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Last Updated on: 8th May 2025, 10:34 pm
Stellantis this week officially introduced the all new Jeep Compass, which will be built in the company’s factory in Melfi, Italy. But don’t look for it at any Jeep dealer in the US. The tariffs imposed by America’s fake president have seen to that. In a press release, Stellantis wrote:
Built to embody the Jeep brand’s hallmark capability, ruggedness, and distinctive attitude, the new Compass blends versatility with state of the art technology. The brand’s most globally available model, production and sales will begin in Europe before expanding to other markets.
Production remains in the heart of Italy at the Melfi plant, reinforcing Jeep’s commitment to localized European manufacturing. Recognized for its cutting-edge automation and sustainability-focused operations, Melfi plays a strategic role in Stellantis’ electrification roadmap.
The new Jeep Compass stands as a bold and unmistakable statement, showcasing a design that captures the essence of the Jeep brand’s legendary heritage while embracing modern innovation. Built upon the cutting-edge Stellantis STLA Medium platform, specifically tailored to support electrification in the C and D segments. This forward-thinking platform guarantees an exceptional range, rapid charging capabilities, optimal efficiency, and high performance without compromising on affordability.
Crafted by the Jeep brand’s dedicated engineering teams in Turin and the United States, with input from expert technical minds around the world, the new Compass strikes an impressive balance between rugged off-road capability and seamless daily usability. Perfectly suited for outdoor adventures yet equally adept at navigating urban environments, this vehicle offers unmatched versatility, advanced technology, and a heightened level of safety.
Many Powertrain Choices
Top Gear says it is quite impressed with the new Jeep Compass, calling it “crammed in more features, more body, more cabin, and more… powertrain.” There are three fully electric versions. The entry level has a 74 kWh battery and a single 218 hp electric motor driving the front wheels. A 96 kWh battery is available and is paired with a 229 horsepower motor that also drives the front wheels.
The larger battery can also be had with dual motors that combine for 370 hp and 2380 ft-lb of torque thanks to a 14:1 reduction drive on the rear motor. Stellantis says that motor was developed specifically to enable the Compass BEV to climb 20 percent slopes even when the front wheels have lost traction.
The big battery version of the new Jeep Compass is rated at 403 miles of range in the WLTP test cycle. The smaller battery is good for 310 miles of range. Both can accept up to 160 kW of charging power, which is far from impressive in today’s battery electric cars but is in line with the latest battery-powered cars from General Motors. The new cars will also be able to charge at up to 22 kW using the built-in onboard charger.
The new Jeep Compass is also available as a plug-in hybrid with an all-wheel-drive powertrain with a total of 192 horsepower. Jeep used to call its PHEV models “4xe,” but now they will be known as “e-Hybrid Plus.” There will also be a mild hybrid version of the Compass with 143 horsepower. All electrified Compass versions get an active grille shutter integrated into the front bumper. The underside of the cars is completely flat, which contributes to lower aerodynamic drag.
The Jeep Compass is based on the Stellantis SLTA Medium platform, which also is the basis of European crossovers like the Citroen C5 Aircross and Peugeot 5008. The new Compass is 179.1 inches long — 6.1 inches longer than the model it replaces, according to InsideEVs. In fact, it is more than 10 inches longer than the original Jeep Cherokee XJ and roughly the same length as the first generation Jeep Grand Cherokee.
A Winning Design
The design of the new Compass was a collaborative effort across various global studios, led by the Jeep team in Turin. “Turin is one of those cities that exemplifies the European lifestyle, and European cities are almost like urban jungles, so what works in the woods also works in the city,” Stellantis chief design officer Ralph Gilles told Autocar. “It’s not often we get to redo an icon like the Compass,” he added. “When we came out years ago, we were the only game in town — there weren’t that many compact SUVs — and of course a lot of people have come into the scene and emulated us.”
With that in mind, the goal for Daniele Calonaci, the chief designer for the project, was to “make it rugged, make it more bold but, at the same time, detoxify,” Gilles said. There is clearly a strong family resemblance between the new Compass and the smaller Jeep Avenger that went on sale last year that is reflected in the chunkiness of the exterior and the absence of chrome adornments.
Inside, the new Jeep Compass has more cargo capacity — up 45 liters to 550 and 34 liters more in the frunk. There are also 5 more centimeters of leg room. Over-the-air updates are now standard, as is a 16 inch center touchscreen. There are actual buttons under the central screen for controlling the infotainment system and climate control system. A head-up display is available, as are a suite of Level 2 driver assist features. First Edition pricing for the new Jeep Compass starts at £35,700 (€44,240) for the e-Hybrid and £39,200 (€46250) for the EV. There is no word on pricing for the PHEV version as of yet.
No Jeep Compass For You!
Sharp-eyed readers will note that there are no prices given in US dollars, and there is a good reason for that. Thanks to the cockamamie tariffs imposed unilaterally by the failed US president, Stellantis has no plans to bring the new Jeep Compass to America. A spokesperson for Stellantis told Car and Driver this week, “As we navigate today’s dynamic environment, Stellantis continues to reassess its product strategy in North America to ensure it is offering customers a range of vehicles with flexible powertrain options to best meet their needs. As a result, the Company has temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at the Brampton Assembly Plant.”
Given the uncertainty of how the Trump administration’s tariff policy will continue to play out, there’s no real way of knowing if or when the Compass will become available in North America, says Jack Fitzgerald of Car and Driver. Jeep has already opened orders for the new version in Europe, where deliveries are expected to start by the end of the year.
So, add another new vehicle model that Americans won’t be able to buy as the US slams the door on imported cars. Most people would be surprised to learn that there really aren’t any fully US-made cars and trucks any more. While there may be some new factories opened in the US eventually, the don’t get built by executive order. Typically, it takes three years or more to build one. This is one instance (there are many) where the US is cutting off its nose to spite its face. It is frankly astonishing how many people are okay with that.
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