FCA India have had a shot at stardom with their latest offering – the Jeep Compass, thanks to the brand's strong heritage right since the year 1945, when production of what was once referred to as the Willys-Overland Civilian Jeep had begun, later followed by the Wrangler series in 1986. Having been made with solid axles and an open-top, it was used by the Army during World War II – and since became an icon among off-road enthusiasts the world over. Does the company's compact SUV offering keep the DNA intact here in India? We're about to find out.
Exterior
There's the trademark seven-slat grille at the front, which is undoubtedly Jeep. The bi-xenon headlamps look particularly attractive. Along the sides, the swollen, squared wheel arches – housing 17-inch wheels – give it a butch stance. The sloping roof towards the rear is nice, and there's a lovely chrome lining that runs the length over the sides, starting from the A-pillar, going all the way to the back, outlining the lower-half of the rear windscreen. Also, the design at the rear is neat and uncluttered.
Variants
The Jeep Compass Variants are as follows: the base Sport is offered with a 1.4 petrol and 2.0 diesel, while the latter motor is offered on the Longitude 2.0, Longitude (O) 2.0, Limited 2.0, Limited (O) 2.0, Limited Plus, Limited 2.0 4x4, Limited (O) 2.0 4x4, Limited Plus 4x4, while the automatic petrol variants include the Limited 1.4 AT, Limited (O) 1.4 AT and the Limited Plus AT. Features on the latest top-of-the-line, Limited Plus variant include dual-zone climate control, a rear parking camera, rear AC vents, auto headlamps, panoramic sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and tan leather seats with power adjust and memory function for the front row. On the safety front, it gets six airbags while the lower variants get dual airbags at the front, electronic stability control, electronic rollover mitigation, hill-start assist and Isofix child-seat mounts at the rear.
Interior
Inside the cabin, though a bit tight on space, the levels of fit-and-finish are top-notch, with ergonomics similar to those of SUVs that belong to higher segments. The solidly put-together dashboard features an 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system that features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while the six-speaker setup boasts of some fantastic sound quality. The seats are supportive and offer good bolstering as well.
Engine Specifications & Performance
The Jeep Compass is powered by a 1.4-litre, turbocharged, four-cylinder petrol engine that makes 161bhp and 250Nm of torque, and a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine that produces 171bhp and 350Nm of torque. The petrol comes paired to either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, while the diesel comes mated only to a 6-speed manual. The Multi-Air petrol engine is refined and lively, with gearshifts being pretty quick on the automatic model, while the manual gearbox is slick and the metallic gear-knob only adds to the pleasure of using it. The diesel has good power on tap, and allows for quick over-taking. High-speed stability is great, while ride quality is absolutely brilliant.
Mileage
The Jeep Compass' ARAI-certified fuel efficiency figures are rated at 14kpl for the auto petrol variant, and 17.1kpl for the diesel model.
