Jeep Compass to go hybrid-only in 2024

The Jeep Compass range is about to dispense with dedicated petrol and diesel power in favour of electrification, with the small SUV’s existing four-cylinder combustion engines set to be replaced by a range of mild-hybrid (MHEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains.

Production of Jeep Australia’s overhauled Compass line-up will start next quarter, ahead of first local deliveries in the first half of next year, as Jeep hits the accelerator on its local electrification strategy.

Today’s announcement comes just days after the American off-road brand released its first PHEV in Australia – the Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe – and weeks after it confirmed the pint-size Jeep Avenger will be its first EV in Australia, in 2024.

It also marks a complete U-turn for the Jeep Australia, which said the Compass e-Hybrid wasn’t on its short-term product radar when it was revealed last year.

Regardless, the e-Hybrid system is actually a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, as opposed to a fully-fledged parallel hybrid system as seen in the rival Toyota Corolla Cross, pairing a 97kW/240Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with a 15kW/55Nm electric motor for a claimed 15 per cent improvement in fuel consumption.

However, that 15 per cent improvement is in comparison with the 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine offered overseas, which roughly equates to combined fuel consumption of 4.8L/100km – well down on the claimed 7.9L/100km figure of the current 2.4-litre Compass.

ADR-certified figures are yet to be published for either the e-Hybrid or the 4xe, the former of which will be front-drive only in Australia and matched with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, as opposed to the latter’s six-speed auto.

The 4xe is offered with two outputs overseas (140kW and 177kW), both combining a 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine, a 44kW/250Nm electric motor and a 11.4kWh lithium-ion battery.

The motor and battery combination yield a circa-48km electric driving range, while the whole system will sip a claimed 1.5L/100km (WLTP).

Jeep Australia says the electrified models will “offer enhanced performance and driving dynamics while further representing the brand’s commitment to becoming the leader in sophisticated zero exhaust emission technologies”.

The Jeep Compass e-Hybrid FWD and Compass 4xe will be new alternatives in the small SUV segment while remaining true to the current model’s all-terrain vocation – with efficiency not achieved at the expense of performance, says Jeep.

Today’s announcement also explains why Jeep’s local division ruled out the gusty new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol powertrain for Australia’s Compass late last year, despite it being cleaner than the established 2.4-litre unit.

Rivals for the electrified 2024 Jeep Compass line-up will include the Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid, Subaru Crosstrek hybrid, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV, Honda HR-V e:HEV, Hyundai Kona hybrid and Haval Jolion hybrid.

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