Jeep confirms Australian Compass line-up

JEEP has detailed the line-up for its second-generation Compass small SUV ahead of its arrival in Australian showrooms in December, with four trim levels, and a mix of two- and four-wheel drive, manual and automatic transmissions, and petrol and diesel powertrains.

Revealed ahead of last year’s LA motor show, the Compass will be offered in Sport, Longitude, Limited and top-spec Trailhawk grades, with local pricing still yet to be finalised.

The entry-level Sport will likely come in slightly above the $27,000 asking price for the first-gen Sport manual, while the range-topping Trailhawk is expected to be priced around $45,000.

Powering the Sport is the 2.4-litre Tigershark aspirated petrol engine borrowed from the Renegade Trailhawk, which develops 129kW/230Nm, sent to the front wheels via either a six-speed automatic or manual transmission.

Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, 5.0-inch touchscreen with voice command and Bluetooth connectivity, 3.5-inch instrument cluster display, reversing camera, seven airbags, leather-wrapped steering wheel and electric park brake.

Next up is the Longitude which shares the drivetrain configurations of the Sport, but adds extra comfort features such as electric driver lumbar adjustment, LED ambient interior lighting, automatic adaptive headlights, tinted privacy glass, foglights, roof rails, rain-sensing wipers, bright side window surrounds, forward-folding passenger seat and passenger in-seat cushion storage.

The second-from-top variant, the Limited, upgrades to four-wheel drive, offers the choice of the Tigershark petrol engine or a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel which will make around 125kW/350Nm, while both mills will be mated exclusively to a nine-speed automatic.

Along with the addition of 4x4, the Limited gains Jeep’s Selec-Terrain traction feature, with the choice of auto, sand, mud and snow modes for optimal grip on different terrains.

Additional specification includes front and rear parking sensors, parallel and perpendicular park assist, 8.4-inch touchscreen display Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, nine-speaker Beats audio system, 18-inch alloy wheels, bi-Xenon headlights, LED tail-lights, leather upholstery with heated front seats, sat-nav, 7.0-inch instrument cluster display, eight-way driver/four-way passenger adjustable seats and dual-zone climate control.

In traditional Jeep fashion, the range-topping Trailhawk will be the most off-road-focused member of the Compass family, with the addition of the Active Drive Low 4x4 system with a 20:1 crawl ratio, and the addition of rock mode to the Selec-Terrain system.

It also includes hill descent control, off-road suspension and a raised ride height, while power comes exclusively from the 2.0-litre oil burner teamed to the nine-speed auto.

Standard features include a unique front and rear fascia for improved approach and departure angles, black anti-glare hood decal, red recovery hooks, four underbody skid plates, full-size spare wheel and all-weather floor mats.

When it arrives in December, the Compass will serve as the replacement not only for the first-gen Compass but also the smaller Patriot, which has been discontinued.

Already on sale in other markets, the Compass will be sold in over 100 countries and will be manufactured in four, consisting of Brazil, China, Mexico and India.

FCA Australia head of Jeep brand Guillaume Drelon said the Compass was a critically important model for Jeep.

“The all-new Jeep Compass enters Australia at such a pivotal time for the brand, bringing with it unmatched attributes that include benchmark off-road capability, on-road driving dynamics, fuel- efficient powertrains and a range of advanced technology and safety features,” he said.

“Built around the world for customers everywhere, the Jeep Compass raises the bar in the compact- SUV segment.”