Jeep Compass Review

Introduction

The Jeep Compass is now in its third generation, but this is the first time it’s been available with pure electric power.  It’s going to be fighting for space in the mid-sized electric SUV segment, which makes up 25% of the cars we buy in Europe. 

And it’s going to need to be able to pack a punch because there are plenty of cars battling it out for buyers, not least the Peugeot E-3008, Citroen e-C5 Aircross and Vauxhall Grandland, which share the same ‘STLA Medium’ platform and powertrains as the Jeep Compass. Because Jeep is now owned by global mega-car maker Stellantis, which is obsessed with reducing costs and likes all its different brands to use the same components to save money. And that can make it hard to create strong individual brand identities, which is something that Jeep has always been known for. So this new one really needs to prove something to live up to the Jeep brand. 

There will be three all-electric versions, ranging from 213bhp in the front-wheel drive version up to 375bhp in the all-wheel drive. For this range topping version Jeep has added a new dedicated and more powerful rear electric motor - which will be exclusive to Jeep, and not shared with other Stellantis brands - that gives it an extra 66bhp of peak power and up to 229lb ft torque. 

How it drives hasn’t been a strong point of the outgoing Jeep Compass but I expect that an electric power train and new platform will fix that - given that we enjoy driving the Jeep Avenger and the other Stellantis cars which share the same tech are all fairly inoffensive it does bode well.

As for off-roading, the electric Compass isn’t going to take on the Rubicon trail, as I did in the Wrangler (check the video for that!).  What Jeep does promise is that each of its cars needs to have the best capability in its class, and that includes the Compass. For a start, all versions come with a terrain selector, which will be helpful on icy days - but ground clearance is only up to 200mm on the Compass, which is the same as the smaller Avenger. The Subaru Solterra beats that, with 210mm.

Anyway, we haven’t driven the Compass yet, so we’ll just have to wait and find out.

Check out the used electric cars on Electrifying.com

Styling and Dimensions

Now, the Compass has been designed at one of Jeep’s global design studios in Turin. I normally love anything that’s been designed in Italy - they do design so well there. But I was a bit disappointed when I first saw this. It’s just a bit… bland? I was expecting a bit more personality, like we’ve seen in the smaller Jeep Avenger. Sure, there are recognisable Jeep touches. The squared off wheel arches, and the front grille design resembles Jeep’s trademark seven-slot grille, despite the fact that it’s an EV so is actually closed off to improve aero.

There’s the old WIllys Jeep silhouette, the round headlights, and the familiar cross-light design at the rear. But it just all feels a bit familiar, and like a lot of other SUVs on the road. It’s just a bit nondescript, really! You might disagree, though, so let us know what you think about the way the new Compass looks by leaving a comment on the YouTube channel.  

Anyway, at 4.5-metres long, it’s actually quite a bit shorter than cars like the Skoda Enyaq, but is a touch longer than alternatives like the Ford Explorer, Skoda Elroq and Kia EV3. 

Interior

The big news in the interior is that there’s loads of cubbies, so storage is up to 34-litres, from 14-litres in the old Compass. There are places to lose all of your stuff, all over the cabin. 

I really like the rubberised finish on the drive selector, too. It feels properly chunky and hard wearing, and just what a Jeep should be even if it does feel peculiarly out of place in the cabin. Some of the other materials don't feel great to touch, though, including the seat upholstery - but it is waterproof, which is extremely practical whether you're off-roading or just trying to keep your car looking nice despite the best efforts of your kids and dogs. 

A 10-inch screen sits behind the wheel to give you a clear driver's readout, and a 14-inch touchscreen houses a new infotainment system in the centre of the dash, complete with haptic shortcut buttons arrayed beneath. They're a bit strange, but it's nice to have them there. We didn't get loads of time with the pre-production car that we went to see, so I can't really talk about the in-depth usability of the system, but it gets all the features you want including over-the-air updates, sat-nav with intelligent charger search and route planning, and - of course - wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It certainly seems an improvement on Jeep infotainment systems of the past! We'll come back to you with more on that when we've had more time with the car, and a proper drive. 

Rear seat space isn't bad at all, with plenty of leg- and headroom, but the seating position is a little odd and may take some getting used to. It'll be great for car seats, though, and again - wipe clean seats sound good, don't they?! 

Boot Space

Boot space is up to 550-litres, which is a bit less than a Skoda Enyaq, but given that this is a more compact car it’s  properly impressive boot space. There's a massive underfloor compartment, which is really useful for your cables or muddy wellies, too. The seats split and fold, but they don’t go completely flat, which is annoying. There's no frunk, either.

Battery, Charging and Efficiency

Jeep is keeping the final details of the electric Compass powertrain a secret for now, but it’s almost certain to get the same 73- and 97kWh usable batteries that you find in the E-3008 and Vauxhall Grandland Electric. 

What has been confirmed is range of up to 404 miles for the single motor, or around 370 miles if you go for the AWD, which would be about right for the bigger 97kWh battery. Given our experience of real-world range on some of the other cars on this platform, I’d take the official range with a large pinch of salt, and we’ll wait and see how it does in the real use. On manufacturer figures, at least, the Compass is up there with the Tesla Model Y for range, which is pretty impressive.

Rapid charging is up to 160kW DC, which means a 30 minute 20-80% recharging time even for the 97kWh battery, and an onboard charger with up to 22kW for faster AC charging; really useful for kerbside charges in the city. A charge at home from a 7kW home wallbox will take around 15 hours for that bigger battery model.

Price and Equipment

Of course, pricing isn’t yet confirmed for the Compass but we’d expect it to start from around £45,000, and go up to some £50,000 and more. We'll have to wait for details of UK specification, too, but the Jeep will no doubt be generously equipped as standard - as is typically the case with Jeep, and with its other Stellantis stablemates. Frustratingly, nobody will confirm a towing weight for the electric Jeep Compass yet, but going by the capabilities of its platform-sharing siblings, we'd expect the Compass to be able to tow around 1300- to 1500kg. 

Verdict

The Jeep Compass has got a lot to prove. I know quite a few people who love the way it looks, so while I'm a bit underwhelmed it may be that you really like the chunky, bluff styling. Ultimately, we need to spend more time in the car and have a drive of it to make our minds up - not to mention seeing finalised pricing and trim levels. On this early evidence, I reckon Jeep's got quite the fight on its hands if it's to make a serious impact in this competitive family EV class. 

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