Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol


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<p>Smaller than a traditional all-American Jeep 4×4 but with beefy wheels and very VIP-feeling tinted windows, the Jeep Compass is the American brand’s answer to the European mid-size SUV market – a second generation compact crossover and <em>definitely </em>more my speed. It’s also semi-electric so a lot greener than larger gas guzzling counterparts too, while looking a whole lot cooler than my everyday family MPV car. OK then, let’s take this baby for a spin!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE DRIVE</h2>



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<p>We hit a few Hampshire towns, the motorway down to the coast and some country roads and found the Jeep Compass e-hybrid 1.5 S gave us a smooth ride throughout. The off-road suspension made light work of speed humps. And when we took it to a bumpy farm shop tearoom car park, the Compass cruised easily into a space.</p>



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<p>There’s a few inbuilt safety systems and a simple but very useful blind spot monitor on the wing mirrors of the Jeep Compass that I absolutely loved. Call me a control freak but I was a bit less keen on the Lane Keep Assist, designed to keep the car at the centre of the lane. If you stray slightly towards edge of the lane, it moves the steering wheel to correct the vehicle’s position, which can be a little annoying. That said, you can see the advantages for longer motorway drives.</p>



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<p>Other than the bumpy farm laneway we didn’t really go properly off road (stand down Top Gear dudes, your job is safe). But if you do have a chance to hit the dirt, the Jeep Compass has five driving modes to choose from, including a dedicated four-wheel drive.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FUEL AND POWER CONSUMPTION</h2>



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<p>The latest version of the Compass, this latest&nbsp;plug-in hybrid Jeep is (on paper) capable of 30-miles of zero-emissions driving. And the 1.5-litre full hybrid system (badged e-Hybrid) certainly allows for some limited electric-only running around town. In reality we didn’t quite get the promised 30 miles of electric range out of the 11.4kWh battery – after a return trip to my little one’s Rainbows group and a couple of shops it was actually closer to 20 – still pretty handy for local run-arounds. Good news too that it’s fine to charge-up on a standard plug socket. Once the juice has run out you can use the car in self-charging hybrid mode, which uses the engine to charges the battery.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE LOOKS</h2>



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<p>There’s no doubt about it. For a mid-sized SUV, the Jeep Compass looks <em>gooood</em>. At the front, Jeep’s trademark seven-slot grille has been modernised and miniaturised.&nbsp;And oh my, the huge chunky black 17″ alloy wheels – fitted as standard – are the absolute business.</p>



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<p>There’s a decent amount of room for an average-sized family and more than enough space for our youngster in her car seat and a couple more kids or a couple of adults in the back. The middle seat pulls down as a table rest and drink holder (or somewhere to poke a longer piece of luggage through from the boot). All-up, four will be comfortable on a long ride, five might be a bit tight if you’re talking three adults or teens in the back.</p>



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<p>The boot isn’t huge but there’s ample space for school bags, kid’s bikes, sports kit and whatever else they’re ferrying to and from school. It also has a convenient and practical hands-free&nbsp;power liftgate – handy for when you’ve done a big shop – and could easily fit a couple of large suitcases or a buggy.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">COOL STUFF</h2>



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<p>We absolutely made the most of the ‘Uconnect™ infotainment system’, which included Apple CarPlay. Once I’d figured out the setup (gah, fiddly tech) it allows you to use your iPhone apps and access your music library. It’s pretty intuitive to use, linking your phone with the car’s own communication, music and navigation functions. Front and centre on the dash, it all works via a large 10.1in tablet – pretty handy for a little in-car disco.</p>



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<p>I also loved (and now covet) the&nbsp;helpful rear park assist, which uses sensors and a set of cameras positioned just about everywhere to help you perfectly position the car’s posterior into a space without having to adjust your manoeuvre. No more smug looks from irritating bystanders. Gold.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE PRICE TAG</h2>



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<p>For all this car, it’s a cool £37,705. While you may pay a little more for the hybrid technology, it is pretty good value for money, looks very cool and, in the long run, you’re doing your bit for the planet compared with a larger gas guzzler.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong> Country dwellers that need an off-road option, families, and home-workers that want a run-around for eco-friendly local trips that’s also capable of making longer trips.</p>



<p><strong>Not for:</strong> Larger families with three plus kids – especially when they turn into strapping teens. A pure electric SUV will deliver a longer range on electric-only mode.</p>



<p>Fancy a test drive? <a href="https://www.snows.co.uk/jeep/contact-us/southampton/">Snows</a> is the go-to dealership for Jeep. Finance options for the Jeep Compass E-Hybrid 1.5 S include a £4,190 deposit and 48 monthly payments of £449*. Hop over the border to the Southampton or Portsmouth dealership or call 02380 707717.  <a href="https://www.snows.co.uk/jeep/">www.snows.co.uk/jeep</a>.</p>



<p><em>*Finance example is accurate at time of publication and may be subject to change.</em></p>


Muddy road tests the Jeep Compass

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