Big changes under the hood are coming.
The Jeep Compass has been a competitive player in the compact crossover market for the past 15 years, and the second-generation model has been with us since 2018. Over the past four years, the Compass has enjoyed a few updates, including a major interior refresh for the 2022 model year. 2022 also saw the introduction of the new Altitude package that added some extra attitude to the exterior thanks to some black 18-inch wheels and black exterior and interior trim pieces, but no changes have been made to the somewhat dated powertrain. Until now.
Fans of the compass were glad to see that this funky little crossover SUV received a once-over for 2022, including a mild exterior update and a completely revamped interior which included an optional 10.1-inch screen with the newer Uconnect5 infotainment system and a redesigned dash and trim pieces. Unfortunately, the redesign kept the asthmatic naturally-aspirated 2.4-liter Tigershark engine producing a weak 177 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque. Power gets sent to the front, or all four wheels via a six-speed or nine-speed automatic transmission. We’ve always complained about the Compass being underpowered, especially when compared to turbocharged competitors such as the Kia Seltos, but this might soon change. In an interview with the Head of Jeep, Jim Morrison, Autoblog has gleaned that the 2023 Compass will be getting a power upgrade, but exactly what engine is unknown as yet.
If we were to guess, the Compass will most likely borrow the turbocharged 1.3-liter engine currently doing duty in the Jeep Renegade. This motor produces the same horsepower output but makes a solid 210 lb-ft of torque. Where it makes this torque is the most important factor here: whereas the 2.4-liter Tigershark has to rev its nuts off to make any decent power, the 1.3-liter unit makes all its torque down low. Jeep could also go green and introduce the plug-in hybrid version already on sale in Europe. For now, Jeep’s lips are sealed, but our money is on a small-capacity turbo-petrol engine with usable torque.
