The origin of the Jeep name comes from World War II where the quarter tonne 4x4 military vehicle was named as a general purpose vehicle or ‘GP’ that quickly evolved into ‘Jeep’.

And the name has stuck with this truly American off-road heritage vehicle that more recently became part of the European owned Stellantis Group.

So, what has changed along the way? And how has the rugged 4x4 from a military background morphed into the new generation Jeep models, which now includes a totally redesigned Jeep Compass? While posing those questions, I still hanker slightly for the diesel-powered Jeep Wrangler of the 1980s, knowing that’s one we will never see again.

In recent weeks, the Jeep team in Ireland, which is part of Gowan Auto, launched the new 2026 version of the Jeep Compass. It provided me with an opportunity to drive the new car, which is currently available with two power options, either a 1.2 litre hybrid petrol engine or a fully electrified 74 kWh battery unit.

For my first impression drive, I took the hybrid petrol version and compared it in terms of Jeep Ireland’s offers with the smaller Jeep Avenger, which I had driven a few weeks previously. While they are totally different cars or SUVs, they give an overview of two of the three Jeep SUV models currently available to Irish buyers.

The Avenger and Compass both feature new generation Jeep seven slot grille front-end styling that may distinguish them from some other brands.

While many Irish people call all 4x4 vehicles a ‘Jeep’, the brand’s need to be seen and identified is more subtly represented than on some other brands. The use of strong plastic mouldings around the wheel arches may give the impression that both the Avenger and Compass are ready for the rough, but their off-road capacity is more tame than in the Wrangler past.

The new Jeep Compass is available as a hybrid or battery electric (BEV) version with prices starting from €42,995 or in £34,635 N Ireland.

The Jeep Avenger 4xe model was fitted with more rugged Goodyear Vecto 325/50 R17 tyres.

The hybrid version of the Jeep Compass is powered by a 1.2 litre, three-cylinder petrol engine developing 145bhp.

The modern Jeep range is now leaning more towards on-road, as it strives to produce SUVs that meet lower EU emission demands. That’s why the Compass and Avenger are now both also available as battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in addition to mild hybrid drives. The diesel days are now gone when it comes to the Jeep brand and that’s a change.

These hybrid drives are subtle and smooth in operation. These SUVs both use the same three-cylinder petrol engine as the main power source, where it develops about 9bhp more in the larger Compass model. And it needs that extra power as the Compass weighs in 160kg heavier. This new Compass never felt underpowered.

The Compass hybrid drive provides an extra 50Nm of torque on demand which does help to boost its towing ability, which is still modest at 1150kg with a full braked trailer. Where these two SUVs can perform is across fields because of their good ground clearance at 200mm and their ability to wade across ditches up to 400mm deep. Just don’t expect them to be heavy trailer towing machines.

The new generation Compass model has an effective Selec-terrain feature as standard across all versions. This gives the option to select Auto, Sport, Snow and Sand and Mud driving conditions using a simple electronic button control beside a rotary transmission control dial.

The Avenger 4xe has a similar system, while the transmission selection is based on a button rather than dial selection.

While it is positioned lower in the dash, I found it easy to get used to its position, which is similar to the location in some of the new generation Fiat models. Both the Compass and the Avenger also have an electronic hill descent control system to give more downhill driving confidence in fields. So, its aspirations are for lighter off-road activities and more flexible performance in poor road conditions, but it’s clear that its military days are now over.

The dash for the new Jeep Compass features a larger central screen and rotary dial control of the transmission.

Jeep is using the same engine in the smaller hybrid Avenger, with slightly lower power output.

These are two attractive SUVs that claim impressive economy from a simple, efficient and compact petrol engine matched to a modern hybrid drive. I had the Avenger 4xe for a longer drive and recorded an economy performance of just 90% of the rated figure, so 700km on a 44 litre tank of petrol is achievable.

My drive of the Compass hybrid was a two-day event – this model has a bigger car feel to it. I took it across silage stubble ground with ease followed by a modest off-road track and lengthy road run.

This larger SUV has slightly lower fuel economy while the bigger 55 litre petrol tank will mean less stops in your aim to achieve a theoretical 962km range. I’m not sure that will be easy.

The new Jeep Compass has the more recent Euro NCAP crash test result with a four-star rating, while the Avenger is rated three-star.

The Jeep Avenger comes with a smaller central screen, coupled with button controls for the transmission.

The test version of the Jeep Compass was fitted with Michelin e-Primacy 225/60 R18 tyres for minimum road noise.

Both models feature reversing cameras as standard. Entry prices starting at €39,995 for the Avenger 4xe or €42,995 for the Compass are matched between petrol, hybrid and BEV models, depending on the specification, so that widens your choices.

The Compass is the longer, more spacious and the more comfortable of the two with further power options, including extended electric range. More towing power is on the way.

And if you are still not sure, Jeep dealers are now offering a test and try deal so that Jeep BEV customers can exchange their BEV version with a hybrid if not happy following a 90-day test, as the brand takes on a less challenging on-road future.