Jeep Compass SUV (2021 - ) review

The list price for the Compass looks quite steep compared with some competitors that have better tech on board. However, with up to 30 miles of electric-only running, a possible 44g/km of CO2 and access to low-emissions zones, the Compass 4xe is your car of choice if you’re after low running costs. It will appeal to company drivers in particular, with tax in mind. Otherwise, it’s the 1.5-litre petrol e-hybrid version, this improves on the efficiency of the previous petrol version, thus saving you slightly more money. On our test it seemed pretty efficient, averaging around 47 mpg.

The big news is the Jeep Wave customer care programme, covering maintenance and roadside assistance. Jeep’s plug-in hybrid reliability is currently being put to the test in the Renegade 4xe. It’s still too early, however, to gather much data. The infotainment system in the car that is a big improvement on the previous version, so fingers crossed. Jeep is part of the Fiat family, and none of its brands traditionally have fared well for reliability or build quality. There’s a decent five-year/75,000-mile warranty, however, which is more generous than the industry average.

From 2022, the Compass comes with Highway Assist, which combines active cruise control and lane centring, to give you semi-autonomous driving, much like Tesla Autopilot. You still need to demonstrate that you retain control of the car, through a hand on the steering wheel. You now get traffic-sign recognition, drowsy-driver detection, intelligent speed assist and emergency braking for pedestrians and cyclists fitted as standard. A reversing camera is also standard, while a 360-degree camera and blind spot monitoring are options. These cameras come in handy as rear visibility is not the best. Front, side and curtain airbags are standard.

The base trim now gets the huge digital instrument cluster and the infotainment system smartens up the interior, which is really spacious in the manner of all good American SUVs thanks to loads of light and plenty of leg- and headroom. Some of the buttons and functionality are clunky, and certainly not on a par with interiors from Land Rover, Volvo or Audi, which makes the price of the Compass seem a bit, well, pricey. But the dash designed is streamlined and smart, and there’s a good amount of storage space up front.

There are four trim levels: Altitude, Summit, Overland and Trailhawk are all available on the 4xe models, while the e-hybrid cars come in either Altitude or Summit trim. A ‘Uconnect’ infotainment system means the Compass has decent sat-nav, which is a first in a Jeep - rejoice. It is actually a game changer if you’re remotely bothered by tech, which many buyers are these days. Wireless smartphone mirroring with Apple and Android phones is also standard, which is generous. You also get Amazon Alexa and can say ‘Hey Jeep’ to access certain functions like searching for a nearby restaurant. A button for plug-in hybrid users allows drivers to save the battery's charge until they need to switch to electric, like when entering a low-emission zone or off-roading, where the electric motor will provide traction to the rear wheels, turning the Compass into a true 4x4.

We have tested both the plug-in hybrid (4xe) and mild hybrid (e-hybrid) version of the Compass. The 4xe uses the 1.3-litre engine alongside an electric motor. The engine powers the front wheels and the motor the rear wheels, giving all-wheel drive when both are running. The combined power output is 240 horsepower, which you’d think would be sufficient, but in the Compass it feels weak, with little power for overtaking or accelerating on slip roads. Meanwhile the e-hybrid is only front wheel drive, with 130 horsepower from a 1.5-litre petrol engine aided by a small boost of electric power. This gives a bit more acceleration from a standing start and it’s enough to manoeuvre at low speeds but won’t power the car for any distance. While the e-hybrid certainly looks the part, it’s more suited to a slower pace of life and can take a while to get going. The 4xe gives you the choice of running on electric only, petrol only or combined. But it has a tiny fuel tank, meaning the maximum combined range you’ll get with a full tank and fully charged battery is less than 300 miles. Not great in a family car built for long journeys, for this the e-hybrid would be a better bet as it provided around 400 miles from its larger tank. On the plus side, we took the Compass 4xe off-roading on a course that would put Land Rover through its paces, and it was not found wanting. It had incredible ground clearance front and rear, good wading depth and fantastic hill descent control down some extreme muddy banks, braking each wheel individually at crawling pace. Close your eyes and you could be in a Defender, which is high praise indeed.