Jeep may be an American brand at its core, but its presence has grown well beyond US borders in recent decades. Prioritizing Europe for the launch of a new model speaks volumes about how Stellantis is betting on international markets to reduce reliance on North America. The third-generation Compass will initially hit European countries later this year before expanding to other regions.
Despite its evolutionary exterior styling, the new Compass is an entirely different vehicle from its predecessor. It ditches the old Fiat-Chrysler bones for the STLA Medium platform, which Stellantis has already used for the Peugeot 3008 and 5008, the Opel Grandland, and the recently launched Citroën C5 Aircross. At 179.1 inches, the Compass is 6.1 inches longer than before, distancing itself from the aging Renegade and the even shorter Avenger we don't get in the US.
It wouldn’t be a proper Jeep without boxy styling, so the new Compass remains refreshingly angular in a sea of curvaceous compact crossovers. Flatter headlights flank a fresh take on the eight-slot grille, while the X-shaped taillights meet in the middle thanks to a light bar hosting an illuminated Jeep logo. The styling hasn’t gone soft since plenty of plastic body cladding and squarish wheel arches remain. You can see it’s bigger than before by the enlarged quarter glass, which should improve visibility.
The nicest versions will have a contrasting black roof, matrix LED headlights, and a sunroof. Jeep intends to sell the new Compass with two-tone, 20-inch wheels, although for off-roading, you’d be better off with smaller alloys. Speaking of going off the beaten path, a maximum ground clearance of 7.9 inches is promised for the four-wheel-drive versions, along with 20-degree approach, 15-degree breakover, and 26-degree departure angles. A water fording depth of up to 18.5 inches is touted. A hill descent control system will be standard on the four-wheel-drive versions.
The 2026 Compass gets mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and purely electric drivetrains for the European market. The base model will make do with 145 horsepower from an unspecified gasoline engine equipped with 48-volt tech. The plug-in hybrid will pack 195 hp, while the three EVs will range from 213 hp for the front-wheel-drive model to 375 hp for the AWD-equipped range-topper. The latter features a newly developed rear motor exclusive to Jeep, enabling the crossover to climb a 20-percent slope even when the front tires have zero grip.
Jeep quotes a maximum driving range of 404 miles (650 kilometers) on the WLTP cycle for the dual-motor, AWD model, but does not mention the battery’s capacity. We know the front-wheel-drive, single-motor variant with a 74.0-kilowatt pack will cover 311 miles (500 kilometers) on a single charge.
Engineers opted for a fully flat underbody, aero-optimized wheels, and active grille shutters in the front bumper to hit those range numbers. When you’re running low on juice, using 160-kilowatt DC fast charging will take half an hour to replenish the battery from 20 to 80 percent.
Jeep is already taking orders for the new Compass in Europe, where it's selling a First Edition for a limited time. Deliveries to customers will start in the fourth quarter of the year, once production begins at the Melfi plant in Italy. The company is putting a nail in the diesel engine's coffin by deciding against selling the crossover with an oil-burner, which had a market share of over 50 percent in its heyday in Europe in the early part of the previous decade.
There’s no word yet on the American version, which is expected to arrive next year, likely as a 2027MY. The U.S.-bound model is supposed to come from the Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario. However, Stellantis halted all operations there in February to review its strategy for the Canadian facility. We've reached out to Jeep and will update the article if we hear back.
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