The Jeep, best known for its off-road prowess and all the spirit, became a bit conservative for the first EV car. The avenger felt a bit too timid, because the brand relies on powerful features far from paved roads. Jeep Compass, a name that appeared 20 years ago and provided high ground clearance and good interior space for a fraction of the price of a larger and more powerful model of Jeep It initially came as an FWD model and the AWD version later came to make it every bit of a jeep car. Today, the new Compass also debuts as an FWD model, with an AWD variant expected for production next year. For the first time the Compass is offered as a fully electric vehicle, with a mild hybrid option available as well.
The model we tested is the first edition trim Jeep Compass e FWD, which brings with it nearly the full range of devices available. The new compass is sold together with the outgoing generation, due to persistent demand, which obliges the "new" designation in its name. Jeep's strong exterior design heritage is instantly recognizable as part of the brand's lineup as it is carried to the new Jeep Compass. In a world dominated by boring and bland midsize suvs, the Jeep introduces an impressive look, coupled with the standard Hawaiian green color that makes the compass stand out in traffic like some other SUVs.
The iconic Seven Slot grille is no longer needed for engine cooling, but it is designed purely to preserve its visual identity. The front bumper accommodates the actual cooling grille and the active part of it provides even more cooling when needed. It opens during the hot days unfortunately we do not get in winter conditions. The signature rugged look is underlined by a black underbody accent that makes the compass seem rugged and ready to be taken into the wilderness. Our test vehicles aren't really great for going off-road, but it's an option, and the standard version actually has them in the usual matte black plastic that can take a lot more beating.
In addition, the jeep with sub-optimal elements that bring extra design flair achieved a decent drag coefficient of 0.29Cd and optimized the look of the compass to make it reasonably slippery. It's still much worse than most rivals, but none of them offer as much character ground clearance as 200mm. The side profile of the Jeep New Compass looks great thanks to the two-tone paint scheme. The green body of Hawaii contrasts with the black roofs and pillars, allowing them to visually "disappear". If the two-tone color is not your thing, you can also save some money because full Hawaii green is among the standard colors. Colors aside, the sides of the compass are beautifully simplified and offer no surprises or extravagant door handle solutions.
The new Jeep Compass is offered with 19" or 20" wheels, our test vehicles fitted with a larger option. Both sizes share the same design and minimize visual differences. That is why smaller wheels are a more sensible choice, improving efficiency and ride comfort without significantly spoiling the appearance. There is no Jeep logo on the center cap of the wheel, but instead the silhouette of the old Jeep Willis fills the place. By no means does the rear of the new compass look ugly, but it does not provoke the same sense of rugged superiority as the rest of the look. The rear bumper lacks detail and protrudes too high to the tailgate, so it can be useful for off-road, but it doesn't look good.
The taillight bar is split into 2 ends to create a clean look, but coincidentally it almost matches the new logo of Dacia. At 4,552mm in length it is shorter than most competitors and that makes it much more attractive for urban usage. This is another opportunity where high ground clearance can prove the key, but an FWD-only drivetrain isn't really a problem. The Jeep Compass e looks modern on the inside, without particularly shining. There are a lot of cheap plastics in the key areas, but I feel that everything is well put together and with convenience in mind. Steering wheel is rounded hexagon, not a circle. Behind it is a driver display, which is large and offers many customization options.
Many rivals either omit this display altogether or make it very basic, but Jeep is taking the time to make it usable and user-friendly. In addition to the buttons on the wheel itself, 2 buttons attached to the end of the stem of the steering wheel control the information displayed on the gauge cluster. A head-up display is also provided, but our test unit sadly didn't have it. The central display is very wide, but not particularly high. This will give you 2 menus in 2 halves, but the downside is that the font is always small and hard to read while driving. Below the main screen is a column of buttons that control the frequently used A/C functions and stereo.
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The paddle behind the steering wheel controls the level of recovery, but the button on the left edge of this column allows the operation of 1 pedal. There is an open pocket in front of the passenger seat to store the item, but be careful because it is easy to jump out of the item. The center console starts with 2 USB-C ports, followed by a huge storage area with 2 cup holders. If the gear levers are on most vehicles, the jeep uses a gear crawler, which I think is easy to use. To its left is the Selec-terrain button, painted in red and alternating sports, Auto, snow and sand/mud modes. Just above that area, it is tilted slightly inward so that your phone does not jump out of the pad and also does not tempt you to see it while driving.
The armrest storage space is deep, well laid out and provides excellent practicality. The dome light area is made of very cheap plastic, but the glasses holder is covered with Alcantara inside to protect the glasses and avoid rattling while driving. The optional leather seat that our test unit had is comfortable and offers nice luxurious features like heating, cooling and massage. They also come in two-tone black and beige color schemes that are so strange that other parts of the interior are not beige in any configuration possible. The optional focal sound system provides impressive audio quality, but its visual execution feels less convincing.
The speaker grilles are overall finished in black plastic, giving them a rather understated appearance that does not reflect a fairly premium position. The door card makes use of some soft plastic in the places you touch most often, but the bottom and window buttons are the worst possible plastic we've seen and rear seats, passengers get plenty of space. Our critic stands at 1.95m (6'4") high and can easily sit behind his driving position. Because of the battery mounted on the floor, the passenger's legs around the back are slightly lifted, which is common with EVs. Rear seat passengers, however, do not get much in terms of functionality.
The 2 USB-Cs, some vents and cup holders are all notable, but that is expected in this segment. The rear door of the Jeep New Compass e opens to reveal a large trunk with a cargo space of 550 liters. It is important that that segment is versatile and the compass strikes a great balance between interior space in both row and trunk size. There are 2 levels on the trunk floor, so you can use the lower compartment as a storage for small items and charging cables, or lower it down to carry bulky items. With a higher level floor, the rear seat folds flat and ensures a large loading space for items inside
The steering feels like being helped, but it's not far enough to create numbness. Feedback from the wheels is still there, and you can understand the condition under the tires. The suspension is not the most comfortable in potholes, but it leans heavily into the corners. Even after seeing its size and high clearance, we expected a little more dynamic prowess. That's not to say the Compass e feels dangerous or bad to drive - the low center of gravity enabled by the battery actually provides decent stability.
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