A freshened face and a large infotainment screen are being prepped for the Jeep Compass, with the facelifted model likely to have its global launch next year.
Up front, the revised Compass features a slimmer set of headlights, and a revised seven-slot grille that’s now flush with the bumper and has a more curved appearance.
The horizontal slot between the grille and lower air dam looks to have grown.
Although the entire body is covered in camouflage tape, it doesn’t appear as though any of the sheetmetal has changed.
At the rear there are new tail-light graphics, but it’s hard to tell if the rear bumper has been altered.
Although our spy photography agency wasn’t able to get a clear shot of the car’s interior, there does appear to be a large landscape touchscreen protruding out of the dashboard.
In all likelihood the new infotainment system will run FCA’s Uconnect 5 software, which is based on the Android Automotive operating system.
The latest Uconnect system supports screens measuring up to 12.3 inches, as well as two simultaneous Bluetooth connections, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant.
Uconnect 5 can also be updated over-the-air for security and bug patches, as well as new features.
It’s unknown if there will be any drivetrain upgrades to go along with the exterior and interior changes.
A few months ago, the Compass 4xe plug-in hybrid was launched in Europe. It pairs a 97kW or 134kW 1.3-litre turbo four-cylinder engine for the front wheels with a 45kW/250Nm electric motor on the rear axle.
At the time a FCA spokesperson told CarExpert the company is “monitoring the take up of electrification in Australia”, and “will be ready to launch our PHEV strategy as soon as consumer appetite, regulations and infrastructure suggests the time is right”.
