The 2026 Jeep Compass: A New Breed, or Just a Shiny Soft-Roader in Camo?

Right. Let’s talk about Jeep. Not the rugged legend of yesteryear, caked in mud and rattling with character, but the new breed—clean, quiet, and suspiciously polished. The 2026 Jeep Compass has been unveiled, and, by all accounts, it’s heading our way in Southern Africa.

Now, I’m an unapologetic fan of old-school Jeeps—the square-jawed Wranglers, Cherokees with real transfer cases, and the kind of bush credibility that made you want to name your Landy something unrepeatable just to fit in. But lately? Jeep’s felt a bit… well, mall-friendly. That said, this new Compass might just be the brand’s shot at redemption—or a hybridised Hail Mary, depending on your level of optimism.

What’s New? Pretty Much Everything (Except the Name)

The 2026 Compass is built on Stellantis' STLA Medium platform. If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone—it’s the same underpinnings used by fancy Euro grocery-getters like the Peugeot 3008 and Citroën C5 Aircross. Yes, a Jeep sharing DNA with a French family runabout. Sacrilege or savvy engineering? We’ll let the bush decide.

It’s longer now (about 179 inches), giving it more presence and space. But rest assured, Jeep kept the iconic boxiness and trademark seven-slot grille so we’d still recognize it in a lineup of jellybean-shaped crossovers. The taillights are now joined by a full-width light bar that glows with the Jeep name—because nothing says bush cred like a rear light strip, apparently.

Off-Road or Just Off to the Shops?

Jeep claims this Compass still has adventure chops. The AWD version gets up to 7.9 inches of ground clearance, 20° approach and 26° departure angles, plus a 18.5-inch wading depth. Not bad, but let’s not pretend this is a Rubicon. You’ll probably see more of these parked outside yoga studios than river crossings at Mana Pools.

Still, a Selec-Terrain system and hill descent control come standard on 4WD models, so it’s not just window dressing.

Under the Hood: Hybrids, Plug-ins, and a Full-on EV

Jeep’s going all-in on the green scene. The new Compass comes with a range of powertrains—no diesels (RIP torque), and no mention of a throaty petrol V6 either. Instead, here’s what we’re looking at:

• 145 hp Mild Hybrid: That’s for people who want a Jeep badge but still ask, “Does it come in white pearl?”

• 195 hp Plug-in Hybrid: Slightly more grunt, less guilt.

• 213 hp EV (FWD): Your entry-level eco warrior.

• 375 hp EV (AWD): This one’s interesting—Jeep-exclusive rear motor, proper AWD, and claims it can crawl up a 20% incline with the front wheels spinning freely. Sounds promising. Probably costs a small herd of Nguni cattle.

  
  

Jeep says the AWD EV can do up to 404 miles (650km) on a single charge using WLTP numbers. Don’t expect that range in the Karoo with a rooftop tent and a family of four, but it’s still impressive.

Charging, Storage & That Interior Glow-Up

Fast charging up to 160kW means you can go from 20% to 80% in 30 minutes. Useful, unless you’re deep in the Kalahari where your charging station is a braai grid and a campfire.

Inside, it’s all gone very “spaceship.” A massive 16-inch touchscreen dominates the dash, paired with a 10-inch digital driver’s display. Buttons haven’t been totally banished—there’s still a physical Selec-Terrain dial and a few useful switches, but otherwise it’s a digital overload. Practical? Debatable. Impressive? Definitely.

The cabin’s more spacious, with added rear legroom and more boot space—now up to 19.4 cubic feet. Sadly, no frunk in the EV. A missed opportunity for extra ammo crates or cooler boxes.

European First, Then Who Knows?

Jeep is launching this techno-Compass in Europe first, with South Africa possibly not far behind. No official word yet, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see it trickle into showrooms sometime in late 2025 or early 2026. Whether it’ll be assembled locally or arrive fully imported (and heavily taxed), we’ll have to wait and see.

What we do know is that production is kicking off at Jeep’s Melfi plant in Italy. Yes, Italy. No wonder it looks like it should come with an espresso machine.

Final Thoughts: A Compass That Points… Where, Exactly?

So, is this the return of the real Jeep spirit, or another slick crossover with a trail-rated badge that’ll never see mud deeper than a pothole in Sandton?....Hard to say.

On paper, the new Compass ticks a lot of boxes: it’s more capable than your average city SUV, loaded with tech, and wrapped in a look that still kind of whispers “adventure.” But as an old-school Jeep fan, I’m still cautiously optimistic. Let’s just hope it’s not all shine and no spine.

If it makes it to our shores, we’ll take it out properly—beyond the tar, off the beaten track, and into the real Africa. And then we’ll know if it’s a Compass worthy of the Jeep badge—or just another lost soul in the crossover crowd.