Car news: Jeep Compass has become a rechargeable hybrid

Let’s start with the fact that this is an upgraded or new model year Compass. For the European market, it is now produced here in Europe, not in Mexico as before. The new Compass is now being built in Italy in one factory with a smaller model Jeep Renegade. But that’s not the only reason the two light Jeeps are often seen together. Since 2020, both Renegade and Compass are also available as rechargeable hybrids or 4xe.

On the right there is a cap for petrol, on the left – for electricity. And with a fully charged battery, such a Jeep Compass can drive up to 50 km without petrol.

“It simply came to our notice then. At one time, this model replaced the Jeep Patriot, and technically it is a Fiat rather than a Jeep product, ”concludes Normunds Avotiņš.

The demand for elevated cars other than SUVs is consistently high here. It’s funny that when looking for a city crossover, people often don’t notice the Jeep Compass. Probably because visually it is very similar to the Grand Cherokee, which, however, is such a “hard” SUV, This is basically an elevated car, and as such should be perceived.

At the same time, Compass has retained the seductive resemblance to the real and only Grand Cherokee. It can be seen both in the rugged front end and in the robust cab, which in many places resembles the flagship of Jeep beczels.

“Eight liters per hundred. I understand that. When the plug-in hybrid battery is empty, the consumption of the fantastic “under 2 l” increases four times. This is normal, it does all plug-in hybrids. But I don’t understand one. How can a car with a tank full of 3/4 drive less than 200 km? How big is the lighthouse then? ” asks Normunds Avotiņš.

To find out, we decided to lift the “compass” on the lift and look from below. In front is a small 1.3-liter petrol turbocharged engine. The new Compass is no different.

“It simply came to our notice then. Engine crossed, exhaust system. Then the miracles begin. There are only orange wires. Since the machine is all-wheel drive, the question arises, how does it all work? The cardan is not here. On the other hand, there are solid steel armor, which definitely protects something more valuable than the muffler and catalyst.

Here is the rear gearbox, which is clearly electric. No cardan shaft comes here, the half axle on both sides is. All-wheel drive is electric. This is also the answer to the question, why does the machine have such a low reach with filling? Half of this is taken up by the lighthouse, the other half by the battery. It is clear that the lighthouse inside cannot be very big. “

Instead of the usual 55 liter tank, the Compass 4xe is only 36.5 liters. This is even less than, for example, Subaru hybrids, where the fuel tank capacity at a similar consumption is still 48 liters.

It cannot be denied that such a construction has an indisputable advantage – weighting. The battery compartments are located low and between the axles, not at the rear or above the rear axle like other plug-in hybrids. Maybe that’s why the Compass 4xe drives so smoothly?

Conclusions

Jeep, or more precisely, the FCA group has come up with such a very unusual plug-in hybrid. No one has a design with a petrol engine at the front and an electric motor at the rear. There is usually some other combination. Although the car has increased off-road capabilities, which we also made sure of, because the car with an electric motor at the rear pushes itself more than it pulls, it is still a city car. Reach with its 36.5 l tank is short. If you would like to go to Kraslava, you would have to refuel twice on the way back and forth. Or recharge the battery frequently. It is quite possible that the small lighthouse is intended as an incentive to use electricity more often. In countries where co-payment is available not only for electric cars but also for plug-in hybrids, this is a real problem. We can only make fun of it, but one thing is clear – the Jeep Compass with all the traction wheels will be just like that in the future.