A new era for the iconic SUV - Jeep reveals the electric Compass

06 May 2025

Jeep, the quintessential American brand, has unveiled its redesigned Compass for the 2026 model year, with a focus on electrified powertrains. With Europe as the initial launch market, Stellantis seems to have found some confidence in international markets. The third-generation Compass is a big departure from its predecessor, promising increased space, advanced technology, and a range of hybrid and fully electric options, with the most powerful version delivering an impressive 375 horsepower.

The exterior design retains Jeep's signature boxy aesthetic. The 2026 Compass is built on an entirely new foundation - it now utilizes the STLA Medium platform, a modular architecture shared with other Stellantis vehicles like the Peugeot 3008 and Citroën C5 Aircross. This new platform is responsible for the Compass's increased dimensions. Stretching to 178.9 inches in length, it's now 6.1 inches longer than the previous model.

Design highlights include flatter headlights flanking a modern interpretation of the iconic seven-slot grille, and distinctive X-shaped taillights connected by a light bar featuring an illuminated Jeep logo. Practicality is Jeep's middle name, and the new model comes with plenty of plastic body cladding and squared-off wheel arches. The larger rear quarter glass improves visibility for passengers. Higher trim levels will get stylish touches such as a contrasting black roof, matrix LED headlights, and a glass roof.

Thankfully, the new Jeep is still adventure-ready, and the four-wheel-drive versions of the new Compass promise a maximum ground clearance of 7.9 inches, along with approach, breakover, and departure angles of 20, 15, and 26 degrees, respectively. It will also be capable of wading through water up to 18.5 inches deep. A hill descent control system will come standard on all four-wheel-drive models, enhancing off-road capability.

Inside, the transformation is more evident. Even the base model features a 16-inch ultra-wide touchscreen infotainment system paired with a 10.0-inch digital instrument cluster. Despite the extensive screen real estate, Jeep has thoughtfully kept physical buttons for essential controls located beneath the infotainment system, including a red switch for the standard Selec-Terrain system and the electronic parking brake flanking a rotary gear selector.

The increased size of the 2026 Compass translates to more interior space, with an additional 2.2 inches of rear legroom. Interior storage capacity has also been increased, and the cargo compartment behind the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats now offers 15.9 ft³, but disappointingly, the EV versions will not feature a front trunk.

For the European market, Jeep will offer the new Compass with a range of powertrains, including mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric options. The entry-level model will feature a gasoline engine with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology producing 145 horsepower, and the plug-in hybrid variant will generate 195 horsepower.

There are three EV versions that offer varying power outputs, ranging from 213 horsepower for the front-wheel-drive model to 375 horsepower for the all-wheel-drive flagship. This top-tier EV gets a newly developed rear electric motor exclusive to Jeep, providing exceptional traction and allowing the vehicle to climb a 20-percent incline even with zero grip on the front tires.

Jeep estimates a maximum driving range of 404 miles on the WLTP cycle for the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive electric Compass, although specific battery capacity details have not yet been released. We suspect this version shares the 98 kWh battery with its French sibling, the Peugeot 5008. The front-wheel-drive, single-motor EV variant gets a smaller 74.0-kilowatt-hour battery pack with an expected range of 311 miles on a single charge.

To maximize efficiency and range, engineers have implemented a fully flat underbody, aerodynamic wheel designs, and active grille shutters in the front bumper. When it's time to recharge, the Compass EV will support 160-kilowatt DC fast charging, allowing the battery to be replenished from 20 to 80 percent in approximately 30 minutes.

Jeep has already opened order books for the new Compass in Europe, offering a limited-edition "First Edition" model, but since this is Stellantis - the web design team forgot to update the details across the European market. The Italian website was the only one displaying the prices at the time of writing, and we gotta say - the new Jeep won't be cheap by any stretch of the imagination.

The cheapest single motor version starts at $46,500 while the AWD version with the larger battery comes in just a smidgen under $55,000. There is no word of pricing for any other versions, even the First Edition, but Jeep promises that deliveries to European customers will begin in the fourth quarter of this year, following the start of production at the Melfi plant in Italy.

The European customers will enjoy the new Compass fairly soon, but American enthusiasts will have to wait a bit longer. The US version is expected to debut next year, likely as a 2027 model-year vehicle. The North American market model was initially planned to be produced at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada. Unfortunately, that has all changed now since Stellantis temporarily halted operations at this facility to reassess its long-term strategy.

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