Jeep is turning 85 this year, and the brand’s latest move is a clear sign it hasn’t slowed down. The company has launched the new Compass 4xe, a plug-in hybrid flagship that aims to give the compact SUV genuine off-road credentials. It’s a shift for a model line that until now has been more about city driving than mud tracks.
Other Compass powertrains are front-wheel drive only.
The Compass 4xe is the first version of the third-generation model to offer all-wheel drive as standard.
That alone changes the conversation about what this car can do.
A dual-motor setup that actually delivers
The 4xe uses a dual-motor powertrain, with one electric motor on each axle. Total output sits at 370bhp. The automaker claims a 0-62mph time of 5.4 seconds, and the power delivery is smooth, with a linear throttle response that doesn’t feel jumpy.
A dedicated Sport setting pushes up to 70% of the torque to the rear axle. The idea is to make the Compass feel dynamic on pavement while keeping its composure off it.
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The company has also lifted the ride height by 10mm.
Bespoke bumpers improve the approach and departure angles, and bold red towing eyes are fitted front and rear. From the outside, it looks ready for trails rather than tarmac.
On the inside, it’s still a family SUV. The changes are mostly underneath and around the edges, not in the cabin itself.
The Compass rides on Stellantis’s STLA Medium platform, which also underpins the Peugeot 3008, Citroën C5 Aircross and Vauxhall Grandland. That platform has already proven itself in other models, but the brand has tuned it differently here.
The off-road capability is real, even if most owners won’t use it
The automaker provided a set of trails to test the 4xe’s off-road manners. The dry conditions were favorable, but the course included steep inclines, sharp descents and gullies designed to test articulation. The car handled them without trouble, helped by dedicated Mud/Sand and Snow drive modes and hill descent control.
The conclusion from the drive is straightforward: the 4xe possesses more off-road ability than most owners will ever need. That’s a familiar story in the SUV world, but it matters for brand image. The brand’s reputation as a hardcore off-road maker has taken hits in recent years, particularly in Europe, where its models were often seen as too American or too urban.
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Being part of Stellantis since 2021 has helped.
The little Avenger and a broader push into SUVs have given the company a stronger foothold. It plans to triple its European lineup by 2030, with new B-segment and D-segment models in the pipeline. The Compass 4xe is one of the first arrivals in that push.
For a company that once felt like an outlier in the UK, this is a deliberate pivot toward credibility. The Compass 4xe might not be the volume seller, but it’s the one that reminds people what the badge is supposed to mean. This isn’t the first automaker to use a halo model to rehabilitate a lineup, and it likely won’t be the last.
The 4xe joins a growing family of Compass variants.
The third-generation model launched earlier this year in mild-hybrid petrol and Standard Range electric forms. A Long Range EV is also available. The brand calls this its “freedom of choice” powertrain strategy, meaning buyers can pick what suits them without being forced into one technology.
On the road, the 4xe feels quick and planted. The power output translates to real urgency, and the electric torque fills gaps that a combustion engine would leave. It’s not a rough-riding compromise, which is a common fear with off-road-oriented SUVs. The balance between on-road refinement and trail capability is better than it has any right to be at this price point.