2018 Jeep Compass revealed: Australian launch late next year – UPDATE

The all-new 2018 Jeep Compass is now out in the open, revealed in Brazil today ahead of an Australian debut set for late next year.

The new Compass has already been spied in its final state a number of times, but today's release marks the first official look at the new 'small-ish' SUV in its Trailhawk and Limited forms.

As those earlier shots revealed, the new Compass will debut with a sportier and more road-focused design than its predecessor.

Jeep's familiar slotted grille design features up front, flanked by a two-step headlight design. In Trailhawk form, there's also that badge's specific wheel design, along with tow hooks, blacked-out features and a bonnet decal.

Through the profile, there's a fast-rising belt line, box-style wheel arches, a thick D-pillar and a high-mounted chrome trim that reaches around the rear, bisecting the body colour from the black-finished roof.

The rear gets a high-set window and an Audi-like tail-lamp design with a black background and - for the Limited model, at least - a bold LED signature along the bottom edge.

Little else has been revealed at this stage, with the new Compass not set for its official premiere until November's Los Angeles motor show.

For now, the company has confirmed that 17 powertrains will be offered in various markets, along with "best-in-class" off-roading capabilities - which, in Australia, would even see it squaring off against the technically smaller but officially 'small' Jeep Renegade.

It’s believed the new Compass is built on a version of the architecture beneath the smaller 4230mm-long Renegade and the related Fiat 500X.

In the Jeep line-up, it will sit between the very retro and ruggedly styled Renegade and the more modern-looking Cherokee, which measures 4623mm long.

Australia

The new Compass will go on sale in America in the first quarter of 2017. Exact Australian timing is still to be locked in, although the company's local arm has confirmed a late-2017 window for a model-year 2018 launch.

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