Jeep Compass 4xe plugs in

Off-road specialist Jeep has revealed not only the Renegade 4xe but an electrified version of the its larger Jeep Compass compact SUV.

Also dubbed 4xe, the Compass shares the same plug-in hybrid drivetrain as the Renegade and is manufactured in the same plant in southern Italy.

European deliveries start in September but the chances of either model coming to Australia seem remote in the near term.

The orthodox ICE-powered Renegade range of mini SUVs is no longer even offered in Australia.

A statement from Jeep Australia was hardly a reason to get out the wallets and place a deposit.

"We are monitoring the take up of electrification in Australia and we will be ready to launch our PHEV strategy as soon as consumer appetite, regulations and infrastructure suggests the time is right."

Hmmm, sometime in the next decade then, perhaps?

Backing that up, Jeep global boss Christian Meunier enthused about electrification when he met with Australian media last December, but made it clear we were a long way down the supply pecking order.

The Jeep Compass and Renegade 4xe kick off a concerted era of electrification for Jeep. The Wrangler 4xe PHEV is on the way and a plug-in version of the Jeep Grand Commander exists in China.

Documents relating to a new deal between Jeep’s parent FCA and the United Auto Workers union also confirm PHEV versions of the next Jeep Grand Cherokee and the new Wagoneer large SUV are on the way.

The Compass comes with a choice of 140kW and 177kW combined outputs from a front-mounted 1.3-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine and a 44kW electric motor on the rear axle.

The ICE offers 96kW or 133kW tunes – both with 270Nm – and the electric motor outputs 44kW/250Nm.

Driving via a six-speed auto, this set-up means the Compass runs as front, rear or all-wheel drive depending on the mode.

In eAWD mode, Jeep engineers claim the Compass 4xe is more capable than its ICE siblings. To help go further off-road, the Selec-Terrain traction control system offers up to five driving modes in addition to hill descent control. There are also 4WD lock and 4WD low modes.

The electric motor is fed by an 11.4kWh and 400-volt lithium-ion battery pack mounted under the rear seats, leaving the 420-litre boot space unaffected.

In pure electric mode the Compass has a maximum range around 50km and a top speed of 130km/h.

A belt-driven starter generator mounted up front enables the Compass to recharge the battery on the move in E-Save mode. The other two modes are hybrid and electric.

In hybrid mode, Jeep claims emissions over a long run are around 50g/km of CO2 when both ICE and e-motor are active.

The Jeep Compass 4xe can also be recharged from the grid using a Type 2 plug port and two wallbox options offering 2.3kW or 7.4kW charging rates.

In Europe, the Compass comes in four specs: Limited, S, Trailhawk and Business.