Introduction to the 2026 Jeep Compass
The Jeep Compass is a mid-sized SUV available with mild-hybrid petrol and fully electric powertrains. It retains many of the brand's signature design details but is now the most modern-looking model in the storied marque's range.
Occupying one of the most competitive segments in the market means the Compass has an abundance of strong rivals, including those from the Stellantis group Jeep is part of. Indeed, the Compass uses the same mechanical underpinnings as the Citroen e-C5 Aircross and Peugeot E-3008. The Compass sets itself apart with a more rugged, off-road-ready look compared to most of its segment competitors, however.
Pros & cons of the 2026 Jeep Compass
Pros:
• Better proportions than predecessor
• Polished driving experience
• Two battery options
Cons:
• Only one all-wheel-drive version
• Only average spec
• Boot is smaller than some
Exterior & design of the 2026 Jeep Compass
• Longer wheelbase than before
• Hard-wearing bumpers
• Dedicated off-road package available
The design of the Jeep Compass plays on the tough, rugged image that the brand is known for, with a blockier and more purposeful silhouette than its predecessor.
The robust look is most evident at the front where the Compass still prominently features the company's signature seven-slot grille. In the case of the Compass Electric, it's only for style as the necessary cooling for the electric powertrain is drawn in from a lower section in the front bumper.
To emphasise the Compass's off-road-readiness, its front and rear overhangs have been kept as short as possible, while Jeep will also offer a dedicated off-road package that further increases the approach and departure angles.
Standard models feature a silver section on the bumper's base that, rather than being painted, is made from plastic impregnated with the colour, so any scrapes should be less obvious.
The Compass Electric sits on 20-inch wheels as standard, whereas the mild-hybrid rides on 18-inch rims. The squared-off wheel arches and sills are finished in a gloss black, and buyers can opt to have the roof and C-pillars in a matching contrasting black colour.
Sharp body lines at the rear corners of the car are there to cut off airflow, thus boosting the aerodynamics.
Its rear light signatures form an X-shape of sorts and have an illuminated bar that spans almost the full width of the rear, with the Jeep logo lit up at the centre.
Dimensions of the 2026 Jeep Compass
Length: 4,552mm
Width: 1,928mm
Height: 1,675mm
Wheelbase: 2,795mm
Paint colours for the 2026 Jeep Compass
Buyers can choose from six exterior paint colours for the Jeep Compass, and they are all named after various parts of the world. They are Hawaii (bright green), Pacific (navy blue), Yosemite (light grey), Antarctica (white), Amazonia (dark green) and Vulcano (black).
There are also aftermarket accessories to further customise the car's look, such as a black bonnet sticker.
Interior, practicality, tech & comfort of the 2026 Jeep Compass
• Useful storage throughout
• Rugged materials
• Massaging seats available
Replacing what was a dated-looking interior in its predecessor, the cabin in the Compass is not only a more contemporary design, but it also features better materials and has more storage space than before.
Aping the horizontal lines of the exterior, the inside has a structured layout with a sensible approach.
Getting comfortable in the driver's seat
The Jeep Compass has a manually adjustable and heated driver's seat as standard with fabric upholstery.
Our car was equipped with the optional electrically adjustable seat that features ventilation and massaging functions with vinyl upholstery.
Adjustment of the steering wheel for reach and rake is done manually.
Infotainment and technology
For the driver, there is a 10-inch digital instrument screen that is wider than it is tall. As such items go, this is a decent size, while the optional head-up display is a nice feature to have, as it puts everything directly into your eye line.
Better still is the 16-inch infotainment display that not only looks great but reacts quickly to inputs.
Jeep's native menu system is a little complicated with various layers, but we do appreciate the bank of haptic buttons beneath that act as shortcuts. The two bars these are placed on move in and out like large buttons and there's a volume dial in the middle.
Having temperature settings placed on either side of the screen for driver and passenger is useful, but still not as practical as having proper dials or knobs.
A wireless charging pad is standard in the Compass and has ventilation to prevent your device from getting too hot. There are USB-C charge ports available too and, for smartphone mirroring, both wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are included.
Practicality around the cabin
Jeep's designers have done a lot of work to make the Compass's cabin more useful than before. The layout sees better use of space, with more than double the stowage volume, increased from 14 to 34 litres.
This includes a shallow shelf in front of the passenger seat, door bins that can more easily fit large bottles and a big storage area at the base of the centre console, just ahead of two cupholders.
By using a rotary dial for the driver selector, the designers have also created more free space between the front seats.
Rear-seat passenger space
There is a good amount of rear passenger space thanks to the long wheelbase, and there is also an almost entirely flat floor across the back. Adults of average height will find it reasonable roomy in terms of legroom and also headroom, though in the case of the middle rear seat, legroom is slightly compromised by the placement of the centre console. A 40:20:40 split across the back seats adds some further versatility.
Fitting child seats to the Jeep Compass
You will find two ISOFIX points in the rear of the Jeep Compass, in the outer seats. Parents will appreciate the wide angle at which the rear doors open, as that can make access easier. The middle seat isn't as generous in terms of width as the outer seats, which is something to keep in mind.
Boot space in the Jeep Compass Electric
The Jeep Compass Electric has 550 litres of boot, rising to 1,695 litres when you fold down the rear seats. The load height is average for the segment, though we fear the gloss-black paintwork on top of the rear bumper will be prone to scuffing and scrapes from loading in items.
The boot aperture is a practical, squarish shape, so bulkier objects such as bikes should go in with relative ease. It is possible to adjust the boot floor to a lower level, or to use that space as a separate area for charging cables and other items. There is no 'frunk' in the Compass Electric.
Towing with the Jeep Compass
There is a maximum braked towing weight of 1,000kg for the Jeep Compass Electric. The mild-hybrid petrol variant can do slightly better at up to 1,150kg.
Safety in the Jeep Compass
As yet, the Jeep Compass has not been assessed by Euro NCAP. It shares much of its mechanical and structural underpinnings with other models in the Stellantis group that have already achieved strong safety ratings.
There are numerous safety systems as standard, many of which are part of the mandatory GSR2 legislation. These include speed limit warnings and driver attention monitoring, but there is also autonomous emergency braking, front and rear parking sensors, plus a reversing camera.
A more advanced 360-degree camera system is optionally available. The Compass is also equipped with several driver assistance features, including adaptive cruise control and a lane positioning assist system.
Performance of the 2026 Jeep Compass
• Electric version has 74kWh battery
• Only front-wheel drive for now
• More electric models to come
The Jeep Compass Electric has a 75kWh battery that provides enough energy for 500 kilometres of driving range according to the WLTP standard. This uses a 213hp electric motor producing up to 345Nm and it is capable of 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds, making it faster at accelerating than the mild-hybrid petrol.
That gets a 1.2-litre engine with a total output of 145hp that is supplemented by a small 21kW electric motor fed by a compact 0.88kWh battery. There's no need to charge this setup or plug it in (in fact, you can't), as it simply acts as a boost to the turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine.
In time Jeep will add two more Compass Electric models equipped with a larger 94kWh battery. A front-wheel-drive variant will produce 231hp and have the longest range at 650 kilometres.
A dual-motor setup with 375hp and a 600-kilometre range will top the lineup in terms of performance and will be the only all-wheel-drive version, badged '4xe'.
A plug-in-hybrid model will get a 195hp output from a 1.6-litre petrol engine and is likely to have an electric driving range of around 100 kilometres.
Driving the Jeep Compass Electric on the road in Spain - Dave Humphreys
The Jeep brand has literally become the byword for any SUV in everyday language, but the Compass Electric is very much a vehicle for the road, first and foremost.
Starting out on city streets it's clear that the Jeep Compass Electric has made a step forward in relation to build quality and refinement in comparison to its predecessor. Over speed bumps and broken tarmac, it feels solidly built, and even though the electric motor's output is modest by today's standards, it's more than adequate for seeing the Jeep through fast-flowing traffic.
The steering feel is light and quite direct, which is welcome when we get out of the urban confines onto more sinuous roads. That quick steering rack works well, tucking the front end neatly into apexes and making it easy to place on the road despite its exterior dimensions.
Drivers can adjust the level of energy recuperation via paddles on the back of the steering wheel or select a one-pedal mode via one of the shortcut buttons beneath the central touchscreen.
This setting does have quite strong levels of retardation, but it doesn't take long to get used to it. What is slightly strange is how the brake pedal also moves in and out as the system operates.
More importantly, it is how much more polished and refined the Compass Electric is in comparison to any of Jeep's previous products that makes the biggest impression. As we've mentioned, there is only modest performance on tap, but crucially, it's well balanced and suits the car for the tasks at hand.
Refinement is helped by it being electric, while other items, such as thicker glass, help to keep undesired sounds from penetrating the cabin.
Driving the Jeep Compass e-Hybrid on the road in Spain - Dave Humphreys
Many people may, understandably, wonder if a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine is up to the job in the Compass e-Hybrid. Given its size it's easy to see why some would think that it's too small an engine for such a car, but that's where the joys of some turbocharging and a mild-hybrid system come into play.
Now, we do need to clarify that this is by no means a high-performance vehicle, but it is brisk enough for urban life.
The three-cylinder engine has a distinctive thrum to it when it fires up and, combined with the mild-hybrid system that provides a further 21kW and 50Nm to fill in the gaps lower down, it makes a respectable effort of things at urban speeds.
Provided you're not too heavy-footed with the accelerator pedal, the engine sticks to its mid-range as the six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox works up through the ratios.
It feels quite different to the Compass Electric, not only due to the powertrain but also the reduction in weight, as the Compass e-Hybrid weighs a whole 510kg less than its battery-powered sibling.
While Jeep's engineers have altered the suspension to provide a similar dynamic flavour you can't help but feel the difference.
Almost any time that you lift off the accelerator the engine will disengage and shut off, switching to the hybrid element of the powertrain. In many instances the only way of noticing this happening is the speedometer font changing from white to blue.
The switchover happens smoothly thanks to how the hybrid system is setup and that remains true when going the opposite way, as the combustion engine restarts.
So long as there's some charge in the compact 0.88kWh battery (located under the passenger seat), it will travel for longer stretches than you might expect using only electric power.
It's worth noting that this mostly applies to lower speeds, but if you're willing to put the effort in and slightly alter your driving style, then you may see some reduction in fuel consumption.
Under harder acceleration the engine does become vocal, and it has to work hard to get the Jeep up to higher speeds when you're in a hurry. It will do it, but the coarser engine note isn't so sweet on the ears.
Nevertheless, it remains a reasonably good powertrain package and the ability to conduct low-speed manoeuvres, such as parking, without the petrol engine being active is a plus.
Mild-hybrid system aside, the Compass e-Hybrid remains a nice car to drive, and it feels every bit as robust as its electric counterpart. The refinement is still there and in some ways it's a better car to drive thanks to its lower weight.
Range, battery, charging and running costs of the 2026 Jeep Compass
• Electric model has 500-kilometre range
• 160kW DC charging
• Up to 22kW on AC available
Jeep's use of a 74kWh battery as the base for the Compass Electric range will likely be more than enough for most buyers. It provides enough energy for a 500-kilometre range, but the lineup is set to expand with the addition of a 97kWh battery (that will be paired with a 231hp motor) and a 650-kilometre range. A dual-motor variant with 375hp will also use this battery and muster a 600-kilometre range.
When it comes to charging, the Jeep Compass Electric gets 11kW AC capability as standard, and there is the option of upgrading that to 22kW.
At a peak rate of 160kW, the DC fast charging isn't the highest compared to what else is available.
Real-world range and efficiency of the Jeep Compass Electric
During our time driving the Jeep Compass Electric, we recorded an average energy consumption of 20.5kWh/100km over a mixture of environments, including city driving and motorway. That is a little higher than Jeep's official 17.4-18.6kWh/100km figure and would indicate a real-world driving range of around 360 kilometres, which is somewhat less than the 500 kilometres quoted.
Taking a similar journey in the Compass e-Hybrid resulted in a fuel consumption figure of 7.9 litres/100km. That journey was with only the driver onboard, so we would expect that figure to increase a little more if you're driving with other passengers and luggage in the boot.
Servicing the Jeep Compass Electric
Servicing for the Compass e-Hybrid will be at 12-month or 25,000-kilometre intervals, whichever comes first. The service interval for the Jeep Compass Electric is 12,500 kilometres or in the first 12 months. Then it's every two years or 25,000 kilometres.
Jeep Compass warranty
All new Jeeps in Ireland are covered by a three-year or 100,000-kilometre warranty from the date of registration (whichever comes first). Separately, the high-voltage battery is covered by an eight-year or 160,000-kilometre warranty.
Irish pricing & rivals to the 2026 Jeep Compass
• Starts at €42,995
• Same price for First Edition EV and MHEV
• A plug-in hybrid will follow
The Jeep Compass will have a starting price of €42,995 for the mild-hybrid, and it is hoped that the Compass Electric will have the same starting price, but this is subject to confirmation. Gowan Auto, the importer of Jeep in Ireland, is hoping to have a pricing strategy that sees no difference between petrol and electric powertrains.
The higher-grade Jeep Compass First Edition will cost €45,995 for either petrol mild-hybrid or electric.
There are also plans to add a plug-in-hybrid powertrain, along with two more electric variants mentioned above.
Verdict - should you buy the 2026 Jeep Compass?
The Compass Electric is the company's first model in a long time that will make you rethink what you thought about Jeep. Its design ticks all the right boxes, and it's spacious inside for family life while still practical enough for even the most enthusiastic of outdoorsy folk. But what stands out the most is how much better it drives than its predecessor, and with more powertrain options coming down the line, this is one Jeep that could get much more mainstream.
FAQs about the 2026 Jeep Compass Electric
Is there an AWD Jeep Compass Electric?
Jeep plans to introduce a dual-motor version of the Compass Electric, which will have a 375hp output and be capable of tackling more challenging terrain.
Is there a seven-seat option for the Jeep Compass?
No, the Jeep Compass is only available with a five-seat layout.
How capable is the Jeep Compass Electric off-road?
The Jeep Compass Electric has a 200mm ground clearance with approach and departure angles of 20 degrees and 26 degrees, respectively. A wading depth of 470mm lets it get through reasonably high water levels.
Want to know more about the 2026 Jeep Compass?
If there's anything about the Jeep Compass we've not covered, or you'd like help in choosing between it and other cars, you can avail of our expert advice service via the Ask Us Anything page.
