For decades, the idea of a front-wheel-drive Jeep seemed unthinkable. That changed in 2006 when the Patriot debuted, sending power only to the front axle in its more affordable versions. The original Compass launched the same year with a front-wheel-drive setup in lower trims, followed in 2013 by the smaller Renegade. The not-for-America Commander/Meridian arrived in 2022, a year before the Avenger, which we also don’t get in the U.S.
The Avenger offers all-wheel drive only in the gasoline-powered version, leaving the EV strictly front-wheel drive. The new Compass is the exact opposite. In a statement to Motor1, Jeep confirmed that the gasoline-powered Compass will be offered exclusively with front-wheel drive. If you want both axles powered, you must go fully electric. The EV version is the most potent of the bunch, featuring a dual-motor setup with a combined output of 375 hp. Lesser electric versions are front-wheel drive only, with outputs of 210 hp and 230 hp.
Photo by: Jeep
Jeep claims the all-wheel-drive variant uses a rear motor not shared with other Stellantis group models. That’s even though the new Compass rides on the same STLA Medium platform as the latest Peugeot 3008, 5008, and Opel Grandland. The rear motor delivers a peak power of 66 hp and instant torque of 171 lb-ft (232 Nm). It enables the AWD-equipped Compass to climb a 20 percent slope even without front-wheel traction.
The motors are powered by a 96-kWh battery pack, offering a range of 373 miles (600 kilometers). The first-ever electric Compass supports DC fast charging at up to 160 kW, allowing a charge from 20 to 80 percent in half an hour.
The Compass isn’t the only Jeep model offering all-wheel drive exclusively in electric form. In the United States, the Wagoneer S is sold only as an EV, with the smaller Recon on the way. Jeep has paused developing a new Compass for the North American market, leaving its future uncertain.
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Source: Jeep
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