Jeep Compass

FIRST DRIVE The Avenger has been a sales hit for American brand, so it's upscaled the formula for its third-generation Compass SUV

- Ellis Hyde [e-mail]

THREE years ago, the Jeep Avenger burst on to the scene like Kevin Hart – small, fun, energetic and versatile. The baby SUV may be the antithesis of the unstoppable four-wheel-drive Wrangler that the brand is famous for, but clearly that’s what people wanted. More than 200,000 have been sold so far, mostly in Europe.

With Jeep's UK sales now triple what they were before the Avenger’s arrival, the decision to supersize the winning formula to create the new third-generation Jeep Compass was a no-brainer.

It uses the same STLA Medium platform as the latest Peugeot 3008 and Vauxhall Grandland, and eventually it’ll be available with the same selection of hybrid, plugin hybrid and pure-electric powertrains.

This being a Jeep, a lot of time and effort has gone into ensuring the new Compass is capable of getting down and dirty. Very short front and rear overhangs create the best approach, departure and break-over angles of any SUV on this platform. It also has more than 200mm of ground clearance and a maximum wading depth of 470mm.

It’s what people expect from a Jeep and will give them confidence when a festival car park turns into a total quagmire. As will the dedicated 'Selec-Terrain' modes for Snow and Sand/Mud, which alter the power delivery and traction control.

Key Jeep styling traits are present, including the squared-off wheelarches and the iconic seven-slot grille design. It’s blanked-off, like the Avenger’s, but on certain models each segment is illuminated. The front camera is located on the grille, too.