Jeep's New Spark: The Electric Compass Has Landed (Sort Of)
Image Credit: Stellantis.
A new Jeep Compass? And they've slapped some electrons in it, have they? Well, I've got the inside scoop, even if Jeep themselves would rather I didn't. Leaked photos, you see. Naughty, naughty internet peeps. But terribly convenient for us, the inquisitive bunch.
So, this new Compass. Gone is the slightly apologetic, rounded look of the old one, and in its place, we have something altogether more brick-like. It seems Jeep has been taking styling tips from Lego. Not necessarily a bad thing, mind you. It looks purposeful, almost like it's daring you to scratch it in a muddy field. Which, let's be honest, is what a Jeep should be doing, not pootling around a supermarket car park.
Image Credit: Stellantis.
And the powertrain options! They're throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. Mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and a full-on electric version. Jeep can't quite decide what the future holds, so they're hedging their bets. Sensible, I suppose, in a terribly un-Jeep-like way. But the electric one… that's the one that's got my slightly singed (from tinkering with batteries, you understand) eyebrows raised.
Jeep hasn't given us all the nitty-gritty details yet - only teases. But if we're playing connect-the-dots with its Stellantis cousins – the Peugeot e-3008, no less – we could be looking at something rather interesting. We're talking potentially around 320 horsepower. Three hundred and twenty! In a Compass! That's enough grunt to rearrange your internal organs under hard acceleration. I'd wager that'll translate to a 0-60 mph sprint somewhere in the region of six seconds.
Image Credit: Stellantis.
There will be two batteries with capacities of 73 kWh and a whopping 97 kWh. That larger one, if it delivers the range we're hoping for, could mean you might actually be able to venture further than the end of your driveway without developing range anxiety. A Jeep you can actually use for a proper adventure, silently conquering the wilderness? Well… it's not that straightforward. If the Compass actually follows its French cousin in the specs department, the 97 kWh battery will be only available with the single 230 horsepower motor working the front wheels. The 320-hp version will get the smaller 73 kWh pack since it gets two electric motors. Strange trade-off, but it's all about packaging, apparently.
Inside, it looks like they've finally dragged the Compass kicking and screaming into the 21st century. A massive infotainment screen dominates the dashboard, perched above what appears to be actual, physical buttons. Hallelujah! Someone in the design department still remembers that sometimes, you just want to twiddle a knob without navigating through seven sub-menus. There's also talk of a double sunroof, a head-up display, and posh leather seats. It's all getting a bit… luxurious, isn't it? I hope they haven't forgotten the rubber floor mats for when you inevitably track half the countryside into it.
Image Credit: Stellantis.
Now, the important bit: when can we actually get our grubby mitts on one? Europe is supposedly getting it this year. Lucky devils. Us Yanks, however, might have to wait a bit longer, thanks to some… disagreements about some import tariffs, apparently. Bureaucracy, eh? Always getting in the way of a good car. They're saying production starts in Italy later this year, with North America following… eventually. Patience, my friends, patience. Though, knowing my level of it, I'll probably have built my own electric off-roader out of spare washing machine parts by then.
As for the price, Jeep hasn't coughed up the official figures yet, but if we look at the competition, and factor in the electric gubbins, we're probably looking at a starting price somewhere in the neighborhood of $40,000 for the base models, creeping up towards $55,000 or even $60,000 for the fully loaded, dual-motor electric beast. That's a fair chunk of change, but then again, you are getting a slice of that go-anywhere (potentially silently) Jeep pedigree.
The new electric Jeep Compass… boxy, got batteries, and it might just surprise a few people. It's a sign of the times, I suppose. Even the most rugged of brands are having to embrace the electron. Will it be any good off-road without a bellowing petrol engine? Will it feel like a proper Jeep? I guess we'll find out soon enough.
