Jeep aims to improve the efficiency of mainstream versions of its Compass model with innovative e-Hybrid technology. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

Jeep's Compass e-Hybrid claims to blend both mild hybrid and self-charging full-Hybrid technology together into one, efficient and quite affordable C-segment SUV package. But you have to have auto transmission and there's no 4WD option. Plus there are all the improvements lately added to this significantly updated MK2 Compass model. It's something a bit different - in almost every way.

Background

We all know what a real Jeep looks like - rough, tough and wilderness-ready. You might though, be less acquainted with the models this growing brand wants to sell to ordinary, family SUV buyers. Cars like this one, the Compass, aimed directly at the buoyant mid-sized Qashqai segment, especially in this more efficient e-Hybrid guise. Electrification will of course be the over-riding theme in future Jeep models - the company's already shown us its first full EV. For now though, the brand still needs to sell with fossil fuel in the SUV market's core C-segment, a class the brand has unsuccessfully been trying to crack for years. Will this Compass e-Hybrid give Jeep a genuine contender in the Qashqai class? Let's see.

Driving Experience

Jeep calls this a 'Hybrid', but it's probably best to view the 1.5-litre 130hp e-Hybrid powertrain as a mild hybrid package with a few extra tricks up its sleeve. The fact that it's based around a belt starter generator which drives the engine stop/start system suggests that, as does the fairly unremarkable set of overall efficiency stats. Evidence that the e-Hybrid set-up wasn't primarily developed for Jeeps (it wasn't) lies in the situation of the e-Hybrid system's 19hp electric motor in the gearbox, rather than on the rear axle where it would usually be with a Hybrid; that means there's unfortunately no scope for an all-wheel drive Compass e-Hybrid model. But at least there is an electric motor, which means that unlike with an ordinary mild hybrid engine, this one can drive the car on electric power alone - though because the 48-volt battery that's being charged is tiny (just 0.8kWh in size), only at very slow speeds and only for a few hundred yards. It actually does so in lots of ways and Jeep has decided to give names for all of them. 'Silent Start' is when you prod the start button and the car springs into life but the engine doesn't; 'e-Launch' is where the electric motor pushes you off for the first few metres before the engine quickly springs in to help; 'e-Creeping' uses electric power where a conventional petrol auto would creep forward on tick over; 'e-Queueing' will keep you battery-powered in stop-start heavy traffic; and 'e-Parking' will use electric power at parking speeds. If there's any battery charge still left over after all of this by the time you get to the open road, 'e-Boosting' will use it to help acceleration. And to help recharge said battery, recuperated energy is reclaimed when you brake. You can probably guess what that's called - 'e-Braking'.

Design and Build

This second generation 'MP/552'-series Compass has been given a darned good wash and brush up in this facelifted guise. There's the usual 7-slot front grille, but flanking it are bolder headlamps now featuring full-LED technology. You can have a contrast colour roof if you want, the tail lights are now also of the LED kind and the trademark trapezoidal arches can house Iarge wheels of up to 19-inches in size, allowing you to make the appropriate statement in the gym car park. What's more significant though, are the changes which have taken place inside, where the cabin gains a new 10.1-inch 'Uconnect' infotainment central screen that works up to five times faster than the previous display and incorporates Alexa integration, automatic over-the-air updates and "Hey Jeep"-activated voice functionality. This monitor also incorporates 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone mirroring wireless technology so that you can connect and access two smartphones at the same time without having to connect a cable Perhaps even more importantly, the interior now looks and feels more European - as perhaps you'd expect now that this model is being built in Italy. There's lots of storage space and two adults will be comfortable on the back seat, though it would be a bit of a squash for three. Out back, there's a 438-litre boot. It's annoying though, that you can't flatten to the rear bench without coming round to the side doors.

Market and Model

The e-Hybrid Compass variants start from around £34,500 in 'Limited' form - or from around £37,500 in top 'S' guise. With the 1.5-litre e-Hybrid petrol unit, the car can't offer 4WD, but opting for this engine does gives you a 7-speed dual-clutch auto transmission - and of course decent efficiency. As for equipment, even the entry-level 'Limited' model comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED Smartbeam reflector headlights with auto high beam, LED tail lamps, Solar control glass, power-folding mirrors, rain sensitive wipers, roof rails and an alarm. Inside, you get a 10.25-inch instrument cluster screen, Dual Zone climate control, heat for the front seats and steering wheel, all-weather branded floor mats and powered lumbar adjustment for the front seats. Plus the front passenger seat folds flat for really long loads. Drive stuff includes an Active speed limiting device, cruise control, trailer sway damping, a rear view camera and rear parking sensors. Plus a competitive package of camera safety kit.

Cost of Ownership

Ultimately, this e-Hybrid powerplant is a kind of compromise between the mainstream electrified engines competitors offer - either mild hybrid units that don't deliver much efficiency benefit or self-charging full-Hybrid powerplants that do but cost a lot more. Sure enough, the tax-determining CO2 emissions stat of a Compass e-Hybrid - up to 139g/km of CO2 - sits plumb between these two approaches. For comparison, a mild hybrid Nissan Qashqai DIGT 140 manages 143g/km, while a full-Hybrid Toyota RAV4 returns 126g/km. Dig a bit deeper though and the readings don't look so good from Jeep's point of view. Its e-Hybrid tech may be supposedly more sophisticated than what you'd get in a mild hybrid engine but the combined fuel cycle figures lag well behind what you'd get from typical mild hybrid rivals. A Compass e-Hybrid returns a combined reading of 36.3mpg; for a mild hybrid Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage or Hyundai Tucson in this class, the return is closer to the 45mpg mark. And of course it's way off what you'd get from the kind of self charging full-Hybrid model in this segment that you could have for the kind of money Jeep wants for an e-Hybrid Compass: that Toyota RAV4, for instance, manages just over 50mpg on the combined cycle. Still, there are plus points here. Insurance is group 18E and Jeep includes three years of servicing as standard.

Summary

The e-Hybrid concept seems like an awful lot of effort to go to for the creation of something that at the end of the day isn't quite as good as the kind of self charging full-Hybrid engine we've now had on cars of this size for the last two decades. It does though, make the Compass e-Hybrid feel like the proper Hybrid it's pretending to be when setting off, manoeuvring and inching along in traffic queues, all of which is accomplished in impressive EV silence. Away from walking pace though, the slightest flex of your right foot introduces the 130hp engine, not always very subtly. Then there are the efficiency stats, not as impressive as the trumpeted tech would lead you to believe. If you really like the idea of a Compass of course, this may not matter much. It does feel more convincingly like an SUV than most of its rivals. And it's very well equipped, with features that'll cost more on competitor models. Is all that enough to make the Compass e-Hybrid a credible buy? All food for thought.

Body Glass

Sunscreen glass

Heated rear window

Rain sensitive windscreen wipers

Light tinted glass

Power windows - driver and passenger express up/down

Rear windshield washer/wiper

Windshield wiper de-icer

Brakes

Electronic stability control

Electronic parking brake

Hill start assist

Energy recovery system

All speed traction control

Rain brake support

AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection

Automatic electronic hold brake

Carpets/Rugs

Cargo compartment organiser

Cargo compartment carpet

Cargo compartment cover

All weather floormats with Jeep logo

Chassis/Suspension

Electronic roll mitigation

Communication

E-call

Wireless charging pad

Driver Aids

Electric power steering

Adaptive cruise control with Stop and Go

Intelligent speed assist

Active speed limiting device

Traffic sign recognition (TSR)

Full speed forward collision warning plus mitigation

Active lane management

Parksense front and rear park assist system

Parallel and perpendicular park assist with exit

Driver Information

Tachometer

Digital speedometer switchable from MPH to KPH

Outside temperature display

Vehicle information centre

Media centre electronic storage

Instrument panel

Drowsy driver detection

TBM - Connected services (e-call)

Instrument cluster- 10.25" TFT Colour display

English owners handbook

United Kingdom equipment group

Extended Guide in English

Driving Mirrors

Aspherical driver's exterior mirror

Gloss black exterior door mirrors

Manual day/night rear view mirror

Door mirrors: power adjustable and folding, heated with auto folding function and indicators

Embellishment Trims

Front and rear air vents

Speakers in satin chrome silver

Engine

Battery run - down protection

E- launch

Electric drive

E-creeping

E-Parking

E-Queueing

Engine off coasting

MHEV CO2 improvement

Entertainment

Steering wheel mounted audio controls

DAB Digital radio

Bluetooth audio streaming

USB host flip

USB A and C type - second row

Global telematics box module (TBM)

Media hub (USB A-C TYPE)

Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto

Exterior Body Features

Body colour door handles

Chrome window surround

S badge

Dual pane electric opening panoramic sunroof

Hood decal

Removable short mast antenna

Black mic grille with chrome rings

UK front number plate bracket

Lower bodyside cladding in black

Compass badge

Rear fascia

Jeep badge

Black side roof rails

Exterior door mirrors with heating element

Front fascia/belly pan skid plate

Belly pan - underbody protection

Coastdown and run-in optimization

Active grille shutters

Accent/body colour bumpers

Rear side wing doors

4XE badge/e-Hybrid badge

Carry back MHEV

Partial body cover protection

Rear Jeep Badge

Chromed DLO

Exterior Lights

Automatic headlights

Third brake light

Rear fog lamps

Daytime running lights

LED tail lights

LED rear lights

LED front fog lamps

Headlamp off time delay

Smartbeam headlights

LED reflector headlamps

Headlamp leveling system

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Rear air conditioning and heater vents

2 Zone automatic air conditioning (5 seats)

Interior Features

Cloth/vinyl upholstery

Coat hooks

Heated steering wheel

Overhead console

Tilt/telescopic steering column

Passenger assist handles

Leather wrapped steering wheel

Full length centre console

Cargo tie down loops

Centre console with sliding armrest

Right hand drive (RHD)

Spare wheel storage insulation

12V auxiliary power outlet - 2nd row

Cargo load floor

Dash insulation

Glovebox with damped soft close door

Driver assist handle

Internal rear grab handles

Rear seat armrest with cupholder

Leather wrapped gear knob

No Alternator

Eco shift schedule

PTC additional heater

Interior Lights

Cargo area lights

Glovebox light

Illuminated door entry system

Front map reading lights

Interior door handle LED lamps

Overhead dome LED lamps

Safety

Front passenger airbag

Front side airbags

Tyre pressure monitoring display

Dual note electric horns

Rear seat belt reminder

Dual tyre pressure - turn changes

Driver's front airbag

Passenger airbag deactivation switch

Front and rear side curtain airbags

Electrical steering column shaft lock

Rear door child protection locks

Jeep call assistance label

Seats

Heated front seats

3 rear seat head restraints

Front head restraints

Child seat anchorage points

60/40 split folding rear seat

3 seat bench in 2nd row

Fold flat front passenger seat

Centre rear 3 point seat belt

Front seats back map pockets

Power 2-way driver lumbar adjustment

Driver seat 6 way manual adjust

6 way manual adjust front passenger seat

Front height-adjust seatbelts

Single front passenger seat

Security

Premium security alarm

Speed sensitive power door locks

Capless fuel filler

Occupant detection system

Passive entry and keyless go (Key fob without panic button)

Power locking fuel filler door

Service/Warranty

UK Warranty

Towing

Trailer sway damping

Vanity Mirrors

Sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors

Wheels - Alloy

18" diamond cut painted high gloss black alloy wheels with Summer Tyre Class A+

Wheels - Spare

Fix and Go tyre label - GROUP B

Emissions - ICE

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 130

Particles: N

HC+NOx: N

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 130

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 124

Engine and Drive Train

Camshaft: DOHC

Engine Layout: FRONT TRANSVERSE

Gears: 7 SPEED

Transmission: AUTO

Compression Ratio: 12.5:1

Cylinders: 4

Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE

Number of Valves: 16

Fuel Delivery: TURBO DIRECT INJECTION

Catalytic Convertor: No

CC: 1469

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 92.2

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 71.2

Fuel Consumption - ICE

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEH: 48.7

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEL: 5.5

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb: 5.8

WLTP - MPG - Comb: 48.7

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: 0

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEH: 5.8

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEL: 51.4

General

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: N

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 28E

Service Interval Mileage: 9000

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 12

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: N

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: N

NCAP Safety Assist %: N

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: N

Badge Power: 130

Badge Engine CC: 1.5

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 2

Coin Series: North Star

Coin Description: e-Torque

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 60000

Performance

Top Speed: 120

Engine Power - BHP: 130

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

0 to 62 mph (secs): 10

Engine Power - KW: 96

Engine Power - RPM: 5500

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 177

Engine Torque - NM: 240

Engine Torque - MKG: 24.5

Engine Torque - RPM: 1500

Test Cycles

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

Tyres

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Tyre Size Rear: 235/50 R18

Wheel Style: N

Wheel Type: 18" ALLOY

Tyre Size Front: 235/50 R18

Space Saver?: 0

Alloys?: No

Vehicle Dimensions

Width: 1819

Length: 4404

Width (including mirrors): 2033

Wheelbase: 2636

Height: 1624

Height (including roof rails): 1629

Weight and Capacities

Gross Vehicle Weight: 2110

Minimum Kerbweight: 1500

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 55

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 1450

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 600

Max. Loading Weight: 610

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 438

No. of Seats: 5

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 11.1

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1387

Max. Roof Load: 68

Entertainment

Alpine audio system

Exterior Body Features

Solid paint

Body colour steel roof

Bi-colour solid paint with black roof

Additional Bi-colour metallic paint with black roof

Packs

Park pack - Jeep

Premium Pack - Compass with handsfree tailgate

Paint - Solid

Solid - Black

Paint - Special

Bi-colour Metallic - Blue shade with black roof

Bi-colour metallic - Graphite grey with black roof

Bi-colour metallic - Techno green with black roof

Bi-colour solid - Alpine white with black roof

Trim - Cloth

Cloth/Vinyl - Black

Wheels - Spare

No fix and go kit