Jeep may not have had a flying start in India, given the lofty prices for its Grand Cherokee and the Wrangler. However, the SUV-maker has an ace up its sleeve in its upcoming model – the recently revealed Compass – which it plans on assembling here at parent company Fiat’s Ranjangaon facility in Pune. The SUV is touted as a scaled-down version of the Grand Cherokee and with which it shares its styling cues, like the squared-off wheel-arches, the seven-slat grille, the projector headlamps with LED treatment, high ground clearance and big alloy wheels(up to 18-inch). For reference, it’s a size bigger than the Hyundai Creta. The Compass is headed for India in 2017, and here’s what you can expect.
Jeep Compass engines
Internationally, the Compass will be offered with a long list of engine and gearbox combinations; Jeep claims a total of 17 powertrain options for the car. However, for India, the model is expected to pack in a Fiat-sourced 172hp 2.0-litre turbo-diesel that’s likely to be localised for our market. The engine is likely to be married to a nine-speed automatic gearbox which will send power to the front wheels on base variants. However, higher variants will get a four-wheel-drive.
Jeep Compass equipment
The Compass is expected to come equipped with features like an 8.0-inch touchscreen for its U-Connect infotainment system, and as many as seven airbags. India is also expected to get a seven-seat version. This being a Jeep, enthusiasts will be keen on the four-wheel-drive versions which are likely to get a low-range gearbox and a locking differential to enable the car to get out of sticky situations. For hardcore off-roaders, there’s also a Trailhawk variant that’s jacked up by 20mm, gets off-road tyres, extra body cladding, and underbody protection.
Jeep Compass price and rivals
With prices likely to hover around the Rs 20-lakh mark, the Compass could really win some serious fan-following. Rivals will include SUVs like the Hyundai Tucson and the upcoming Volkswagen Tiguan though the Compass’ off-road credentials could give it a very different flavour.