As America celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence today, here’s a great way for even us Britons to participate: hail to the Jeep.

For while Independence Day – July 4 – marks the breakaway from Britain, it was the legendary Jeep from the US which helped maintain our own independence during the Second World War.

Established in July 1941, Jeep’s tough military vehicle helped Allied troops liberate mainland Europe, then transformed itself in the post-war years to create a whole new niche of civilian utility transport: rugged 4x4s well-placed for work, leisure and adventurous families.

I’ve been driving the latest iteration of the off-roader, the new third-generation Jeep Compass.

Priced from £34,520, it has a fully electric version, which I drove, and a 48v petrol-electric mild e-hybrid. A plug-in hybrid is to follow.

There are three trim levels: Altitude, First Edition and Summit. My First Edition model costs from £36,999 (which includes a £1,500 Jeep discount), though it had £1,200 of extras, including the contrasting bright ‘Hawaii’ paintwork and black roof.

It has ‘intelligent traction’ drive modes so it can tackle anything from grass to gravel off-roading (though nothing too extreme). It is equally at home, though, in the urban jungle.

Standard features include a spacious 550-litre boot, roof rails, matrix LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, lane positioning assist, keyless entry and start and – as you’d expect from a Compass – a decent navigation system.

There’s also an illuminated seven-slot front grille, a hands-free powered tailgate, cloth and vinyl interiors, extra legroom, an anti-scratch shield and reinforced bumpers.

Riding on 20in wheels (19in is standard), my 213hp (157kW) electric front-wheel drive automatic Compass was powered by a 74kWh battery, and accelerated from rest to 62mph in 8.5 seconds, up to a top speed of 112mph. 

Claimed range is up to 310 miles – enough to get you on a single charge from Newcastle to London.

There’s also a range of driving modes: default Auto, Sport, plus Snow, and Sand/Mud for inclement weather. A forthcoming four-wheel drive, hybrid version will include a Rock option.

As a package my feisty new Compass proved pretty Yanky Doodle Dandy – combining strong, chunky looks with great acceleration, an engaging ride on the road, family-friendly practicality, a hard-wearing but smart interior, modest off-roading ability and high ground clearance.

As Jeep this month celebrates its 85th anniversary, it is also the first Compass designed specifically with full and partial electrification in mind.

To help navigate rough or challenging terrain it has 200mm of ground clearance and the ability to ford a stream or other standing water up to 470mm, while towing capacity is 1230kg.

Charging takes 30 minutes to 80 per cent on a fast DC charger or eight hours and 18 minutes on a domestic AC charger.

The alternative e-Hybrid petrol-electric version, priced from £34,520 combines a 136hp 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and a 21kW electric motor for 145hp of combined power linked to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. 

A self-charging 48V battery allows the regenerative system to support low speed electric driving and to give added oomph to the petrol engine during acceleration.

Since the first-generation Compass was launched in 2006, some 2.5million have been sold worldwide.

Out on my drive from around Amber Lakes in Thameside Wraysbury on the ‘Berkshire Riveria’, I even spotted another classic all-American legend – a Chevrolet Corvette muscle-car – so had to stop take a picture of the pair together.

God Bless America!