New Jeep Compass points the way

In the year that marks Jeep’s 85th anniversary, Jeep Ireland launched its new Jeep Compass to the motoring media at the historic Slane Castle over the last two days bringing the brand’s latest electrified SUV to one of Ireland’s most iconic music venues and atmospheric historic estates, writes Trish Whelan. Jeep has been designed for people who value independence, capability and the freedom to choose how they move. 

The Jeep brand is also steeped in history, the first prototype Jeep - the Bantam BRC - was delivered to the US Army for testing in September 1940. Shortly after, Willys-Overland and Ford refined the design, leading to the legendary Willys MB mass-produced for World War II. 

The new Jeep Compass launches in Ireland in both electric and hybrid variants. Further powertrain options will follow as the range expands. The full range of powertrains planned for the Compass includes a 145hp 48V e-Hybrid, a 195hp e-Hybrid Plug-in and three full-electric versions, ranging from a 213hp front-wheel drive version up to 375hp in all-wheel drive powertrain, allowing customers select the powertrain that best suits their lifestyle and driving needs. 

At this week’s Irish launch, John Saunders, Managing Director at Jeep Ireland said: “The all-new Jeep Compass represents exactly where the brand is heading in Ireland, bringing together electrified performance, real-world versatility and genuine freedom of choice for customers at a time when many are deciding to start their electric journey.” He said launching the car at Slane Castle felt entirely appropriate, a place defined by history, character and unforgettable moments, which mirrors what Jeep stands for. A vehicle equally suited to commuting as it is to weekend adventures.” 

The new Compass features a fully redesigned interior with enhanced digital interfaces, improved connectivity and increased comfort. The cabin is more spacious than the previous Compass, with rear passengers enjoying more legroom and cargo space expanding up to 550 litres, 45 litres more than before. We got to drive this new Jeep on motorways and country roads to our Slane destination entering the estate through the old Gothic Gate which allowed us try out the Selec-Terrain (standard across all versions) driving on a narrow and bumpy track through the woodland area using the Sand/Mud drive mode, but all five modes are designed to optimise performance and control in different conditions proving front-wheel drive versions are also capable of off-road. Other driving modes are: Auto, Sport, Snow, and Electric (exclusive to e-Hybrid Plug-in version). Ground clearance is up to 200mm and the vehicle’s water fording depth is up to 470mm. Level 2 autonomous driving is standard on this new Jeep Compass along with many high-end safety technologies. 

Six colours are available but the launch colour of Hawaii - a bright brilliant green - was the stand out colour. 

With a rapid 160kW DC charger, the Compass EV can be charged from 20-80 per cent in 30 minutes, and there’s an onboard charger with up to 22kW. The battery-electric (BEV) range is up to 500km on launch models, with an extended range version coming later offering up to 650kms. 

Jeep’s ‘Freedom to Choose Electric’ initiative, first introduced last year on the Jeep Avenger, continues with New Compass meaning customers who choose electric to switch to a hybrid powertrain within 90 days if they feel a fully-electric model is not the right fit for them. It also includes common pricing on hybrid and electric versions. 

The new Jeep Compass is available now in Jeep dealers nationwide with both hybrid and electric versions starting from €42,995. Jeep offers a 5-year warranty, and free home charger with eligible electric models.

Honda Jazz Crosstar review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

I have yet to meet any colleague who has driven the Honda Jazz that doesn't think it's a really superb motor, writes Brian Byrne. That's a thought that's being shared by an increasing number of Irish motorists, as it's the second biggest seller for the brand here. Now in the second half of its fourth generation, the Jazz's unique cab-forward style makes it stand out in a flurry of other B-segment cars with their own distinctive personalities. It's a small car that thinks it's bigger, and in several respects, the Japanese company has made it actually so.

We're in a time when the SUV theme is dominant, and even small cars have to offer crossover characteristics. Honda has done this with a Crosstar variant of the standard car. They haven't gone all out on suggesting that the Crosstar Jazz is going to take us over the mountain instead of around it, but it does have some extra practical elements as well as nice cosmetic touches.

Those latter include some black detailing and extra silver finishes. There's a different grille, while an increased ride height and integrated roof rails are both useful, as well as looking good. The car gets its own distinctive alloy wheels, finished in black. Hints of skid plates are added to the front and rear bumpers, which are styled differently from the standard car. The whole feel of the original mini-MPV shape is upshifted to something with extra presence, and the changes also make it a bit longer and wider.

The Crosstar is developed on the top grade of the basic Jazz, so the specification level is already high. But this variant also gets a water-repellent finish on the fabric-and-leather upholstery, ideal if the feeling of SUV and the extra ride height has taken you to places that are less than pristine. It doesn't have the blind spot monitor system, which will upset some people, but doesn't particularly bother me.

The overall dashboard and screen layout is what I expect from Honda: clear, bright, and ergonomically good. Honda is deliberately keeping its centre screens to a relatively small size, which I like, and there are proper knobs and switches for climate and other key controls. The driver information screen is clutter-free, with the main metrics instantly intelligible. A matched set of press buttons on either side is for the drive mode and start-stop. Overall, things are very classic, and the better for that.

A high level of fit and finish has long been a Honda hallmark, and this is the case with the Jazz. Contrast stitching is tastefully evident in the trim and seat material, nothing brash. The passenger space in the back row is good for the segment, with more rear headroom than many. Those seats also have the ability to fold the seat part against the back to make room for any unusually tall cargo, which Honda calls its 'magic' attribute. They're comfortable for even a longish person when in the normal position. The boot space is about par for the segment, and when the passenger seats are folded in the normal way, it's a good flat area with a capacity of more than 1,200 litres.

The powertrain in the Crosstar Jazz is the same as throughout the range: a hybrid petrol with up to 122hp available. This offers a sub-10-second 0-100km/h, peppy enough for the class. The transitions between the various combinations of drive are seamless. There's a real-world fuel consumption below 5L/100km, while for its size and positioning, the Jazz is surprisingly fun and engaging in the handling department.

We're in the middle of transitioning from combustion powertrains to electric, which will still take some time. Honda was, along with Toyota, a forerunner of the start of that transition, with the offer of hybrid technology. Even where other brands have moved more aggressively to EVs, there's a place for this level of technology for some time to come. The Jazz is in just that space.

PRICE: €34,950. WHAT I LIKED: How Honda adds stuff without going overboard. 

Renault 4 E-Tech review: Trish Whelan, Irish Car

Renault R4 E-Tech reinvented as everyday compact EV. The original Renault 4, introduced in 1961, sold over eight million units worldwide. It was the French carmaker’s first family car with a front-drive engine, the quirky gear shift being in the centre dash. A family member has fond memories of driving two 4Ls in the ‘60s, recalling how well they drove with excellent suspension over poor country roads, how economical they were, and how affordable they were to buy. A car for its time and place. His 4Ls were used to bring greyhounds to the track when the back seat bench was lifted out. 

The new retro-inspired Renault R4 electric car was launched here as a B-segment urban crossover in December 2025 with many design cues from the iconic original. Renault says the new R4 E-Tech taps into the DNA of the original model to reinvent itself as a versatile, everyday compact car. Designers and engineers have worked wonders at bringing the original car into a modern era as an electric vehicle. Retro cues include a unique single-piece illuminated grille, round headlights, a modern reinvention of the three-part rear lights, and many other touches. It is the first Renault car to feature a backlit emblem at the centre of its face. Front and rear bumpers come with vertical overriders, also harking back to the original, as does a sticker stretching from the windscreen’s sides to the chunky wheel arches. Eighteen-inch wheels are standard. 

My car was in a lovely new shade called Hauts-de-France Green, which pays tribute to the Ole-de-France Blue of the 1960s with a contrasting black roof and roof rails. The ‘4’ figure is highlighted at the rear. The R4 E-Tech electric is designed to be bigger and more spacious than the latest Renault 5, thanks to its 2.62m wheelbase. The narrowish, but wide, windscreen, high dashboard, and dark materials, including the low black roofliner, gave me a sense of being cocooned in the car, but the interior is really top class, oozing French chic. The black quilted textile trim with yellow top-stitching and ribbon with the French flag colours on the dashboard highlight that the car is French-made. I also liked the LED backlit Renault 4 logo on the front passenger’s dash that changes colour depending on your choice of ambient lighting. 

Screens are the same as the R5 E-Tech; a large and curved 10.1-inch multimedia infotainment screen is angled towards the driver, and with the OpenR Link system, compatible with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. It has Google built in, including Google Maps with charging route planning. A row of permanent controls along the base includes temperature, heated steering wheel and front seat controls, and air direction. The recessed dark green 10-inch digital driver’s cluster is clear and easy to read. We’ve become familiar with all the stalks on the right side of steering columns in Renaults, but it’s confusing. These include the transmission selector, wipers, radio and volume control, and the Multi Sense control for drive modes of Eco, Comfort, Sport and Personal. The steering wheel also has paddles that select from four regenerative braking levels, with energy recovery optimised with every deceleration, and enables One Pedal driving. 

Colourful and comfy seats are in black leather-type upholstery and greyish materials on side bolsters and doors. My seat had manual adjustments and a lumbar support setting. There are two USB-C sockets (front and back), and a wireless phone charging pad. Those in the rear benefit from good knee and headroom, but the middle seat back is fixed upright. My ionic grade car had a power tailgate, a low loading lip, boot space of 420 litres, and a 55-litre area under the floor for the cables. With rear seats folded down, luggage space grows to 1,405 litres. 

Three trims are offered - Evolution, Techno, and Iconic. My car had all-around parking sensors, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, rear occupant safe exit alert, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, a very good reversing camera, hands-free parking, and pedestrian and cyclist recognition. I turned off the driver attention alert and all the lane departure warnings, as I find them all annoying. The My Safety switch allows you to customise your settings. 

The entry Evolution grade is only offered with the smaller 40kWh ‘Urban Range’ battery with 120hp and a range of 308kms; the 52kWh ‘Comfort Range’ battery with a 150hp motor and 245Nm torque, and claimed range of up to 409km (nearer 350kms in real-world driving), has a 0-100km/h time of 8.2 seconds and can charge from 15-80 percent in 30 minutes with DC fast charging, or in 7 h 47 m from a 7.4 kW wall box. Batteries come with an 8-year, or 160,000km warranty. The charging port is located near the front passenger door. 

The R4 is nimble and agile with a turning circle of just 10.8 m, ideal for driving on city streets, as is the light steering. It’s also quite a fun drive for a good everyday car, which suits most families with small children. The car comes with increased ground clearance, and the suspension has been optimised for a smoother, more comfortable ride. 

The R4 E-Tech was awarded a four-star safety rating when tested by Euro NCAP, and achieved a top five-star rating in Green NCAP for sustainability and low emissions. 

The entry-level 40kWh is priced from €27,995; the 52kWh 150hp from €30,995-€34,995.

Skoda reveals new Epiq compact SUV

Skoda has officially revealed its Epiq, a fully-electric, compact SUV, priced from €24,559 including the SEAI Grant and VRT Rebate, writes Trish Whelan. It will be the brand’s most affordable fully electric model and the entry point to its all-electric portfolio. Epiq will sit below the Elroq and Enyaq in the company’s EV line-up. It will be the brand’s first all-electric model with front-wheel drive. 

With a range of around 435kms and fast DC charging from 10 to 80 per cent in approximately 24 minutes, it is suited to both city driving and longer journeys. The 475 litre luggage compartment is among the largest in its class. 

Irish customers will have the option of multiple different Epiq trims of Choice, Essence, Selection, and Sportline, and two gross battery options of 38.5 or 55kWh depending on the chosen trim. Skoda Ireland will begin taking orders for the Selection 55 trim as of launch, with the remaining trims available for ordering from Q3 of 2026. 

Units are expected to be on the ground for the 271 registration plate.

Simon Delaney is Honda Ireland Brand Ambassador

Simon Delaney, best known for his work in television, film and radio, has signed a year-long brand ambassadorship with Honda Ireland, writes Trish Whelan. Simon will drive the Honda CR-V, highlighting its innovation and versatility. 

Simon is a familiar face within the Irish motor industry, is an advocate for road safety, and has owned two Honda cars, both Honda Civics. 

John Saunders, Managing Director at Honda Ireland, said Simon is the perfect fit to showcase Honda’s fleet to the wider Irish audience. Both are gearing up for a year filled with engaging storytelling and authentic connection, highlighting the brand’s commitment to innovation, versatility and everyday comfort.

Simon is pictured above with Ciaran Cusack of Honda Ireland, accepting the keys to his Honda CR-V.

Lexus RZ 500e Review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

You may never have heard of Alfred Vacheron, who, in 1894, replaced the then-standard tiller steering lever on his Panhard & Levassor automobile with a steering wheel during the Paris–Rouen race, writes Brian Byrne. Quickly adopted by all car builders afterwards, most of the time since then the wheel has been round, although occasionally flattened at the top, bottom, or both, or hexagonal in the case of current electric MG models. As a reliable and effective means of vehicle control, it has been proven to be safe. Last year, Lexus introduced a ‘yoke’ option on the RZ electric model. After some experience with it, I think they should revisit Henry Ford’s maxim, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

The yoke looks like control systems found in small aircraft or detachable units used in high-performance racing cars. It is butterfly-shaped rather than round, and Lexus has offered a number of reasons for the thing, thankfully available as an optional feature. They suggest it makes it easier for drivers to get in and out (valid enough, as the high floor of the RZ, like the bZ cousin from parent brand Toyota, does make that somewhat tricky for taller people). Also, you can see the instruments more easily (not really an issue with an appropriately aligned steering wheel and instrument cluster). Lexus also suggests that the smaller form factor could be useful in an autonomous car (not likely a realistic everyday driving for at least another decade, or until vehicles can navigate as adeptly as humans when negotiating crowded pedestrian pathways.

The most intriguing technical aspect is that, with the yoke, there is no steering column. The system operates via ‘drive-by-wire’ electronics, incorporating sensors, artificial feedback algorithms, and multiple electric motors. While I got used to the yoke during normal driving, I never did when trying to manoeuvre in tight spaces such as parking garages, missing the traditional wheel's ability to guide the vehicle into cramped spots comfortably.

That said, the remainder of the Lexus RZ is a standard electric SUV positioned within the premium segment. It is longer and wider, and slightly lower in height, compared to the bZ model, with which it shares a platform. Its styling is assertive yet non-intimidating. The front fascia features a distinctive grille shape that has evolved over recent generations within the Lexus stable, with a combination of pointy bits, edges, and softening sculpts. Strong shapes extend along the sides to a rear hipped-up design that adds a coupe sense. With black trim against the silver exterior of the review car, it actually all comes together very well, in my view, making it possibly the best-looking Lexus in some time.

Inside, all is — apart from the yoke — presence-full, large, and cohesive. The central display dominates the dashboard but is positioned low enough not to be too visually distracting. It has a mixture of virtual and physical controls for climate, audio volume, and access to other functions. Beneath it, the centre console widely separates the front occupants and neatly includes beverage holders, the transmission selector, an electronic parking brake, and an 'off' control for traction (which nobody in their right mind would ever use). The driver information display is straightforward and easily understood, although I would have liked it to be brighter than its maximum setting.

The RZ, given its segment designation as a mid-sized SUV, has enough accommodation for five occupants to merit that. It's a plush place too — the review car's suede-like trim material was suitably luxurious, and had enough width in the rear seats to seat three quite beefy adults comfortably. The wheelbase is the same as the related bZ; the additional length ups the luggage capacity to 522L. More than adequate for weekend trips.

The entry-level 350e delivers 224 horsepower, while the 380hp configuration in my review car went through two axles to provide all-wheel drive, with the rear motor being smaller than the front. A 100km/h sprint performance of a little over 4.5 seconds makes it evidently no slouch when that might be required. Doing that often, though, will significantly reduce range (as it would if doing the same thing in a combustion car). For paper comparison, the rated range is up to 457km; however, real-world conditions typically reduce this by approximately 15-20 per cent. All that said, though, the RZ is a highly capable, quiet, luxurious cruiser deserving of its prominent 'L’ emblem.

PRICE: From €66,280; review car €81,490. WHAT I LIKED: The yoke is optional. 

Jaguar unveils name for new electric four-door GT: Type 01

Jaguar has announced that its upcoming luxury four-door GT will be called Type 01, marking the start of a new generation for the British car brand, writes Brian Byrne. The name combines Jaguar’s heritage with its electric future.

“Type” references iconic models such as the C-type, E-type and F-type, while “0” stands for zero tailpipe emissions and “1” signifies the first model in Jaguar’s new era.

The car, designed and built in the UK, is expected to feature tri-motor electric technology producing more than 1,000hp and 1,300Nm of torque. Prototype versions of the Type 01 will appear at the Monaco E-Prix in a camouflage wrap ahead of the model’s full reveal later this year.

Managing Director Rawdon Glover described the car as part of a complete brand reset, saying the Type 01 represents Jaguar’s next chapter in design, technology and performance. 

Opel plans a new C-segment SUV

Opel has announced its intention to produce a new C-segment SUV in Europe, the first model of the intended expanded partnership with Leapmotor, writes Trish Whelan. Both are part of the Stellantis Group. The SUV would be designed and created at Opel in Russelsheim and developed by international teams located in Germany and China. 

The completely new, all-electric SUV will extend the brand’s current line-up. With Stellantis and Leapmotor contemplating an expansion of their partnership, the new vehicle is intended to serve as a blueprint for efficient global collaboration. It would also enable the German manufacturer to take a major step forward in terms of electrification within the shortest possible time scale with sales of the newcomer expected to start in 2028. 

The new vehicle would be expected to use core components of the latest Leapmotor electric architecture and battery technology, combined with Opel’s signature design, on-board experience, chassis engineering as well as lighting and seat technology. The newcomer would benefit from the Stellantis production network in Europe and its production in Zaragoza, Spain, alongside the Opel Corsa is under evaluation. The Spanish plant has been home of Opel’s B-segment icon since 1982.

New Mercedes-Benz Vito Edition and Sprinter 2 Series

Mercedes-Benz is enhancing its van line-up with the introduction of the new Vito EDITION, alongside the return of the Sprinter 2 Series, writes Trish Whelan. 

Priced from €35,008 (ex-VAT), the Vito EDITION provides an accessible entry point into the Mercedes-Benz van range. Designed with everyday business needs in mind, it combines practicality with premium comfort, and comes with enhanced specification that includes smartphone integration, air conditioning, a comfort driver’s seat, and factory-fitted ply lining as standard. 

Meanwhile, the Sprinter 2 Series (pictured below) returns following strong customer demand. Priced from €39,366 (ex-VAT), it continues to offer a balance of capability, efficiency, and driver-focused technology, supporting businesses across a wide range of industries. 

Together, these Mercedes-Benz van updates reflect what their commercial vehicles sales manager, Fergus Conheady, says is a ‘continued focus on delivering a smarter way to drive a Mercedes-Benz, offering customers greater choice, enhanced spec, and solutions tailored to modern business needs’.