2022 Jeep Compass e-Hybrid Review

However, much of what’s underneath the Compass is new, starting with the 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The engine has been chosen for its efficiency and suitability for hybridisation, with a belt starter generator installed – as in mild hybrids – to help smooth restarts. The transmission has a 14kW electric motor sitting within the transmission housing.

The 0.8kWh 48v battery sits within the central spine of the car, while this is a front-wheel drive-only Jeep – there’s no four-wheel drive option, so ideas of go-anywhere trips in an e-Hybrid will have to be shelved, or you’ll have to buy a different version, such as the Jeep Compass Trailhawk.

Prod the starter button and while the car springs to life, the engine doesn’t; Jeep calls that Silent Start. Then you move into e-Launch, which uses the electric motor to get the car going before the petrol engine quickly jumps in to help. At very slow speeds e-Creeping uses electric power where a traditional petrol auto will creep forward on tick over, but in stop/start jams e-Queueing again means you can keep going silently in heavy traffic.

Then there’s e-Parking, which uses electric power at parking speeds, plus e-Boosting to give a little extra power if needed when accelerating hard.

Jeep has steered clear of calling this a ‘self-charging hybrid’, preferring to say it’s ‘free from external recharge’. In fact, the brakes do a good and well-modulated job of sending power back to the battery – it’s called, you guessed it, e-Braking.

So how does it feel in action? If you’re gentle with the throttle, you’ll enjoy the gentle silence of initial acceleration and, yes, in traffic and when parking the electric power can take care of things. But unsurprisingly it’s not for long, and only a gentle flex of your right foot fires the petrol engine into life. It’s pretty unobtrusive, but there’s a slight shiver and jolt as the power modes switch – maybe a software update could smooth things even further.

Occasionally, the combination can get a bit flummoxed. For example, if you’re slowing for a roundabout and suddenly ask for more power it arrives quickly, but so does the jolt of confusion as the system thinks you’re going into electric-only power, only for the engine to be abruptly called into action.

Once on the move, the dual-clutch gearbox is smooth enough, the engine is far from raucous and on the freeway things are impressively quiet. The ride isn’t quite as sophisticated, though. You feel pretty much everything, although the suspension does a reasonable job of smoothing out the worst of the bumps.

Nor is there much excitement from the performance, despite the electric boost – this Compass lacks a bit of verve when you really put your foot down. And despite the nice, thick-rimmed steering wheel, the car’s dynamics are pretty staid, too.

While plenty else has changed with the latest Compass to improve quality and tech, space hasn’t – but that’s no bad thing. Room in the back is good – although a third passenger will have to put their feet either side of the tunnel that houses the battery. Boot space is okay, too, at 438-litres, meaning the hybrid system hasn’t had any effect on practicality.

Our Compass e-Hybrid came in new eco-focused trim called ‘Upland’, using recycled materials on the seats and dash – and the inside does feel smart and upmarket. You also get a 10.1-inch infotainment system with all the expected connectivity and remote functions via an app, a digital dash display and a raft of standard driver safety and assistance features that includes Highway Assist – an easy-to-use level 2 autonomous driving system combining adaptive cruise and lane-keeping assist.

While Jeep hasn’t gone fully hybrid with the Compass e-Hybrid, it’s an interesting and tempting step in that direction. The Compass itself is now more of a contender in a hugely talented family SUV market with a bit of added Jeep cool, too, although this model does without four-wheel drive. We await with interest what Jeep Australia will announce later this year.