Our opinion on the Jeep Compass
The new Jeep Compass capitalises on the enormous success of the smaller Avenger by offering a similar combination of ruggedly handsome looks, an interior built to last, good tech and a wide selection of powertrains that should suit every customer in this segment. Sure, the Compass isn’t as fun to drive as its baby brother, or the plushest mid-size SUV around, but it’s perfectly practical and respects Jeep’s off-road heritage, even if the most treacherous landscape it’s ever likely to see is a gravel car park.
About the Jeep Compass
Since the baby Jeep Avenger arrived a few years ago, more than 200,000 have been snatched up and the brand’s UK sales figures have tripled. So the decision to take the big-seller’s winning formula and super-size it to create the new third-generation Compass is the definition of a no-brainer.
The Jeep Compass is a mid-size family SUV that uses the same STLA Medium platform as the latest Citroen C5 Aircross, Peugeot 3008 and Vauxhall Grandland. Eventually it’ll be available with the same selection of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure-electric powertrains as its cousins, too.
Jeep Compass prices and latest deals
Once the Jeep Compass is available to order in entry-level Altitude trim, prices will start from over £34,500 for the hybrid version in Altitude trim, and a little under £37,000 for the EV.
For context, the Peugeot 3008 starts from nearly £38k, while the E-3008 starts from more than £46k. Meanwhile, the Citroen C5 Aircross is available from £30k and the base E-C5 Aircross costs about £32k – thanks in part to the Government’s Electric Car Grant, which the Jeep isn’t eligible for.
Unfortunately, the new Jeep Compass isn’t available to order or lease through the Auto Express buy a car service just yet, but both its French cousins are. In fact, you can save more than £8,500 on the Citroen C5 Aircross.
There will only be one all-wheel-drive version of the latest Compass, which isn’t arriving until 2026 and will be a dual-motor EV. The Vauxhall Grandland is now available with a similar set-up, but the Jeep gets a unique e-motor for the rear axle that can supposedly deliver up to 3,100Nm of torque at the wheels – the perfect amount, we’ve been told, for the car to conquer a 20-degree slope with absolutely no traction on the front wheels.
As well as extra traction, the four-wheel drive Compass 4xe will deliver a combined 370bhp and even greater off-road ability than other versions of the car, thanks to an extra 10mm of ground clearance. That’s still to come, as are the 191bhp plug-in hybrid, and a long-range variant of the Compass Electric with a 403-mile range.
For now, the Jeep Compass is available with a turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that has a 21bhp electric motor built in. Or as an EV with a single 210bhp e-motor and 73kWh battery providing up to 310 miles of range. We tried both on the outskirts of Milan in Italy.
Performance, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed
In the hybrid, when you’re not driving on the e-motor (you can tell because the speedo turns blue), the three-pot engine hums away in the background. Put your foot down, and there’s a slight delay until the gearbox finally decides to kick down, then the engine emits a rather gruff drone as you very steadily gain speed. If you need to accelerate hard, such as when joining the motorway, we suggest using the paddles behind the steering wheel to force the gearbox into action.
The electric version provides much smoother acceleration and a generally more refined driving experience – but we did notice some whine from the e-motor when accelerating. The EV’s extra power and more immediate power delivery also chop nearly two seconds off the Compass’s 0-62mph time, although that’s still not enough to make it Tesla quick.
