First drive by Hugh Maguire.
What more iconic venue could you choose to introduce a new car? Slane Castle in county Meath is renowned as the venue for hosting such global giants as Queen, U2, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen and many more. We don’t normally associate this Iconic venue with the launch of a new car, but Jeep the Iconic 4×4 brand chose Slane Castle for the Irish Press Launch of the new Compass.
The Jeep brand is owned by the Chrysler/Fiat Motor Company, but the products still demonstrate all the abilities of the true original. Show any Jeep a dirt track and it will impress with superb off-road abilities. Jeep has now become the generic name for a 4×4 vehicle, but it was the original true 4×4.
However the company realises that most SUV/Crossover type vehicles rarely go off-road and so now the new Compass focuses on front wheel drive though four wheel drive is available too.
The new line-up includes a 145 bhp 48V self charging e-hybrid, a 195 bhp e-hybrid plug- in and three fully electric versions ranging from 213bhp front wheel drive up to 375 bhp all wheel drive powertrain.
I had the opportunity to drive the new Compass both on and off road (if only on a mild off road surface) and initial impressions are that they have got this one bang on in all respects.
The new clean lines and great colour choices give the Compass a very fresh and trendy style.
Key changes in this new model over its predecessor are, a squarer body shape and tougher looking wheel arches. It is longer at 4.55 metres, and rear passengers now benefit from up to 20mm more legroom as a result. The boot space increases to 550 litres and the whole interior is upgraded.
Charging time on the New Compass EV is good with a rapid 160kW DC solution offering a 30 minute 20-80% recharging time, and an onboard charger with up to 22kW. The BEV range is claimed to be up to up 500 km WLTP on launch models, with an extended range version coming later offering up to a claimed 650 km. I have found the WLTP range bears little resemblance to real life everyday motoring. Whichnewcar will test these claims when we do an extended road test in due course.
New Compass is available in a choice of six colours. The launch colour is Hawaii a bright brilliant green, reminiscent of the lush landscapes and tropical vegetation of the Hawaiian Islands. The colour range varies from the Pacific (blue), representing the vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean. Antarctica (white) symbolises the ice and snow of the Earth’s southernmost continent, while Amazonia (green with brown hues) evokes the Amazon rainforest. Yosemite (grey) is emblematic of the towering cliffs and rock formations of the national park from which it derives its name, and Vulcano (black) pays homage to the isle of Vulcano in Sicily.
The capabilities of the new Compass are extended across the range, including front-wheel-drive versions which are also capable off-road. With a ground clearance of up to 200mm, approach angle of 20 degrees, breakover angle of 15 degrees and departure angle of 26 degrees, the new Compass is equipped to handle tough terrains with ease. The vehicle’s water fording depth of up to 470mm highlights its ability to tackle the most challenging environments. Selec-terrain will feature as standard across all versions.
In the year that marks Jeep’s 85th anniversary, celebrating years of Jeep capability and adventure, Jeep claim the all-new Compass reflects the brand’s continued evolution into an electrified future while remaining true to its core DNA.
The all-new Jeep Compass is available now in Jeep Dealers nationwide with both hybrid and electric versions starting from €42,995 RRSP.
Overall then my first impressions of the new Compass are favourable but I will wait until I road test it for a longer period to give you my full verdict.
For the 262-registration period, Jeep is supporting the launch with a range of customer offers, including:
Finance from 3.9%
5-year warranty
Free home charger with eligible electric models
Freedom to Choose Electric (common pricing with 90 days EV satisfaction peace of mind). So if within 90 days the EV version is not for you they will swop it for a hybrid version at no charge! That is a cool offer.