Jeep joins electric revolution with plug-in hybrid Renegade, Compass

Remember when Jeep announced that it will be revealing a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the Wrangler? Well it looks like its smaller stablemates, the Renegade and the Compass, have beaten the bigger 4x4 as they are the first Jeep models that are now available in PHEV form.

Revealed at the 2019 Geneva International Auto Show, the two crossovers get an electrified powertrain that allows them to emit less emissions, as well as have the ability to travel purely on electric power.

Powering both the PHEV Renegade and Compass is a 1.3-liter turbocharged engine that is helped along by a rear electric motor. The Renegade is good with either 190 PS or 240 PS while the Compass is only available with the latter. Since it's a plug-in hybrid, both Jeeps can travel on electricity alone for nearly 50 km with a top speed of 128 km/h.

Jeep claims that not only does the plug-in hybrid powertrain help in improving efficiency, the addition of an electric motor helps generate more torque for taking on challenging terrain, as well as provide faster acceleration under load.

What's more is that instead of a traditional transfer case sending power to the rear axle, the electric motor now provides power to the rear wheels via electric all-wheel drive (e-AWD). This means that under normal driving conditions, the two axles can be separated automatically which reduces wear as well save on fuel.

With Jeep embracing the concept of electrification, it won't be long now until the Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and maybe even the upcoming Grand Wagoneer will be available with hybrid tech soon.