Hardcore Jeep Compass Trailhawk Edition To Launch In July

• The Trailhawk is expected to come with a 9-speed automatic transmission.
• Ground clearance is up by 20mm.
• Will use the same 2.0-litre diesel engine making 172PS and 350Nm.
• All the goodies from the Limited Plus 4x4 and  even more!

Jeep has been readying the top of the line version of its mid-size SUV, the Compass Trailhawk, for launch in India for quite some time now, and for all those who have been eagerly awaiting its launch, we have some good news. The off-road-centric Jeep Compass Trailhawk will hit showrooms by July this year.

The Jeep Compass has been a saviour for FCA in India as it literally put the brand back onto the map. It has been a runaway hit, with sales reaching 25,000 units in the first year. Jeep has been manufacturing the Trailhawk version of the SUV since October 2017 at its Ranjangaon facility and also exporting it to right-hand drive markets like Australia and Japan.

The Trailhawk is the most hardcore version of the Compass, with considerable changes to aid its off-road appeal. As befitting its more off-road-oriented status, the Trailhawk comes with Active Drive Low 4X4 system, a more advanced version of the standard car’s AWD system. Other  goodies include off-road-specific suspension and tyres, protective skid plates for the front suspension, fuel tank and the transfer case, and tow hooks at the front and rear. The Selec-Terrain system in the Trailhawk also gets an additional Rock mode besides the regular Auto, Snow, Sand and Mud.

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

It comes with redesigned bumpers having an approach angle of 30.3 degrees and a departure angle of 33.6 degrees, in comparison to the standard Compass’ 16.8 degrees and 31.7 degrees. Ground clearance now stands at 225mm, 20mm more than the normal Compass! The Trailhawk also has a better breakover angle of 24.4-degrees as opposed to 22.9-degrees on the Compass. The Jeep Compass has a final drive ratio of 3.73 while the Compass Trailhawk has a final drive ratio of 4.334, lending it faster acceleration and a higher top speed.

Powering the Trailhawk will be the same 2.0-litre Multijet II diesel churning out 172PS and 350Nm of torque. While the standard Compass variants gets a 6-speed manual transmission, the Trailhawk is expected to come with a ZF sourced 9-speed automatic transmission.

 All the features from the Limited Plus 4x4 variant of Compass will be present and accounted for in the Trailhawk. These include the 8.4-inch UConnect infotainment screen, an 8-way electronically adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof for good measure. Safety features include traction control, electronic stability control, hill start assist, ABS with EBD, and driver and passenger airbags. Wheels, however, will be 17-inchers, an inch less than what is offered with the Limited Plus 4x4, in order to add ruggedness. The Jeep Compass Trailhawk will also feature all-black interiors with contrast red “Trailhawk” badging, as seen in the global variants.

Jeep India is doing justice to what the brand stands for by launching the Trailhawk, an all-out off-road oriented version of the normal Compass. As the SUV will come with a host of additional elements, expect it to be priced upwards of Rs 25 lakh, a premium of Rs 3 lakh over the Limited Plus 4x4 variant.  Expect the SUV to land on our shores by early July.

Before that, though, we’ll have had our first drive review up on ZigWheels by the first week of June, so stay tuned for that.