2026 Jeep Compass unveiled
0 minutes read
Despite its evolutionary exterior styling, the new Compass is a very different car than its predecessor. It ditched the old Fiat-Chrysler bones in favor of the STLA Medium platform, which Stellantis has already used for the Peugeot 3008 and 5008, the Opel Grandland, and the recently launched Citroën C5 Aircross.
It wouldn’t be a true Jeep without some boxy styling, so the new Compass remains refreshingly angular in a sea of curved compact crossovers. Flatter headlights frame a fresh take on the seven-slot grille, while the X-shaped taillights meet in the middle thanks to a light bar with an illuminated Jeep logo. The styling hasn’t gone soft, as there’s plenty of plastic body cladding and squared-off wheel arches. You can tell it’s bigger than before by the larger quarter glass, which should improve visibility.
The best-looking versions will have a contrasting black roof, matrix LED headlights and a sunroof. Jeep intends to sell the new Compass with two-tone 20-inch wheels, although smaller alloys are better suited for off-roading. Speaking of going off-road, 4WD models are promised a maximum ground clearance of 7.9 inches, as well as approach angles of 20 degrees, breakover angles of 15 degrees and departure angles of 26 degrees. A fording depth of up to 18.5 inches is touted. Hill descent control will be standard on 4WD models.
While the exterior may give the illusion of a facelift, the interior is a clear sign that we are dealing with a very different Compass. Even the base model gets an ultra-wide 16-inch touchscreen paired with a fully digital 10.0-inch driver display. Despite the generous screen space, Jeep hasn’t wiped all the buttons off the center console, opting to keep a few traditional controls underneath the infotainment system. A red switch for the standard Selec-Terrain system and an electronic parking brake button flank the rotary gear selector.
The 2026 Compass will get mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure-electric powertrains for the European market. The base model will make 145 horsepower from an unspecified gasoline engine equipped with 48-volt technology. The plug-in hybrid will produce 195 hp, while the three EVs will range from 213 hp for the front-wheel-drive model to 375 hp for the range-topping all-wheel-drive model. The latter features a newly developed rear motor exclusive to Jeep that allows the crossover to climb a 20-percent grade even when the front tires have no traction.
Jeep quotes a maximum range of 400 miles (650 kilometers) on the WLTP cycle for the dual-motor AWD model, but doesn’t specify the battery capacity. We do know that the single-motor, 74.0-kilowatt-hour front-wheel-drive variant will travel 310 miles (500 kilometers) on a single charge.
The engineers opted for a completely flat underbody, aero-optimized wheels, and active grille shutters in the front bumper to achieve these range figures.
When you run low on juice, using a 160-kilowatt DC fast charger will take half an hour to top up the battery from 20 to 80 percent.
