The Jeep Compass gets rid of the old, incompetent and very unreliable 2.4-liter 4-cylinder that we have known for too long. It gives way to a more modern engine, a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder with direct fuel injection. A significant gain is manifested in power and torque.
Last year, Jeep made significant changes to the Compass with exterior cosmetic updates and a new interior. Unfortunately, motorization was not part of the equation. Jeep is therefore correcting the situation for the 2023 model year. We are finally abandoning the old 2.4-litre atmospheric 4-cylinder that dated from Methuselah in favor of a new engine.
Now opting for the turbocharged 2.0-liter direct-injected fuel-injected 4-cylinder that develops 200 horsepower and produces 221 lb-ft of torque. The gain is significant: 23 horsepower and 49 lb-ft. It’s essentially a tamed version of the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder that we know from other products in the Stellantis family, including the Jeep Wrangler. In the Wrangler’s case, power is 270 horsepower and torque is 295 lb-ft. This 2.0-liter will now be the only engine available in the Compass. Also, the front-drive version is no longer available. All Compasses now feature Active Drive 4×4 all-wheel drive as standard. The 8-speed automatic gearbox is also relied upon across the range.
Jeep brings a few additional changes such as the integration of automatic emergency braking at all speeds, detection of passengers in the rear, drowsiness detection and active trajectory management. The Sport and North versions also get new 17-inch wheels. More equipped models may have 19-inch wheels. The first copies of the 2023 Jeep Compass will be delivered during the first quarter of 2023. Canadian prices are not yet known. With the removal of the base front-wheel-drive version, the lineup will now start above $35,000.
Conclusion
It’s all well and good that we’re being offered a new, more modern engine, but Jeep continues to deny us any of the European 4xe plug-in hybrid versions. It’s a shame Jeep isn’t expanding its electrification horizons, even with its more affordable models. For the moment, at Jeep, only the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee are available with a plug-in hybrid engine in North America.
