Jeep Compass MHEV spied testing, unexpectedly

These spy photos might not look like big news at first, what with the new Jeep Compass having already debuted in China and the USA, but look closer, and you may be surprised.

Note the windshield sticker saying it is a part-electric vehicle. Is it a PHEV? Hardly, because the fuel tank door is the only port on the body. There is also a piece of wrap covering some kind of caption on the body.

Based on the above, we would assume it is a 48V mild hybrid car likely based on the same 1.3-liter turbo as the Jeep Renegade and an electric motor integrated into the transmission.

In the United States, Jeep only offers the Compass with its standard 2.4-liter gasoline four-cylinder good for 180 PS (178 hp / 132 kW). Customers can choose between FWD and AWD.