Finance representative example (PCP)

Total cash price £16,199. Borrowing £14,579 with a £1,620 deposit at a representative APR of 10.9%.

48 monthly payments
£272.32
Fixed interest rate
10.9%
Total amount payable
£20,674.25
Cost of credit
£4,475.25
Optional final payment
£5,983.00
Purchase fee
£10.00
Annual mileage limit
6000 miles

Jeep Compass Trailhawk buying guide

The Trailhawk is the full bells-and-whistles version of the Jeep Compass. You'll find a powerful, efficient plug-in-hybrid engine under the bonnet plus extra off-road goodies to help it perform better in the rough stuff.

What Jeep Compass Trailhawk trim levels are there?

Trailhawk is its own range-topping trim level. You can tell it apart from other Compass models thanks to its unique bumper designs, with the rear one including a hard-mounted hook intended for a tow rope. There's also special Trailhawk badging and black decals on the bonnet to set it out from the rest of the range.

As standard, you get part-faux-leather upholstery, climate control, adaptive cruise control, heated front seats, all-round parking sensors, and an infotainment system with sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Trailhawk models also get a specific 'rock' mode for their off-road system and 17-inch alloys with grippy off-road tyres.

What's the Jeep Compass Trailhawk's interior and technology like?

Everything's fairly simple to navigate in the Compass's cabin. The large 10.1-inch infotainment screen handles navigation and entertainment, but all the important functions like climate and driving modes are given proper buttons that are easy to use at a glance. There are a few gloss black surfaces and soft-touch materials to help it feel more comfortable but, beyond that, you'd struggle to tell it apart from the regular model – the special Trailhawk seat upholstery and extra 'rock' selection for the off-road system being the main clues.

The Compass's Uconnect infotainment system is shared with other Jeep products and it's fairly easy to learn your way around. On-screen graphics aren't too cluttered and the screen's size mean buttons are large enough to be fairly easy to hit without too much practice. Built-in sat nav is included but most drivers will simply make use of the standard-fit Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Passenger space is pretty good with enough room in both rows to seat adults comfortably. Be aware that the optional sunroof does impact headroom a little. Trailhawk models benefit from a more flexible 40/20/40 split for their rear seats, while standard cars make do with a conventional 60/40 split. As a slight compromise, however, you lose 18 litres of underfloor boot space compared to regular Compass models, for a total of 420 litres, thanks to the placement of the battery.

Jeep Compass Trailhawk engine range explained

Jeep Compass Trailhawk 1.3 4xe PHEV

The Compass's range-topping trim gets the car's range-topping 4xe engine – a 1.3-litre petrol-powered plug-in hybrid setup with a total of 240hp. Thanks to the 4xe's powerful electric motor, off-the-line response is excellent and the backing of the 1.3-litre turbo engine means you get strong acceleration all the way up to motorway speeds. It'll crack the 0-62mph sprint in a respectable 7.3 seconds and, using electric power alone, travel around 25 miles without starting the engine. Recharge frequently and you could see average efficiency as high as 120mpg.

Jeep Compass Trailhawk FAQs

The Compass Trailhawk is a hair under 4.4 metres long – putting it squarely in the middle of a popular class that includes the Nissan Qashqai, Skoda Karoq, Kia Sportage and Vauxhall Grandland, to name a few.

That means, despite its butch appearance, it doesn't take up much more room on the road than hatchbacks like the Ford Focus and the Volkswagen Golf. The tall seating position means you have a good view out the car, and the standard-fit reversing camera and all-round parking sensors mean it's fairly easy to squeeze into a tight parking space.

The Compass's boxy body means you get a good amount of passenger space from its average-sized footprint. There's space for adults in both the front and rear seats, with tall passengers in the back only likely to run short of headroom if you select the optional sunroof. The 420-litre boot is large enough for most day-to-day tasks, but can't quite match the cave-like storage in the Skoda Karoq.

Competition among family SUVs is extremely fierce and, on paper, the Compass Trailhawk doesn't always score the highest points. These comparisons somewhat miss the point of the Compass Trailhawk – this is a family SUV that also has proper chops when it comes to off-road driving thanks to a serious four-wheel-drive system and grippy tyres. It also comes imbued with that certain 'Jeep-ness' that makes lifelong fans of the brand – a sense of rugged charm missing from most of its more sanitised rivals.

Where the Compass Trailhawk deals a decisive blow to many rivals, however, is in terms of value for money as a used car. Trailhawk models were expensive as brand-new purchases but substantial discounts can be had if you're willing to look at 12 to 24-month-old examples.

Most of the Compass's mechanical parts including its engine, plug-in hybrid system and gearbox are widely used across Jeep's range as well as other Fiat and Alfa Romeo models. We've not heard of any significant issues with these models, and don't anticipate too many challenges should you need to find replacement parts.

Help your Compass Trailhawk last as long as possible by keeping on top of scheduled maintenance and fixing any problems that arise as soon as you can. An extended warranty is a great way to protect yourself from the costs associated with unexpected mechanical or electrical failures.

Trailhawk is Jeep's off-road focused trim level for models including the Compass SUV. You get unique styling details as well as a specially tuned off-road driving mode and grippy tyres.

It's also a range-topping option for that vehicle, so comes with loads of standard equipment and the most powerful plug-in hybrid engine option.

Jeep Compass Trailhawk models are rated to tow a braked trailer weighing 1,250kg. That's actually a lower figure than the lesser 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine because plug-in hybrids are not generally the most optimised for towing. That said, a 1,250kg figure should be enough to pull a light trailer or small camper.

Jeep's figures show the Compass Trailhawk has 213mm (8.4 inches) of ground clearance – that's about 15mm more clearance than the standard model. Be aware that figure could change slightly depending on how loaded the car is and how much pressure is in your tyres.

This relatively high figure, combined with the Trailhawk model's unique off-road bumpers means this version has the best approach and departure angle of the whole Compass lineup.