new plug-in hybrid engine boosts the eco-credentials of the crossover, combining a 1.3-litre petrol engine with an electric motor powered by an 11.4kWh battery pack. It doesn’t directly replace the diesel-engined options, but they have been dropped with this update so your choice now is between going green or sticking with pure petrol.
It’s not the only change to the Compass, either. Production has moved from India to Italy and, in the process, Jeep has taken the opportunity to give the car a bit of a nip and tuck.
Jeep Compass 4xe: What’s It Like?
Changes on the outside are few and far between; there are some slightly revised headlights, new bumpers and a new set of wheels, but the updates are subtle. Step inside, however, and it’s like an entirely new car.
Gone is the dashboard that looked like it had been borrowed from a Fiat, replaced with a stylish and suitably high-tech interior. The instrument cluster is now digital, and measures some 10.25 inches from corner to corner, matching the 10.1-inch infotainment screen in the centre stack that was fitted to this top of the range ‘S’ model.
The infotainment hardware has been upgraded too, with a processor that’s many times faster than before making it sharp and snappy to use, with improved features and connectivity – you’ll find wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, voice recognition and 3D navigation. The clear screen is customisable with multiple tiles presenting different information, although it’s still not the easiest system to use. Once you’ve got it set up, it’ll be great.
The rest of the cabin feels good, with a slightly premium air that’s a step up from the likes of the Nissan Qashqai, but you’ll know you’re not in an Audi Q3 or BMW X1. There feels to be just as much room though, with enough storage areas to swallow every bit of family detritus you can imagine.
The boot is smaller than many of the Jeep’s rivals, but only on paper; its sensible square shape and flat floor mean usable space is almost as good.
Jeep Compass 4xe: How Does It Drive?
Despite being a European model, Jeep has made the Compass feel very American; it’s soft, light and incredibly easy to drive.
That soft suspension allows it to ride well, smothering bumps in town and gliding over longer, faster undulations on the open road. It’s as comfortable as many luxury cars, which is a hint at how it behaves when you start pressing on.
Do that and there’s a lot of noise from the petrol engine, a lot of body roll in corners, and very little in the way of feedback. The compass is not a car for making swift progress in.
Happily, the hybrid powertrain encourages you to take things steadily. For the most part, it’ll run quite happily on electricity, leaving the petrol engine switched off entirely. Do that and, while Jeep claims it’ll go for 30 miles on battery power alone, our time with the car saw it manage around 23 miles. Still, for many, that’ll be a whole day’s motoring.
Put your foot down and it’ll bring both the electric motor and petrol engine into play, unleashing 240hp to the wheels – petrol to the front wheels, electricity to the rear. This translates to a 0-62mph dash that takes 7.3 seconds, but the Compass somehow doesn’t feel as quick as the numbers suggest. Again, it feels laid back, as if it’s got an arrow-straight interstate ahead of it rather than a twisty B-road. Lean into that and appreciate it – it’s a more relaxing way to live than the ever-firmer cars were getting on UK roads these days.
Jeep Compass 4xe: Off-Road Capable
While the Compass is four-wheel drive, it doesn’t do it traditionally. Instead, the petrol engine powers the front wheels and the electric motor powers the rear. Run out of battery and those rear wheels will do nothing but get dragged around and you’ll find yourself with nothing more than a fancy hatchback underneath you.
Keep the battery charged and the Compass will get around tough terrain with surprising agility. It’s no Wrangler, but we put it through an off-road course far more demanding than most users will ever consider and it survived unscathed.
For those wanting to go further, the Trailhawk model includes a sophisticated terrain system, with settings for rocks, sand and mud, snow and, inexplicably, sport.
Crossing the Darian Gap might be expecting a bit much of it, but it’ll get you out of a boggy polo field without too much trouble. You can’t say that of a Nissan Qashqai.
Jeep Compass 4xe: The Verdict
As with any plug-in hybrid vehicle, the benefits need to be weighed up against your use. If you plough up and down the motorways all day, every day, then all you’re doing is lugging a heavy battery pack around and trying to power your progress with a small petrol engine. That’s a bad idea.
However, most of us barely cover 20 miles a day, which means you may never need to put a drop of petrol in the car, relying entirely on plugging in at home or work. Stick to home charging and it’ll cost around £2.85, even at today’s high electricity rates.
Assuming the maths work out for you, the relaxed nature of the Compass appeals, and you’ll not want to get too extreme off-road, then the mid-size Jeep is a wonderful package.
In almost every measurable way, something, somewhere is a little better – some are more spacious, some are better quality, and many are cheaper – but the Jeep is right up there in every area.
But those seven vertical bars on the grille, that bold Jeep badge, and its US-centric driving style are a draw that many will find difficult to resist. Me included.
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