Jeep Compass SUV Unveil Tomorrow

Update: Our review for the Jeep Compass is out. Is the entry level Jeep worthy of wearing the seven-slat grille? Find out in the first drive review.

American carmaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will showcase its third India-bound SUV on April 12 after launching the Wrangler Unlimited and the Grand Cherokee in 2016. After looking at the tremendously overpriced Jeeps, the locally-assembled Compass will look like an extremely affordable alternative in comparison. The smallest Jeep borrows styling cues from the Grand Cherokee but shares its platform with the smaller Renegade. On the styling front alone, looking like a Rs 1 crore-SUV makes it more appealing than any of its competitors.

The India-spec Compass will come with a choice of two engines: a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol and a 2.0-litre diesel with tentative power figures of 140 and 172PS, respectively. The petrol engine, with its limited power output, will help keep the starting price of the Compass attractive. The diesel engine's higher torque output allows it to take on more challenging terrain; therefore, the four-wheel-drive will only come with the 2.0-litre diesel engine. Transmission options will include a 6-speed manual and a 9-speed automatic.

Being a Jeep, at least the 4WD variants of the Compass will be ready to take on the trails and will boast of some serious off-road cred. 

The feature list of the SUV will include LED daytime running lights and LED projector headlamps. The top trim could also come with a full glass roof to make the cabin feel roomy. The infotainment system on the base variants could be a 5-inch UConnect touchscreen unit while the higher trims are likely to get the 7-inch version of UConnect with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A giant 8.4-inch display is also available internationally, but whether the Indian Compass gets it or not is still a speculation.

Being a 5-seater SUV, the Compass may have the Hyundai Tucson and the Honda CR-V as its direct competitors. But, given its capabilities, off-road credentials and the Jeep badge on the nose, it seems fair to pit it against the Ford Endeavour and the Toyota Fortuner. The Compass will be just as competent (or maybe even a little better) on the trails as the two cars, but with two fewer seats making it easier to manage in tight sections. The Jeep Compass comes across as a more affordable, yet equally capable, alternative to the bulky SUVs allowing it to justify its tentative price tag of Rs 20 to Rs 27 lakh. Most of our doubts will be cleared once we see it first hand. So, stay tuned for a detailed report on the Jeep Compass.

Also Read: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Petrol Launched At Rs 56 Lakh

5 Things You Must Know About The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited