What's all this about?

Jeep has launched a new hybrid petrol engine that slots into the front of the Renegade and Compass compact models. Dubbed the e-Hybrid (not to be confused with the Volkswagen Group’s e-Hybrid plug-in hybrid models), the newcomers combine a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 20hp electric motor.

Jeep calls it a mild-hybrid, but it acts more like one of Toyota’s self-charging hybrid systems, with the electric motor offering the ability to drive the wheels even when the engine is switched off. The American brand says this allows the car to use electric power for silent parking manoeuvres or when travelling at low speeds.

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Apparently the e-Hybrid is good for more than just creeping up on people. The four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine produces 130hp, and sends that to the front wheels via a seven-speed automatic gearbox. Also installed is a 20hp electric motor, which can also drive the wheels without any help from the engine.

According to Jeep, the system saves 15% more fuel than a petrol engine and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by a similar amount. Officially, the Renegade e-Hybrid models will pump out 130-139g of carbon dioxide per kilometre, while the Compass e-Hybrids all churn out between 130 and 140g/km.

What about the off-roading side of things?

This is a new Jeep powertrain, after all, and the Jeep name is quite literally synonymous with off-roading. Yet the new e-Hybrid is available solely with front-wheel drive, suggesting this isn’t the propulsion system for those who like to get muddy at the weekend. Instead, Jeep would point you in the direction of the plug-in hybrid 4xe ( pronounced four-by-E, in case you were wondering) models, which do offer all-wheel drive and come with a more prominent electric propulsion system.

Is that it then?

No, as well as building a new engine, Jeep has also deigned to add a new trim level to the Renegade e-Hybrid and Compass e-Hybrid ranges. It’s called the Upland, and it comes with lots of “sustainable materials” and “eco-friendly paints”. Perhaps fittingly, the new trim will also be available on the 4xe plug-in hybrid models.

No matter which car you choose, the Upland model is marked out by its exclusive Matte Azur colour scheme with a two-tone black roof. Black alloy wheels also feature, alongside bronze finishes on the grille rings and rear skid plate, while there’s a dedicated sticker on the bonnet. Inside, Upland models feature Seaqual polyester yarn that’s made from plastics fished out of the Mediterranean, as well as some other recycled fibres.

On the Renegade, the cabin also gets recycled plastic in the black interior panels, while the bronze of the exterior is replicated on the bezels inside. The Compass also gets recycled plastic in the door panels and dashboard, while there’s a bronze finish created with eco-friendly paints on the dash.

So how much will all this cost?

The cheapest Renegade e-Hybrid is the Upland, which starts at £31,130, while the S model costs an extra £1,000. For Compass e-Hybrid buyers, the Night Eagle represents the cheapest option, with a starting price of £32,895. The Compass Upland e-Hybrid comes in at £35,895.

James Fossdyke - 20 Jan 2022