Did the All-New Jeep® Compass Just Leak Online?

Well, folks—Jeep fans and curious car lovers alike—it looks like the internet may have gotten a bit ahead of Jeep’s official game plan. We’re just days away from the scheduled May 6th unveiling of the all-new, next-generation Jeep Compass (codenamed J4U), and yet, a slew of high-quality images of what appears to be the real-deal production model have hit the web early.

The leaked photos reportedly show the upcoming global-spec Compass from just about every angle imaginable—front, rear, profile, and even the interior. The vehicles appear in dual-tone finishes like electric blue, bright neon green, and crisp white, each topped with a black roof. While these seem to be European models, they offer a pretty solid sneak peek of what to expect when it eventually hits our shores here in North America.

This marks the first full redesign for the Compass since 2017, and it’s a big one. The new model rides on Stellantis’ STLA Medium architecture—a flexible, EV-first platform also being used by brands like Peugeot and Opel. This means the new Compass is ready for a global audience with a wide mix of powertrains: full battery-electric (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and mild-hybrid options.

For EV fans, the most exciting rumor is the 98 kWh battery pack, which could deliver around 350 miles of range (about 563 km) on the EPA cycle. That’s a huge jump from what most compact SUVs are offering today and would place the Compass squarely in the thick of the electric crossover race.

Even with all this electrification, Jeep’s off-road roots haven’t been forgotten. The new Compass keeps its signature short overhangs and squared-off wheel arches, good news for anyone looking to take it off the pavement. Meanwhile, new design elements like LED-lit seven-slot grilles, X-shaped LED taillights, and a light-up Jeep logo on the rear give it that modern, rugged touch.

Inside, the cockpit looks fully digital and upmarket—again, based on the leaked photos. Expect big touchscreens, updated materials, and the kind of tech buyers now expect in the compact SUV segment.

Now here’s the catch: while Europe is getting this new Compass first, with production already underway at the Melfi Assembly Plant in Italy, North American buyers will have to wait. Jeep is holding back the U.S. and Canadian launch until early 2026, giving the company time to tailor the powertrains to better suit our market—especially as EV sales here are currently cooling off.

It’s likely that U.S.-spec models will skip the global-market 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder mild-hybrid setup. Instead, Jeep could opt for something with more grunt—maybe the same 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid powertrain as the upcoming Cherokee (KM). They’re keeping that part under wraps for now.

And who do we thank for this early look? Credit goes to prolific virtual artist Vince Burlapp—known online as vburlapp and through his site burlappcar.com—who’s always got one ear to the ground when it comes to industry rumors and leaks. However, it seems that more pictures have appeared online that appear to be official press or promotional imagery for the next-gen Compass. Whether this was an intentional marketing trick or an unplanned slip-up, we’ll probably never know—but one thing’s for sure: the cat’s out of the bag.

Leaked Jeep® Compass (J4U) Photos: