NEW DELHI:
Jeep on Wednesday unveiled the much-awaited
Compass - its most affordable SUV - in India. When launched later in the year, the car will take on the likes of
Hyundai
Tucson and
Honda CR-V
.
The Compass has managed to attract attention in India and the global market primarily because its other siblings command a premium price tag. To be manufactured at the
Ranjangaon
factory near Pune, the Compass is expected to be priced between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 30 lakh. This is considerably less than what Jeep's other offerings in India come for - Wrangler starts at Rs 56 lakh while the Grand Cherokee begins at Rs 93 lakh and goes well over Rs 1 crore.
So, what's special about the Compass apart from the price?
The SUV will be offered in two engine options - a 1.4-litre petrol (about 160bhp of power and 260Nm of max torque) and a 2.0-litre diesel (170bhp of power and 350Nm of maxtorque). Transmission duties will be carried out either by a six-speed manual or a seven-speed auto box.
It will also get a 4x4 drive system while the drive modes include options for Snow, Sand and Rock terrain.
In terms of aesthetics, the Compass features LED DRLs and headlights and will also come with a black roof option.
As for safety, the company claims there are over 50 features to keep the car and its occupants safe. These range from the rather standard ABS, EBD, Hill Start Assist and cornering lamps to rollover mitigation system.