By Staff Reporter

Icons such as Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Cherokee are probably models that define the Jeep brand but those models have often had a niche ownership. Models such as the Jeep Renegade and Compass, have extended the Jeep ownership base and made the brand accessible to customers who would not have otherwise owned a Jeep. The Jeep Compass has been updated and will be offered in with new engines and 5 trim levels in Europe (where it will now be built for the European market).

Engines

A new 1.3-litre turbopetrol engine will be introduced into the range and deliver either 97 kW or 112kW (for the S model). Billed as being 30% more efficient than the engine it replaces, the 1.3-litre will be available in front-or-all wheel drive.

A 1.6-liter diesel engine will also be offered. The front-wheel drive fuel burner will make 85 kW and 320 Nm, and be available in all trims.

Finally, there will be a plug-in hybrid 4xe engine that is based on the 1.3 turbo-petrol mill that is paired with an electric motor, and capable of making a respectable 142 or 179 kW. The range will be paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a DDCT automatic transmission.

FCA says it’s not just better engines to look forward to but handling of the Compass has been improved thanks to the new tuning of the steering system. These include the addition of shock absorbers with FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) valves, to limit movements in the vehicle’s body, without affecting comfort in tackling rough roads.

Exterior and interior

The updated Jeep Compass will be offered in a line-up of five trim levels – Sport, Longitude, Night Eagle, Limited and S (depending on the market). The updated Compass will see new styling changes such as six different wheel designs (one specific for each trim and exclusive 19-inch Gloss Black wheels for the Night Eagle model), and new color palette with five new exterior paints: Ivory Tri-Coat, Colorado Red, Blue Italia, Blue Shade and Techno Green Metallic – all of which can be offered in combination with a black roof. The new tonneau cover is also available on all versions.

Inside, new features include the new Uconnect Services for improved on-board and off-board connectivity. Uconnect Services are divided into several packages: My Assistant, My Car, My Remote, My Navigation. My Assistant offers emergency services in case of crash, roadside assistance services including the vehicle’s recovery and vehicle health reports. My Car and allows the driver to lock/unlock doors, flash the lights and find the vehicle. My Navigation (on Uconnect 8.4” navigation only) includes Send & Go service, sending the destination on navigation system directly from a smartphone or from the web portal, receiving real-time alerts on traffic, weather and speed cameras and to search Points of Interest.

Safety

The refreshed Compass will come with a number of active and passive safety and security features, including Forward Collision Warning and LaneSense Departure Warning, both offered as standard across the whole range, alongside Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM), and front, side and curtain airbags. Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path Detection, Adaptive Cruise Control, Park assist will be optional.