2026 Jeep Compass: Standard 4x4, a Deep Safety List, and the Value End of the Lineup
The 2026 Jeep Compass is the right-sized Jeep, the one that puts real four-wheel-drive hardware and a genuinely deep list
of standard safety gear into the lowest starting price in the Jeep lineup. It is compact enough to live easily in a garage
and a parking deck, yet every Compass leaves the factory with full-time 4x4, so the capability is not an upgrade you hunt
for on an options sheet.
For a Central Indiana driver shopping a first Jeep, or a commuter who wants a small SUV that handles a winter morning
without a second thought, the appeal is straightforward: a turbocharged engine, a Latitude that started at $29,550 at
launch for the 2026 model year, and a standard-safety roster that reads like an options list on rival compacts. This page
walks through the standard 4x4 and the off-road Trailhawk, the engine and its mileage, how much comes standard on the
safety front, how the trims line up, and how to shop one close to home.
Compass at a Glance
Specification
Detail
Body style
Compact SUV, seats 5
Engine
2.0L Turbo I-4, 200 hp, 8-speed automatic
Drive
Jeep Active Drive full-time 4x4, standard
Fuel economy (EPA)
23 city / 31 hwy / 26 combined
Ground clearance
8.1 in, 8.6 in on the Trailhawk
Max towing
2,000 lb
Cargo
27.2 cu ft behind the rear seats, up to 59.8 cu ft
Safety
4-star overall NHTSA rating
Starting MSRP
$29,550*
*Starting MSRP is the Latitude figure at launch for the 2026 model year, excluding destination.
Standard 4x4 and Capability
Here is what separates the Compass from most compact SUVs at this price: four-wheel drive is standard, not an option
box. Every Compass runs Jeep Active Drive, a full-time 4x4 system with a rear-axle disconnect that drops the rear
driveline out of the equation on dry pavement to save fuel, then brings it back the moment grip gets scarce. Paired
with it is Selec-Terrain, a dial that retunes the vehicle for the surface under the tires, with Auto, Snow, and
Sand/Mud modes. On a salted, snow-covered Central Indiana road in January, that hardware is doing real work rather than
sitting on the spec sheet.
Move up to the Trailhawk and the Compass earns its Trail Rated badge. It swaps in Jeep Active Drive Low, a 4x4 system
with a 20:1 crawl ratio for picking through the rough at walking pace, and adds a Trail Rated off-road suspension, a
one-inch ride-height increase, skid plates underneath, front tow hooks, all-terrain tires, and Hill Descent Control for
easing down a steep grade without riding the brake. The result is a small SUV that will actually leave the pavement.
Capability
Standard Compass
Compass Trailhawk
4x4 system
Jeep Active Drive full-time 4x4
Jeep Active Drive Low (20:1 crawl ratio)
Ground clearance
8.1 in
8.6 in
Water fording
16 in
19 in
Approach angle
16.1°
Up to 30.4°
Departure angle
31.4°
Up to 34°
Maximum towing
2,000 lb
2,000 lb (Class III hitch and wiring available via the Trailer Tow Group)
Those figures matter for everyday driving before they ever matter on a trail. The 8.1 inches of clearance and standard
4x4 are what carry a Compass through the standing water after a hard Indiana rain and up a snow-packed driveway, and the
Trailhawk’s extra clearance, deeper fording, and skid plates are what let it head down a rutted two-track at a state
recreation area. Towing is modest by design at 2,000 pounds, enough for a small utility trailer or a pair of jet skis,
with a Class III hitch available on the Trailhawk through the Trailer Tow Group. As always, ratings shift with the build,
so confirm the numbers on the specific Compass you are looking at and weigh a trailer’s loaded weight, not its empty
weight, against the limit.
Engine and Fuel Economy
Every 2026 Compass uses the same engine, so the powertrain is not a decision to agonize over. It is a 2.0L
turbocharged four-cylinder making 200 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, and because that torque arrives low and stays
flat from 1,750 all the way to 4,250 rpm, the Compass pulls away from a stop and merges without feeling like it is
working for it. An 8-speed automatic with AutoStick handles the shifts, and engine stop-start shuts the engine off at a
red light to trim fuel use in town.
Engine
Detail
Type
2.0L Turbo I-4 with engine stop-start
Horsepower
200 hp @ 5,000 rpm
Torque
221 lb-ft @ 1,750 to 4,250 rpm
Transmission
8-speed automatic with AutoStick
EPA fuel economy
23 city / 31 hwy / 26 combined
Fuel
Regular unleaded; 13.5-gallon tank
The EPA rates the Compass at 23 city, 31 highway, and 26 combined, with Jeep’s own manufacturer estimate running slightly
higher at 24, 32, and 27. It drinks regular unleaded from a 13.5-gallon tank, so there is no premium-fuel penalty at the
pump and a full fill covers a lot of Central Indiana commuting between stops.
A Strong List of Standard Safety
This is where the Compass quietly outpunches its price. The driver-assist features that rivals tuck behind an options
package come standard on the Compass from the base Latitude on up, so the entry-price version is the one with the
safety net already built in. On the 2026 Compass, all of the following are standard:
Standard safety feature
What it does
Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking
Scans the road ahead at any speed and can apply the brakes itself when a crash is closing in
Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection with Automatic Braking
Extends that watch to people and riders and can brake to help avoid them
Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Path Detection
Warns you when a vehicle is hiding in your blind spot, then again when traffic crosses behind you in reverse
Active Lane Management
Watches your lane position and eases the wheel back if you wander without a signal
ParkView Rear Back-Up Camera
Shows the view behind the Compass the moment you shift into reverse
That is only the front of the list. Also standard across the lineup are 7 air bags, Advanced Brake Assist, Drowsy-Driver
Detection, All-Speed Traction Control, Electronic Stability Control, Electronic Roll Mitigation, Hill Start Assist, a
rear-seat reminder, Trailer Sway Damping, and Rain Brake Support. For a shopper who assumed a compact at this price meant
a bare-bones safety sheet, the Compass flips that expectation.
A handful of aids move to the available column rather than standard: Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, ParkSense
Rear Park Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, and the Active Driving Assist System, with Hill Descent Control coming
standard on the Trailhawk. The Compass also earns a 4-star overall rating from NHTSA. Individual crash-test scores move
around by configuration, so pull the NHTSA detail for the exact build you have in mind.
Trims and Starting Price
The 2026 Compass lineup climbs from the Latitude at the value end to the Trail Rated Trailhawk, with Altitude
appearance packages and a more comfort-oriented Limited in between. At 2026-model-year launch, the range opens at
$29,550 for the Latitude, excluding destination, and the Trailhawk starts at $34,060. Pricing on the trims in between
moves with equipment and trim, so those live figures sit with our
current inventory.
Trim
Price at launch*
Best for
Latitude
$29,550
The lowest way into a new Jeep, with standard 4x4 and heated front seats
The Limited’s equipment paired with the darkened Altitude look
Trailhawk
$34,060
The Trail Rated off-roader with low-range 4x4 and off-road hardware
*Price shown is the launch figure for the 2026 model year, excluding destination. Trims shown without a figure route to
our
current inventory
for pricing.
Which trim should you choose? A quick way to narrow it down:
Inside, the Compass runs Uconnect 5, and the screen grows as you move up the lineup. The Latitude comes with a standard
8.4-inch touchscreen, while the Limited and the Trailhawk step up to a standard 10.1-inch screen, and a Uconnect 5 NAV
setup with the 10.1-inch display is available through the Sun, Sound and NAV group. Wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless
Android Auto are standard on every trim, so your phone’s maps and audio are on the main display without a cable. Six
speakers are standard, and a 9-speaker Alpine premium system is available for buyers who want more from the audio. A
7-inch driver information display sits in front of you as standard, with a 10.25-inch version available.
The cabin materials climb with the trims as well. The Latitude pairs premium vinyl and cloth with heated front seats
standard, a nice touch for an Indiana winter at the entry price. The Limited moves to McKinley leatherette alongside its
larger screen, and the Trailhawk gets leather-trimmed seats with red accent stitching and off-road touches that match its
hardware. The Compass comes in six colors across the lineup: Red Hot Pearl, Hydro Blue Pearl, Silver Zynith Metallic,
Diamond Black Crystal Pearl, Bright White, and a color called Joose, which is offered in limited availability.
Warranty
Every new Compass carries Jeep’s factory coverage, and the terms are worth a quick look before you sign.
Coverage
Term
Basic limited warranty
36 months / 36,000 miles
Powertrain limited warranty
60 months / 60,000 miles
Corrosion (perforation)
60 months / unlimited miles
24-hour roadside assistance
60 months / 60,000 miles
The powertrain and roadside terms both run a full five years, well past the basic period, which is reassurance worth
having on a small SUV you plan to commute in daily. Our team can walk you through exactly what each plan covers.
Buying a Compass in Central Indiana
When you are ready to see one in person, Ed Martin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Anderson is where a Central Indiana
shopper settles the details: the value-focused Latitude or the off-road Trailhawk, the color, and the equipment that
fits how you drive. Our Up Front Guaranteed Pricing sets one plain number on the windshield, and that number is where
the deal starts and stays, not a teaser that swells once the paperwork comes out.
A few things ride along with every new Compass we sell:
Program
What it means for you
Up Front Guaranteed Pricing
One clear window price to build the deal from, with nothing added later at the desk
Complimentary First Oil Change
The first oil change on a new Compass is on us
Free Car Washes for Life
Free washes for the life of the vehicle, for the original owner, new or used
Saturday Service
You can bring the Compass in for service on Saturdays
When you want to see which Compass models are in stock and how each is equipped:
If a brand-new Compass sits just above where you want your payment, a Mopar Certified Pre-Owned Jeep is the way to keep
factory backing for a smaller outlay. A certified Compass has passed a 125-point inspection, carries a CARFAX history
report, and holds factory-backed coverage, and the program’s two tiers reach across different ages and mileages so an
older Jeep can still qualify. Where each tier begins and ends is laid out on the
program page.
For a lot of Compass shoppers this is a first new-car loan, and our finance desk is set up for every starting point:
solid credit, a thin or bruised file, a first-time borrower new to the country, or a buyer another dealership already
turned down. When a frozen or beaten-up credit report is the thing standing in the way, our Unfreeze Your Credit
program was built to work through exactly that. Send the application in before you come by, and the financing is
settled while you are still deciding between the Latitude and the Trailhawk.
Yes, and that is one of its biggest draws. Every 2026 Compass comes standard with full-time Jeep Active Drive 4x4,
complete with a rear-axle disconnect for efficiency and Selec-Terrain modes for snow, sand, and mud. You do not
step up a trim or add a package to get it. The Trailhawk goes further with a low-range 4x4 system and its 20:1
crawl ratio for serious off-road use.
By EPA estimate, the Compass returns 23 city, 31 highway, and 26 combined, with Jeep’s own estimate slightly
higher at 24, 32, and 27. It runs on regular unleaded from a 13.5-gallon tank, so you skip any premium-fuel cost
at fill-up.
One engine across the lineup: a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder making 200 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque,
paired with an 8-speed automatic with AutoStick and engine stop-start. The torque comes on low and stays flat,
which is what makes the Compass feel eager around town and confident merging onto the highway.
The Compass holds 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and up to 59.8 cubic feet with them folded down, and it
seats five. That is enough for a week of groceries or a couple of suitcases upright, with room for a bike or a
big-box run once the seats drop.
It is well suited to it. Standard full-time 4x4, a Snow mode in the Selec-Terrain system, and 8.1 inches of ground
clearance give the Compass real footing on a snow-covered or icy Central Indiana road, without needing a separate
winter vehicle. The Trailhawk adds even more clearance if your winters get deep.
The lineup runs Latitude, Latitude Altitude, Limited, Limited Altitude, and the Trail Rated Trailhawk. At
2026-model-year launch, the Latitude started at $29,550 and the Trailhawk at $34,060, both excluding destination.
The trims in between move with equipment and current programs, so check our
inventory
for their live figures.
Yes. The Trailhawk carries Jeep’s Trail Rated badge, which it earns with Jeep Active Drive Low and a 20:1 crawl
ratio, a Trail Rated off-road suspension, a one-inch ride-height increase, skid plates, front tow hooks,
all-terrain tires, and Hill Descent Control. It also fords water up to 19 inches deep and clears steeper approach
and departure angles than the rest of the lineup. It is a genuine off-roader, not an appearance package.
A lot, and that is a real strength of the Compass. From the base Latitude up, it comes standard with full-speed
forward collision warning with active braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection with automatic braking, blind spot
monitoring with rear cross-path detection, active lane management, 7 air bags, and more. Adaptive cruise control
with stop and go and rear park assist are available. The Compass earns a 4-star overall NHTSA rating, and the
individual test scores vary by build.
The basic limited warranty runs 36 months or 36,000 miles, the powertrain limited warranty runs 60 months or
60,000 miles, corrosion coverage runs 60 months with unlimited miles, and 24-hour roadside assistance runs 60
months or 60,000 miles. Stop in and we can lay out the full coverage details.
Yes. A Mopar Certified Pre-Owned Compass has cleared a 125-point inspection and comes with a CARFAX report, and
its two coverage tiers span a wide spread of model years and mileages. See the
certified inventory
for what is on the lot right now, or the
CPO program page for how each
tier works.
