The 2021 Jeep Compass boasts a redesigned interior, fresher exterior styling, and an expanded suite of safety technology.

    The base Launch Edition and S-Limited go on sale in mid-July 2021, with the Limited and Trailhawk to follow.

    A special 80th Anniversary model will also arrive in late 2021.

    The range opens $1000 higher than last year’s entry point at $37,950 before on-road costs for the front-wheel drive Launch Edition, while the flagship Trailhawk is $1800 pricier at $51,250 before on-roads.

    The redesigned dashboard has a three-tier look, with extensive stitching details, contrasting metal trim, and a chrome strip that conceals the passenger-side air vent. Jeep promises “premium materials and a refined finish”.

    Jutting out from the dash is a new 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, replacing the outgoing car’s 8.4-inch unit.

    It runs the new Uconnect 5 operating system and features wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as satellite navigation.

    You can say “Hey Jeep” to change radio and climate control settings verbally, while the new infotainment system allows you to tailor your homepage to add shortcuts to your favourite functions.

    There are also multiple user profiles, allowing you to customise your music, seat position, mirror angles and climate control preferences, plus a valet mode.

    Standard on all bar the Launch Edition is a new 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a hands-free power tailgate, while all Compass models come with wireless phone charging.

    Elsewhere in the cabin, there’s a redesigned centre console that sits higher and offers almost 5L of storage under the centre armrest plus 2.4L of storage next to the redesigned shifter.

    Changes are more subtle on the exterior, but include a restyled bonnet, grille and front bumper.

    LED headlights are standard across the range in both projector and reflector guise, and include LED daytime running lights. LED fog lights sit below.

    Launch Edition and Limited models feature black bumpers and 18-inch alloy wheels, while the S-Limited upgrades to 19-inch alloy wheels and body-colour bumpers.

    The Trailhawk has a unique grille, body-colour fog light bezels, a prominent skid plate, and smaller 17-inch alloy wheels.

    Jeep has positioned the fog lights and camera radar higher for greater off-road protection.

    Additional safety equipment includes traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitoring, adaptive cruise control with stop/go, and intelligent speed assist, while the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) now features pedestrian and cyclist detection.

    That’s in addition to features Jeep made standard across the Compass range in 2020, including AEB, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

    A surround-view camera is standard on the Trailhawk and optional on the S-Limited, and can be used at speeds of up to 12km/h.

    Powertrains are carried over from last year’s model. That means a naturally-aspirated 2.4-litre petrol four-cylinder with 129kW of power and 229Nm of torque for all models bar the Trailhawk, which retains a 125kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four.

    The 80th Anniversary model, available only in Bright White, Grey Magnesio, Brilliant Black and Minimal Grey, is based on the Limited and will be limited to just 160 units.

    It adds various features from the S-Limited, including body-colour wheel arch flares, sill moldings and door cladding plus a nine-speaker Alpine sound system.

    Though prices have only increased by around $1000 on most models, there’s been a relatively substantial increase in standard equipment.

    That includes keyless entry and start on the base model, plus a semi-autonomous parking assist for Limited and up.

    For a full breakdown of features on each Compass model, scroll down to the Standard Equipment section.

    Pricing

    • 2021 Jeep Compass Launch Edition FWD: $37,950
    • 2021 Jeep Compass Limited: $43,950
    • 2021 Jeep Compass S-Limited: $46,950
    • 2021 Jeep Compass 80th Anniversary: $47,941
    • 2021 Jeep Compass Trailhawk: $51,250

    All prices exclude on-road costs.

    Engines

    The 2021 Jeep Compass is powered by a naturally-aspirated 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 129kW of power and 229Nm of torque, except in Trailhawk guise.

    The Compass Trailhawk uses a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine with 125kW of power and 350Nm of torque.

    All models use a nine-speed torque-converter automatic transmission and all-wheel drive except the Launch Edition, which uses a six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive.

    Fuel Economy

    The 2021 Jeep Compass uses 7.9L/100km in the Launch Edition and 9.7L/100km in all other models bar the Trailhawk, for which a combined fuel economy rating has yet to be released.

    These fuel economy figures are unchanged from last year, which suggests the 2020 Trailhawk’s 5.7L/100km rating may carry over.

    All petrol Compass models run on 91RON regular unleaded fuel.

    The entire range has a 60L fuel tank.

    Dimensions

    The 2021 Jeep Compass measures 4394mm long and 1819mm wide on a 2636mm wheelbase, except the Trailhawk which is 4398mm long overall.

    Height varies. The Launch Edition is 1629mm tall, all other petrol models are 1644mm tall, and the Trailhawk is 1657mm tall.

    Approach, breakover and departure angles are 16.8, 22.9 and 31.7 degrees in all all-wheel drive models bar the Trailhawk, where they increase to 30.3, 24.4 and 33.6 degrees.

    Wading depth is 405mm in all bar the Trailhawk, where it’s 480mm.

    Servicing and Warranty

    All 2021 Jeep Compass models come with a five-year, 100,000km warranty.

    Owners also receive lifetime roadside assist if they service their Compass through Jeep dealerships.

    Servicing is required every 12 months or 12,000km, whichever comes first. The exception is the Trailhawk, which requires servicing every 12 months or 20,000km.

    Jeep offers five years of capped-price servicing, with each service costing $399.

    Safety

    The Jeep Compass has a five-star rating from ANCAP based on testing conducted in 2017.

    That rating was based on a frontal offset score of 14.93 out of 16 and a side impact score of 16 out of 16. Whiplash and pedestrian protection were rated Good and Good, respectively.

    All models come with the following safety equipment as standard:

    • Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
    • Blind-spot monitoring
    • Lane-keep assist
    • Lane-departure warning
    • Rear cross-traffic alert
    • Traffic sign recognition
    • Driver attention monitoring
    • Intelligent speed assist
    • Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
    • Front, front-side and curtain airbags

    Standard Equipment

    The Launch Edition comes standard with the following equipment:

    • 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
    • Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
    • DAB+ digital radio
    • Satellite navigation
    • 7.0-inch instrument cluster screen
    • Wireless charging
    • Reversing camera and rear parking sensors
    • LED reflector headlights
    • LED fog lights
    • First- and second-row USB-A/C chargers
    • Keyless entry and start
    • Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
    • Rain-sensing wipers
    • Electric parking brake
    • Automatic headlights
    • Automatic high beam
    • Tyre pressure monitoring
    • Space-saver spare
    • 18-inch alloy wheels

    The Limited adds:

    • Jeep Active Drive 4×4 system
    • Leather upholstery
    • Eight-way power driver’s seat with memory and four-way lumbar
    • Eight-way power passenger seat with four-way lumbar
    • LED projector headlights
    • Body colour roof
    • 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
    • Front parking sensors
    • Hands-free power tailgate
    • Semi-autonomous parking assist

    The Limited is the only model to offer the option of a non-black interior, with an available Ski Grey and Brown interior with Ski Grey leather seats.

    The 80th Anniversary adds:

    • 18-inch ‘Granite Crystal’ alloy wheels
    • Body-colour fascias, wheel arch flares, sill moldings and door cladding
    • Black-painted roof
    • Panoramic sunroof
    • Manually-adjustable front seats
    • Heated front seats
    • Heated steering wheel
    • Alpine nine-speaker sound system
    • Surround-view camera
    • 80th Anniversary badging

    Over the Limited, the S-Limited adds:

    • Alpine nine-speaker sound system
    • Black-painted roof
    • ‘Granite Crystal’ grille
    • Black headliner
    • Grey accent stitching
    • Body-colour fascias, wheel arch flares, sill moldings and door cladding
    • 19-inch alloy wheels

    A $2950 S-Limited Premium Package adds:

    • Panoramic sunroof
    • Heated and ventilated front seats
    • Heated steering wheel
    • Surround-view camera

    The Trailhawk comes with the following additions or substitutions:

    • 17-inch alloy wheels
    • Remote start
    • Falken All-Season tyres
    • Black bonnet decal
    • Red interior stitching
    • All-season floor mats
    • 4.334 rear axle ratio
    • Front tow hooks
    • Four underbody skid plates
    • Surround-view camera
    • Full-size spare

    A $3950 Trailhawk Premium Package adds:

    • Panoramic sunroof
    • Heated and ventilated front seats
    • Heated steering wheel
    • Alpine nine-speaker sound system

    A panoramic sunroof is a $1950 option on the Launch Edition and Limited.

    Colours

    Premium paint is a $645 option across the range.

    The 2021 Jeep Compass is available in the following colours:

    • Colorado Red
    • Galaxy Blue
    • Hunter Green
    • Vocal White
    • Grey Magnesio
    • Minimal Grey
    • Brilliant Black

    MORE: Jeep Compass news, reviews, comparisons and videos

    William Stopford

    William Stopford is an automotive journalist based in Brisbane, Australia. William is a Business/Journalism graduate from the Queensland University of Technology who loves to travel, briefly lived in the US, and has a particular interest in the American car industry.

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