2026 Jeep Compass teased with tougher styling, electric power

It mightn’t be the first vehicle you think of when you think of Jeep, but the Compass is an important vehicle for the brand.

Jeep has teased a new, third-generation version of its small SUV ahead of a European debut in 2025.

The single teaser sketch shows off the new SUV’s chunky fenders, squared-off wheel arches, and what appears to be a ‘floating’ roof and slim headlights.

It’ll be produced in Melfi, Italy like the current car, with production to commence in North America and globally in 2026.

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Jeep says it will be true to its “Freedom of Choice” strategy and offer “various multi-energy propulsion systems”. It’ll also continue to offer all-wheel drive.

The new Compass will be Jeep’s first vehicle on the STLA Medium platform, which underpins the new Peugeot 3008 that’s available with petrol, plug-in hybrid and electric power.

The current Compass is available with all of these powertrain types bar pure electric power, and the new car’s use of STLA Medium opens the door for an electric Compass.

Jeep parent Stellantis has previously confirmed the STLA Medium platform, which debuted under the new 3008, will support vehicles between 4.3 and 4.9 metres long with a wheelbase between 2700mm and 2900mm.

Vehicles on this platform will be able to offer more than 220mm of ground clearance.

Electric models will offer up to a claimed 700km of WLTP range with a Performance battery pack, and more than 500km with a Standard pack, with useable energy of up to 98kWh.

STLA Medium vehicles will use a 400V electric architecture. Depending on the application, Stellantis promises energy consumption of less than 14kWh per 100km.

They’ll also offer single- or dual-motor powertrains with between 160 and 285kW of power.

The first-generation Compass entered production in 2006 as a more softly styled twin to the boxy Patriot, and the duo were the first Jeeps available with front-wheel drive.

The current generation entered production in 2016, and has been produced in Brazil, China, India, Italy and Mexico.

A 2021 update brought an overhauled interior, while earlier this year Jeep Australia stopped sourcing the Compass from India and instead started bringing them over from Italy.

This coincided with the axing of petrol and diesel engines in favour of mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid petrol powertrains, and an increase of $4590 to the Compass’ entry price.

The Compass arguably has to pull double duty as not only a small SUV for the brand but also an alternative to mid-sized SUVs from other brands, following the global axing of the Cherokee.

To the end of September, Jeep has sold 438 Compass crossovers in Australia, making it the brand’s third best-selling vehicle behind the Grand Cherokee and Wrangler.

However, it’s among the worst-selling vehicles in its segment, ahead of only the Citroen C4 (23 sales), Peugeot 2008 (322) and Renault Arkana (326) and behind the Suzuki S-Cross (596).

The current Compass reached a height of 1862 sales in Australia in 2022, dipping to 1455 sales in 2023.

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