Dhe name Jeep immediately creates an image in the minds of motorists: large wheels with rough lugs, angular shape, splashes of mud up to the roof. There is still such a thing, but the best-selling model, right after the soft-washed little Renegade, is the Compass, an SUV the size of a VW Tiguan that was also blown around in the wind tunnel.
All-wheel drive is only available in the two PHEV versions, and there it is not a real one either, but the electric motor on the rear axle supports the combustion engine at the front. A new addition this year is a mild hybrid, which is not quite as mild as in similar models from the competition, because the Compass e-Hybrid can actually roll with its up to 17 kW electric motor and travel a few meters.
It’s enough for a lap in the parking garage, with every incline or acceleration, no matter how slight, the petrol engine starts with a rumble. So there’s no need for a button for all-electric driving, but there’s one to turn off the electric assistance for whatever purpose.
The flow of energy is displayed in an exemplary manner
Both engines act on the front axle. Excursions into the terrain are therefore prohibited, especially since there is less than 15 centimeters of space under the front apron. Despite the moderate speed, we touched down on a bump, although the suspension is not designed to be soft. The four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1.5 liters sounds a bit strained, the impression is reinforced because the automatic keeps the lower of its seven gears unnecessarily long. However, the 130 hp (96 kW) bring the Compass up to around 160 km/h, after which it becomes sluggish.
The flow of energy is shown in an exemplary manner on the large display. It can also be read there that the mild hybrid only charges discreetly with one to four kW when the accelerator is released, while up to 14 kW can be recovered when braking. The reward for the effort is relatively low fuel consumption of around seven liters per 100 kilometers, but with a cruising speed of 150 km/h on the motorway it is already around ten liters per 100.
The equipment in the test model was extensive
The slight revision last year did the Compass good, some electronic helpers have been added, and it now listens to “Hey Jeep”. The interior offers plenty of space, even for tall people, and they enjoy good all-round visibility. The 4.40 meter long SUV offers a trunk with an attractive size (438 liters), after folding down the rear seat backrest it is almost 1400 liters. The strong reflections on the windscreen are annoying. And the constant beeping that once accompanied us for a couple of miles for no apparent reason. On the other hand, the distortion-free all-round camera and the powerful water jet from the windscreen washer nozzles are good.
In the center tunnel there is a compartment in which the entire forearm disappears, and there are also plenty of other storage areas. The test model was extensively equipped, including a parking assistance system, seat cooling, large electrically folding rear-view mirrors and a 230-volt socket at the rear. All this for a price of 47,880 euros, but the Compass with 130 hp is available for just under 40,000 euros. This could also be a reason for the popularity of the model.
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