Jeep Compass e-Hybrid revealed

The wraps have come off the 2022 Jeep Compass e-Hybrid, which features a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain that’s claimed to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 15 per cent.

Also applied to the Jeep Renegade, which is no longer sold in Australia, the mild-hybrid system in the Jeep Compass combines a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (97kW/240Nm) with a small electric motor (15kW/55Nm).

Mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, Jeep says the e-Hybrid system enables “full-electric propulsion from start-up, at low speeds, when cruising and in parking manoeuvres”.

There’s also an e-boosting mode that pumps out maximum power from both combustion and electric motors for extra acceleration.

The Compass e-Hybrid would hand Jeep Australia with a competitor to other electrified small SUVs such as the Toyota C-HR, Mazda MX-30, Kia Niro and Subaru XV, however a local spokesperson has told carsales that it’s not under consideration for our market in the short-term.

This is believed to be due to the fact that Australian-delivered versions of the Jeep Compass are built in India, which does not currently produce the e-Hybrid.

The European market will be supplied from Jeep parent Stellantis’ factory in Melfi, Italy.

Jeep already offers a plug-in hybrid version of the Compass overseas dubbed 4xe, which is also off limits to Australia for now.

The local choices are traditional four-cylinder combustion engines – a 2.4-litre petrol (129kW/229Nm) and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel (125kW/350Nm), returning combined-cycle economy of 9.7L/100km and 5.7L/100km respectively.

Prices range from $37,950 to $51,650 plus on-road costs.

The Jeep Australia spokesperson said the US-based SUV brand would outline its hybrid product strategy “later this year”.