The Jeep Compass isn’t dead yet. While there were rumors of its upcoming demise swirling a few years ago, the model was instead given a light refresh for 2023 and a few more tweaks in 2024. It’s still in service for 2025 while the brand readies the third-generation model, which should debut soon.
Jeep is already teasing the new Compass, and it doesn’t look like it’ll stray far from the brand’s rugged styling ethos. We don’t know many concrete details just yet, with Jeep keeping the best tidbits a secret, like powertrain, price, and off-road capability. However, there are plenty of clues we can piece together in an attempt to explain what you can expect from the 2026 Jeep Compass.
What Is The Jeep Compass?
The Compass is Jeep’s entry-level SUV for 2025. It first went on sale for the 2007 model year, the same year DaimlerChrysler became Daimler and Chrysler. The second-generation Compass, which included the new Trailhawk trim, debuted in 2016 under the Fiat Chrysler umbrella. The next-gen Compass launches with Jeep as part of the Stellantis conglomerate, which will heavily influence the new model.
Despite its age, Compass sales rose 16 percent last year. Through the first three months of 2025, the Compass was Jeep’s only model with higher sales compared to the same time last year. The Compass remains Jeep’s third best-selling vehicle in the United States, trailing the Wrangler by around 6,000 units in 2025. Sales are up 15 percent so far this year.
What Will The 2026 Compass Look Like?
Jeep has already released a few teaser photos previewing the Compass's updated exterior styling. The images hint at a larger, brawnier SUV than the current car. One image highlighted the Compass’s new profile, which features an upright front end, a rakish windshield, and pinched rear glass.
The front will continue to feature the brand’s seven-bar grille, which will have an equal number of lights spanning the top, bridging the rectangular headlights. Jeep also teased rear taillights, showing off angler elements and Performance LED branding.
It’s unclear what the new crossover will look like inside, but it'll apparently have "Since 1941" branding. It shares a platform with the Peugeot 3008, which has a very angular and stylish cabin that, frankly, wouldn’t translate well into the Jeep. The smaller Jeep Avenger, available in Europe, has a simple interior layout—a landscape-oriented infotainment screen atop a dashboard with a sizable shelf.
What Platform Will It Ride On?
The next-generation Compass will ride on Stellantis’s STLA Medium architecture. The platform debuted in 2023, underpinning the Peugeot 3008. The Opel Grandland and the next-generation Citroën C5 Aircross also use it. STLA Medium can accommodate a range of powertrain types, including hybrid and fully electric.
Stellantis designed the platform for cars ranging from 169.3 to 192.9 inches in length with 106.3 to 114.2-inch wheelbases and at least 8.66 inches of ground clearance. The 2025 Compass measures 173.4 inches long with a 103.8-inch wheelbase. At a minimum, the new Compass will likely have a longer wheelbase that could translate into a slightly larger cabin and more legroom.
What Will Power The 2026 Compass?
STLA Medium’s flexibility gives Jeep a range of possible powertrains for the new Compass. Powering the current car is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 200 horsepower and 201 power-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s the only powertrain option, with no hybrid available. But that will change with the updated SUV.
The next-gen Jeep will offer a “expanded powertrain lineup to meet the diverse needs and preferences of customers,” according to the company. The automaker will offer the new Compass with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric powertrains.
The Peugeot 3008 and Opal Grandland offer mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric powertrains. The 3008’s mild-hybrid setup makes a combined 136 hp, which might not be enough for American sensibilities. The all-electric Peugeot comes in several configurations, with an all-wheel drive dual-motor option producing 320 horsepower while carrying a 73-kilowatt-hour battery. A Long Range variant with a 230-hp front-mounted motor is also available.
If Jeep still plans to offer the all-electric Compass in the US, it’ll likely arrive after the automaker launches gas-powered versions, potentially leaving the lineup without a four-wheel-drive variant until the EV arrives.
Will the 2026 Compass Be Off-Road Capable?
The 2025 Jeep Compass Trailhawk comes with the brand’s Trail Rated badge, as it has since the first-generation model. The trim comes with several off-road upgrades in its current iteration, including a suspension lift, skid plates, Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires, hill descent control, red tow hooks, and the Jeep Active Drive Low 4x4 system with a 20:1 crawl ratio.
A next-generation Compass Trailhawk is likely, but with four-wheel drive only being on the fully electric Trailhawk could limit its appeal to hardcore enthusiasts. The updated design with brawnier styling suggests the SUV will have a rugged appearance, and we expect Jeep will ensure it has the hardware to back the sharper looks.
When Will The Next-Gen Compass Debut?
Jeep says it will reveal the new Compass SUV this spring, which is sooner than expected. The brand showed off a future product roadmap last June with a 2027 debut date for the revamped model. However, there have been significant leadership changes at Stellantis since Jeep presented its plans.
When the Compass debuts this spring, it might not reach the US market until early next year. Jeep will begin producing the new Compass at its Melfi factory in Italy. There were plans to build the third-generation compass at the automaker’s Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, to evaluate the vehicle’s future, according to a recent Automotive News report. .
How Much Will The New Compass Cost?
The 2025 Jeep Compass is the brand’s entry-level model, starting at $28,895 (the price includes the $1,995 destination charge). The 2025 lineup includes four trims, with the top-tier Limited starting at $34,490. The 2025 Compass Trailhawk starts at $34,390.
The next-gen Compass looks larger than the SUV it will replace, and the teasers hint at a tougher, more capable, and nicer product, which could see the model’s starting price creep closer to the $30,000 mark. The Compass’s launch at a time when tariffs could add thousands of dollars to the MSRP, meaning our estimate could be way off, depending on the Trump administration’s policies.
