Mild hybrid Renegade and Compass now in right-hook.

WITH right-hand-drive production having started for Jeep’s mild-hybrid versions of the Compass (top image) and Renegade (immediately above) sports utilities now raises questions about whether that product will hit New Zealand.

The new ‘e-Hybrid’ models’ availability has just been announced for the United Kingdom and Ireland.

They’ll go on sale alongside plug-in hybrid 4xe versions of the same vehicles whose potential for New Zealand has yet to be fully spelled out. They are also due to be joined by a 4xe plug-in hybrid version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, a variant that does seem probable for this part of the world.

Those products comprise a small step toward the marque’s bigger plan to electrify its product line-up, with in turn all becomes part of a battery-prioritised strategy that will encompass the entire Stellantis brand family, which in addition to Fiat-Chrysler models also ticks the Alfa Romeo and Peugeot-Citroen boxes.

The Renegade and Compass e-Hybrids share the same powertrain and are both equipped with a new turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine developing 97kW. That's sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

Also at play is a 15kW electric motor, which, in addition to helping to reduce fuel consumption by a claimed 15 percent compared to previous petrol-only models, can allow the vehicle to operate at low speeds for very short distances on electric power only. This occurs on start-up, when parking – going forward or in reverse - and in stop-go traffic.

Information relayed by the brand internationally says some regenerative braking capability allows the models to recover kinetic energy lost during deceleration or braking, too, making the whole car more efficient.

Inside, the Renegade and Compass both feature an 8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen, although the Compass can be specified with a bigger 10.1-inch unit.

The models have a connected services suite enabling remote monitoring by phone app and fit out with an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot capable of supporting up to eight devices.

Driver assists run to traffic sign recognition, the ability for the vehicle to keep itself within the speed limit, automatic emergency braking and an adaptive cruise control system with lane centring.

The variants can offer in a new eco-minded trim, Upland. This maks use of an array of eco-friendly materials such as interior furnishings made from recycled fishing nets, other plastics derived from recycled headlamp units and eco-friendly bronze paint used for interior accents. The Upland models can also be ordered in a special colour, Matter Azur, and also stand out by having a contrasting black roof and gloss black alloy wheels (17-inch on the Renegade, 18-inch on the Compass).