The SUV segment of automobiles market in India has a new contender now. It is the Jeep Compass launched on July 31st 2017 at a starting price of Rs 14.95 lakh. Owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the model sits in the same price bracket as the Toyota Fortuner, Mahindra XUV 500 and Hyundai Creta. The Jeep was once known to produce light 4-wheel drive utility vehicles used by American army in Second World War. It is also the original forerunner of all the modern SUVs today.
Jeep Compass is powered by both petrol and diesel engines. There is a 1368 cc, 4 cylinder petrol engine that generates 160 bhp and torque of 250 Nm. And the second option is 1956 cc diesel engine churning out 171 bhp at 3750 rpm and torque of 350 Nm 1750 – 2500 rpm. Both the engines are coupled with 6 speed manual gearbox. Additionally there is a 7 speed dual clutch automatic transmission available with a petrol version.
Compass has a lot of its design cues common with Jeep Grand Cherokee. The seven slat grille and the projector headlamps create a look that is now familiar for the entire Jeep line-up. Daytime running lights and LED lighting strip are included in the headlamp cluster. The creases on the bonnet enhance the muscular look of the SUV. Trapezoidal housings for the fog lamps have a lining of chrome.
The squared off wheel arches are also inspired by the Grand Cherokee. For its top end variant the Compass has 17 inch alloy wheels with 225/60 R17 but these look somewhat small for the vehicle. The black cladding around the wheel arches and the lower end of door panels complements the profile. The A and B pillars are also blackened. Roof rails are standard. And the name of the model ‘Compass’ is inscribed on the front doors.
Moving on towards the rear you will see a smart finish. The LED features of the split tail lights make things premium and the brand name Jeep occupies the central position of the tailgate. A chrome lining that starts from the A pillar goes all around the car right up to the rear windscreen. The bumper is broad and carries a pair of reflectors.
Ingress into this tall SUV is not a breeze and the elderly might have to make additional effort to get in. Inside the cabin of Jeep Compass you find dual tone upholstery with white and black combination. Quality of materials is also good but there are some bits of hard and shimmery plastic – mention may be made of the piano black surrounds lining the AC vents. On a positive note, we cannot ignore the soft-feel parts that do look and feel good.
The layout of dashboard is simple but practical. The switches and knobs may feel somewhat old-school but they are ergonomic to use and that is what matters in a car’s cabin. The vibes that the interiors of a luxury vehicle are expected to exude, can be felt here.
Another component that could have been better is the infotainment touchscreen. The screen itself is a small (7 inch) and it is not very smooth to use. Indeed some of these systems found in less expensive cars have more responsive interface. Although Apple Car Play is a part of this setup, it looks more like an after- thought and exists as a sub-system on the screen. USB port, aux input and 12V power outlet are provided with the set-up.
For those who do not give much attention to high-tech gadgetry, the cabin will feel premium. The seats are soft and comfortable. But they have white colour and in dusty environment of India keeping them clean will be a difficult task. Legroom, headroom and shoulder room are perfect. Thanks to hard bolstering the under thigh support on these front seats is also good. The driver’s seat is adjustable for height and getting into a comfortable driving position is easy.
The three spoke, leather wrapped steering wheel is very chunky and great to grip. It has audio and Bluetooth controls on the left. The right hand spoke of the steering wheel does not carry controls and just to balance the look Fiat has put dummy buttons on this side. The name Jeep is marked on the horn pad in the middle.
On the information cluster for Compass the tachometer and speedometer are hooded. Fonts are clean and easy to read. A customisable MID is also provided and it includes gear shift indicator.
The comfort features include dual zone automatic climate control, passive entry and keyless go, push button engine start, electrically adjustable wing mirrors and reverse parking camera with park assist sensors. Door pads are well crafted and padded. The gear knob has metal finish and it feels nice to hold when cooled by the AC although it can quickly feel warm when you are not using the chiller.
At the rear too the space speaks of a luxury SUV. The bench seat here has been modified for Indian version of Compass. Because of longer squib it brings little more of under-thigh support. But the back support is upright and it cannot be reclined. Hyundai Tucson comes with this feature and the comfort of this seat is one area where it scores over the Compass. On the brighter side the rear seat occupants do have their own AC vents and a 12v charging port.
The safety features have been added well for all the variants. You get 6 airbags including driver single-stage and front passenger dual-stage air bags, seat mounted side airbags (front) and full-length side curtains for front & rear seat occupants. This Jeep is also equipped with four-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic stability control, full function traction control, panic brake assist, hydraulic boost failure compensation, electronic roll mitigation (which is a norm in the United States) and electronic brake pre-fill.
Some of the elements that did not find a place in this Jeep model but are provided in its rivals include cruise control, auto headlamps, auto dimming mirrors and automatic wipers. But not many will complain. With its four- wheel drive and Select Terrain system the Compass makes for a hardy SUV.
Jeep Compass has three variants – Sport (petrol and diesel), Longitude (only diesel) and Limited (petrol and diesel). These are priced between Rs 14.95 lakh and 20.62 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The five colour options include Hydro Blue, Exotica Red, Vocal White, Minimal Grey and Brilliant Black. In addition to Toyota Fortuner, Mahindra XUV 500 and Hyundai Creta, it will also compete against the newly launched Volkswagen Tiguan.
Read all about its performance and on-road behaviour in our Expert Review section.