The Compass is Jeep’s big ticket for entering the high volumes premium SUV segment in India. It is positioned as a compact premium SUV and will take on the likes of the Hyundai Tucson and Tata Hexa, while also trying to punch above it weight and challenge bigger, more expensive SUVs with its genuine off-road abilities. It looks a lot like the Grand Cherokee, and is a very handsome looking, muscular SUV with the typical hunkered down stance of a traditional SUV. For India it comes powered by Fiat’s 2.0-litre Multijet II diesel engine that’s new for India, and offers 173PS of power along with 350Nm of torque. A petrol engine is on offer as well, which is the 1.4-litre Multiair offering 162PS of power. The petrol comes mated to either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 7-speed automatic, while the diesel is currently on offer only with the 6-speed manual.
The Compass boasts a solid build quality and premium interiors with an extensive feature list, though its bigger highlight claims Jeep is the safety the SUV offers, apart from its off-roading abilities. To affirm its credentials as a Jeep, the Compass gets the brand’s famous SelecTerrain system that gives it the go-anywhere ability buyers would expect of a Jeep. A short experience in Goa on- and off-road helped us acquaint ourselves with it.
