Jeep has removed nearly all of the physical buttons in the new Compass
- Jeep has taken almost all of its physical buttons out of the Compass
- They have been replaced with capacitive switches
- Jeep says this will be a gamechanger for a few reasons
Published on May 08, 2025 at 8:19 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on May 08, 2025 at 5:13 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Jeep has removed almost all of the physical buttons in the new Compass SUV and replaced them with capacitive switches.
The marque unveiled the upcoming Jeep Compass on May 6, giving us our first up-close look at the vehicle.
The new model will be available with three powertrains: e-hybrid, e-hybrid plug-in, and full electric.
Jeep says its new capacitive switches will change the game for a few reasons.
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The new Jeep Compass will have capacitive switches
As cars are becoming ever more tech-filled, many marques are ditching buttons in favor of touchscreen technology instead. Take the interior of the Tesla Cybertruck, for example.
However, some carmakers are bucking the trend; last year, Volkswagen announced it was bringing back physical buttons to its vehicles.
Now, it seems that Jeep has decided to land somewhere in the middle, replacing the buttons on the Compass’s steering wheel and center console with touch-sensitive ‘physical capacitive switches’.
The switches will provide feedback to the driver, using what sounds a bit like haptics that you get in your smartphone to let you know when a button has been pressed.
Daniele Calonaci, who is head of design for Jeep’s European division, explained during a presentation.
“We have physical capacitive switches; so, this is a new technology that gives feedback [which] is really important,” he said.
“But being capacitive, we don’t have any more gaps between the different functions, so again we are making the life of our customers better. You can clean the interior without having dust in the gaps.”
Elsewhere inside the Jeep Compass, you’ll find a 16-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 10-inch cluster.
The Compass will be available with several powertrains
The Jeep Compass SUV will be available with the option of several powertrains: a 145 horsepower 48V hybrid; a 195hp hybrid plug-in and three EV versions, ranging from a 213hp front-wheel drive version up to a more powerful 375hp all-wheel drive.
Jeep says the EV Compass will have up to 650km (403 miles) of range and can charge from 20 percent to 80 percent in just half an hour.
The First Edition model is set to launch with just two of the options available: the e-hybrid or the 213 horsepower EV.
It’s available to order in Europe now, with deliveries set to land in the latter half of this year.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
