Jeep Compass headed to India at around Rs 25 lakh
Jeep has finally unveiled its all-new C-segment competitor, the Compass. This 2017 model is different from the existing Compass and is expected to replace it and the Patriot. It slots in between the all-new Renegade and the Cherokee. The new SUV is based on the company's 'Small Wide 4à - 4' architecture and expected to be available in front-wheel as well as four-wheel drive configurations. The vehicles are currently manufactured in Goiana, Pernambuco, Brazil. However, production will start in India in 2017 at FCA's Ranjangaon plant near Pune. The vehicle will be showcased at the Los Angeles Motor Show this November.
Unlike the older Compass or even the new Renegade, the latest Jeep gets a sharp and sculpted look. It looks like the bigger Grand Cherokee; however, the headlamps as well as LED tail lamps (Xenon on top-end models) are new to the Jeep range. The black 17-inch alloy wheels look especially nice on this SUV. In the top-end Trailhawk trim, customers can deck out their SUV in a dual-tone colour, on-off road tyres as well as a special "Rock" mode. Of the four trims available, only the Longitude gets 18-inch wheels. On select trims, Jeep also offers a panoramic sunroof.
Inside, the base Sport model gets a 5-inch touchscreen system, ABS with ESC, dual airbags, reverse camera with sensors and electronic parking brake. On higher models, there is an 8-inch infotainment system which also supports SatNav. The instrument panel is a 7-inch unit which can be colour configured, a la Vitara Brezza. Ground clearance for the latest Jeep is 218mm, but the extreme Trailhawk gets an additional 10mm. The Jeep Active Drive Low system is the complicated term for the company's 4X4 system and is a full-blown unit in the Trailhawk variant. Here, the system also boasts an extra Rock mode apart from the usual Snow, Sand, Mud and Auto.
Jeep offers as many as 17 powertrains for the new Compass; however, the Brazilian market, which is similar to ours, gets a 157PS/195Nm 2.0-litre flex fuel petrol and a 165PS/350Nm Multijet-II turbodiesel option. The 6-speed automatic transmission is exclusive to the Jeep Compass petrol, and the Trailhawk diesel trim comes with a 9-speed auto. Safety features in the Compass Trailhawk include blind spot monitoring system, stability control, adaptive cruise control, front collision warning and seven airbags.
Prices for the Jeep Compass start at around Rs 19 lakh in Brazil. In India though, the prices will start from Rs 25 lakh. The launch is expected around October 2017, and the Jeep Compass will compete against the soon-to-be launched Hyundai Tucson. By the time the Compass is launched here, there will be around 15 Jeep dealerships in India. FCA India has invested $280 million in its sole facility in Ranjangaon primarily for manufacturing the Compass as well as another new SUV. It is likely that the Jeep Compass may even be exported to other countries from here.