Jeep Compass 157kW Summit 74kWh 5dr Auto

Ten Second Review

The Compass Electric is in most ways anything but what you expect Jeep to be. But tries to reference its roots wherever it can to help it stand out in its over-crowded class.

Background

It's easy to forget that across the Atlantic, the idea of a full-electric Jeep is still something of an anathema. In Europe though, EV sales are the staple driving force of the brand following the introduction of the electric Avenger compact SUV in 2023. Which paved the way for a more typically-sized Jeep EV and this is it, the Compass Electric. It's another European-only EV Jeep - and of course another significant one, even though at first glance, there's nothing particularly Jeep-like in its engineering. Here instead is another outing for the Stellantis STLA Medium platform we've already seen in current versions of the Vauxhall Grandland, the Citroen C5 Aircross and - for saloon folk - in the DS No8. But, as it claimed with the Avenger, Jeep says it's tailored the formula to suit its brand. Let's see.

Engines and Tech Spec

It says a lot that the only fully SUV-orientated derivative of the current Compass is a full-electric model. That top 4xe version won't be the variant most EV Jeep customers will choose of course. They'll be looking at standard versions which mate this MK3 model's usual 74kWh battery to a front motor offering either 213hp or 231hp. Either way, your Compass EV will officially offer up to 310 miles of range but if that's not enough, you can also ask your dealer about a longer-range 96kWh EV variant offering up to 404 miles of range. At the very top of the line-up is the 4xe 4WD Compass flagship model. This gets a second 180hp electric motor on the rear axle that takes total power to 370hp, which makes this Europe's most powerful STLA-based Stellantis model yet. Jeep claims that the 4xe's rear motor can pull the car up a 20% incline even if there's no traction for the front wheels. The 4xe has 10mm more suspension lift - to increase ground clearance and give 27-degree approach, 31-degree departure and 16-degree breakover angles. And if you don't go for the 4xe? Well Jeep says that your Compass Electric will still have more off piste ability than most of its segment rivals. The brand had a say in the design of this car's Stellantis Group-shared STLA-Medium architecture and the result is engineering geared further towards off-road capability. To be specific, there's a suspension lift compared to this model's Stellantis cousins, giving this Compass up to 200mm of ground clearance and a wading depth of up to 470mm. Jeep has also shortened the overhangs, giving an approach angle of 20-degrees, a departure angle of 26-degrees and a breakover angle of 15-degrees. All versions get various drive modes for different kinds of terrain, controlled by chunky red dial on the centre console.

Design and Build

Apart from the badgework, there are few outward exterior signs of this Compass Electric's full-EV status. The Compass has always been very much a car for Europe, quite differently styled in each of its three generations. In styling this one, designer Danielle Calonaci was told to 'detoxify' the previous look (hence the new absence of chrome) but also make it bolder and more rugged; visually a logical step on from the smaller Avenger, with various traditional Jeep cues thrown in. As always with the brand, the most recognisable one of these is the seven-slot front grille - here re-imagined as a wrap-around panel. Squared-off wheel arches are another brand staple, but otherwise, there's little here that a US Jeep owner would recognise. European Jeep models of course run on totally different platforms - in this case, the STLA-Medium chassis used by this model's Stellantis cousins from Vauxhall, Citroen and Peugeot. But featuring here with a shorter 4,552mm-long body (though that's 150mm longer than the previous generation model). This is certainly a more eye-catching thing than its predecessor, with visual trinkets like a rear light bar with an illuminating badge. Jeep interior design has always been a bit hit-and-miss; this is much better, a huge step forward from any of the brand's previous models, with a big 16.0-inch central touchscreen, a 10.0-inch instrument display and a selection of touch controls. There's a rotating gear selector between the seats with a side-mounted Terrain Response controller for the drive modes. And in-cabin storage has been prioritised with 34-litres of stowage space available across the front of the car, including a shelf in front of the passenger and to the right of the steering wheel, plus a large bin under the main dashboard and a decently-sized centre console. The STLA-Medium platform has freed up much more space in the rear of this five-seat-only model. Jeep claims an extra 55mm of legroom. And out back, once the 40:20:40-split backrest is flattened, there's a 45-litre increase in boot space, with up to 550-litres available.

Market and Model

From launch, Compass Electric pricing started from £39,200 for the 74kWh 213hp full-electric 'Launch Edition' model. Which is around £3,500 more than the non-plug-in e-Hybrid version. Standard equipment includes heat for the seats and steering wheel, dual-zone air conditioning, personalised ambient lighting, power-folding heated mirrors, passive entry/keyless go and a 10-inch instrument cluster. Media features are housed on a 16-inch infotainment screen. The fully-electric variant also includes pre-conditioning and a heat pump as standard. Along with various Level 2 Autonomous driving features. This fully electric variant benefits from 20-inch alloy wheels painted black with a machine-faced finish. Six colours are available. As standard, the Compass First Edition is available in Hawaii (brilliant green) with Pacific (blue) and Antarctica (white). Amazonia (green with brown hues), Yosemite (grey), and Vulcano (black) are also available as an option. All colour choices extend across a body-coloured roof. Customers also have the option to pair their colour choice with a black roof. Customers can pick from three optional packs. The 'Convenience Pack First Edition' includes a 360-degree camera, lateral parking sensors and blind spot monitoring. The 'ADAS Pack' features Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control, rear cross-traffic alert, active blind spot detection, semi-automated lane change and Head-up display. The 'Premium Pack First Edition' adds a premium audio system, full vinyl seats, driver and passenger eight-way powered seats, ventilated and massaging front seats for both driver and passenger and gloss black painted lowers. Individual options include a dual-pane sunroof. And on fully electric variants, an optional on-board 22kW charger is also available.

Cost of Ownership

For this Compass full-EV, we gave you the driving range figures earlier: 310 miles for the 74kWh model and 404 miles for the 98kWh version; think around 326 miles for the 98kWh 4xe variant. To get near to these stats, you'll have to make frequent use of the provided 'Eco' drive mode and the various settings (low, medium and high) of the regenerative braking system. As for Compass EV charging, well little surprisingly, the STLA-Medium platform hasn't been engineered with the 800V architecture that would enable use of the latest breed of ultra-rapid DC public chargers. But with its 400V system, the Compass EV can charge at up to 160kW, which allows for 20-80% charge in under 35 minutes, with a charging rate of 2.4kWh per minute at its peak, at which point 62 miles of range are added every 10 minutes. For AC charging at home, full battery replenishment using a 7.4kW wallbox will take 11 hours 45 minutes. You can improve that to 8 hours if you're able to use a three-phase 11kW supply. Via a provided smartphone app or by using the vehicle's touchscreen, owners can schedule a wake-up time for the battery. This means that the cells can be at the optimal temperature for efficiency from the time you start up, plus of course the interior can also be pre-cooled or pre-heated too. The Compass EV's battery comes with an eight year / 100,000 warranty for 70% of its capacity.

Summary

You can't imagine that the Compass Electric would sell very well in America or to diehard Jeep folk, even in off-road 4xe form. But since it won't be offered Stateside and isn't targeted at the grizzly bear/bowling ball set, that hardly matters. The customers it is targeted at - those seeking a slightly more charismatic, adventurous take on what a mid-sized full-electric family SUV should be - might well like it in sufficient numbers to satisfy the brand's modest sales targets for this car. Jeep might insist that this model has some degree of off-road prowess, but it would be a brave family buyer who drops £45,000 or more on this car and then tries to put that to the test. Like its Stellantis cousins, it's hobbled a bit (mainly in EV range) by the STLA platform's weight. But it's easier to live with and will be better to drive than the vanilla Chinese segment alternatives. And is a bit more interesting in its looks and packaging than most of the other European, Japanese and Korean class options. It should all be enough to guarantee this car a little niche in this over-crowded class.