Jeep introduced the plug-in hybrid versions of the Renegade and Compass a couple of years ago in Europe where the two crossovers carry the 4xe badge. Now, the American brand part of the Stellantis automotive conglomerate is launching a more affordable electrified alternative courtesy of an e-Hybrid variant.
Essentially, we are dealing with a mild-hybrid powertrain promising to cut fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 15% compared to conventional gasoline engines. At the heart of the Jeep Renegade e-Hybrid and Compass e-Hybrid is a newly developed turbocharged 1.5-liter engine. The four-cylinder gasoline unit produces 130 horsepower and 240 Newton-meters (176 pound-feet) of torque channeled to the road via a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The combustion engine works together with an electric motor rated at 20 hp (15 kW) and 55 Nm (41 lb-ft), which can drive the wheels when the gasoline mill is turned off. Jeep mentions the two crossovers start in electric mode and will continue to have zero emissions at low speeds as well as when cruising and during parking maneuvers.
To maximize efficiency, the e-Hybrid models benefit from regenerative braking to capture the energy that would otherwise be lost during braking and send it to the battery pack. The Renegade and larger Compass come along with a system called “e-Boosting,” which sends more torque to the wheels by making the electric motor support the combustion engine.
Coinciding with the launch of e-Hybrid models is a new Upland special edition dressed in an exclusive Matter Azur paint with a black roof. The Renegade gets 17-inch wheels while the Compass sits on 18-inch alloys, with both sets finished in glossy black. Rounding off the visual tweaks are the MetaKrome bronze accents noticeable on the rings of the front grille as well as the back on the skid plate.
For the interior, buyers can stick with the 8.4-inch touchscreen or opt for the larger 10.1-inch display in the case of the Compass. The aforementioned Upland gets recycled materials, such as bespoke Seaqual material for the seats, made from ocean-sourced recycled plastic. In the case of the Renegade, some of the black plastic panels boast plastic previously used in headlights. For the Compass, the same material can be found on the dashboard and door panels.
With the launch of the Renegade e-Hybrid and Compass e-Hybrid, Jeep is proud to announce it will exclusively sell electrified vehicles by the end of 2022 in the following regions: Germany, Belgium, France, Portugal, Nordics, and The Netherlands. In addition, more than a quarter of the company’s total sales in Europe are represented by the 4xe plug-in hybrid models.
Source: Jeep
