A few weeks ago we were talking about the new Jeep Compass 4xe, the plug-in hybrid variant that was presented before the holidays. That was not the only novelty that the managers of the brand told us about and that is that, taking advantage of the start of manufacturing in their Italian plant, they have opted to equip their compact SUV with all the existing technology in Jeep. The essence of this firm is well known. When we talk about their models, we think of adventure, mountains and dirt roads through which to reach inhospitable and beautiful places. Unfortunately, European regulations consider that this spirit is superfluous on a planet on the brink of climate collapse. Hence, Jeep presents the new Compass GSE , an SUV with a 4×4 aesthetic but with a 1.3-liter turbocharged 130 and 150 hp engine . A more common and earthly power, which will be combined with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.
The FCA group firm produces the Compass at its Melfi plant, the most technologically advanced. It is the first Jeep that is not manufactured in the United States, as some units will continue to leave Toluca (Mexico). This transfer is an important step for the firm since, as Manuel Pérez Casado, Marketing Director of Jeep in Spain, commented: “this new productive location is accompanied by a significant number of improvements on the car . For starters, your engine is new. It is a 1.3 liter GSE, from the Global Small Engines family ”.
This engine debuted on the Renegade in 2018 and meets the downsizing trend: smaller, more efficient engines. Despite its small size, the 1.3-liter GSE reaches 130 hp and 150 hp, more than enough power for the general public. It may seem like a loss for Jeep, used to offering models with more character and spirit, but the market rules and compact SUV customers do not often turn to the off-road capabilities that this car could have. For this reason, the Italian firm has equipped it with front-wheel drive and for the first time has a 4×2 version with automatic transmission .
