The rapidly expanding Indian SUV market is all-set to get a new player in the form of
Jeep Compass. Coming from a family of the imposing Grand Cherokee and the all-terrain Wrangler, the
Compass may have a smaller footprint but it definitely has the same genetics. Do genetics then assure of great style and driving statement. Read on.
Exteriors: At one quick glance, it is amply clear that the
Compass is much smaller than the Grand Cherokee and even the Wrangler. On second glance though, it is also amply clear that it does belong to the same family.
The grille, with the seven chrome-bound slats - typical of
Jeep vehicles - make a forceful statement of intent while the two subtle curves on bonnet add a stylish panache to the overall looks. The sharp Xenon head lights further add to the resemblance with the Cherokee while the chrome additions add a bit of premiumness up front.
From the side, the large and square wheel arch makes the car look more muscular than stylish but the sloping roof towards the end makes the view look dapper. There's chrome running through the length of the windows, which by the way, are sufficiently large.
The rear is where things get plain. However, by no means is it plebeian. The nicely-contoured tail-lights in an overall simple design add a dash of sophistication but the overall clean appearance is quite pleasing at a time when a few other rivals are trying way too hard to pack way too many elements.
Interiors: The Compass may be a blend of style and sophistication on the outside but on the inside, it is mostly about being premium. It may be one of the cheapest offerings from Jeep anywhere but the company has clearly not cut many corners inside.
The Ski-Grey McKinley leather upholstery in the Compass for this review - even if extremely hard to maintain in Indian conditions - looked very inviting while the quality of materials used all around is quite upmarket as well. Even the smallest of elements like doors closing with a reassuring thud signals of a cabin which is well thought out.
What works best for the Compass on the inside is the amount of comfort the seats offer. There is more than adequate cushioning on all five seats while the front seats are also contoured for a snug fit. That there is oodles of under-thigh support and solid support for the lower-back means that long highway journeys won't be frowned upon by the family.
What does not work too well are that the car could have had a few more storage options than what is currently on offer. So although the dashboard and storage space under the armrest is adequate, large bottles and large power banks would best be kept in handbags.
Another blemish on an otherwise flawless cabin is the use of shiny plastics here and there - especially the piano black finish surrounding the infotainment and the AC vents. Here is where Jeep began trying too hard instead of keeping it simple. That said, the dual-tone colour scheme on the dash and sides appear sophisticated.
At the absolute end is a relatively wide boot that isn't one of the deepest. At 410 litres with the rear seats up (for reference, Tiguan, Tucson and Creta have 615, 513 and 400 litres of boot space respectively), this car will manage to fit two big suitcases and a couple of handbags here and there. With rear seats down, the boot expands to over 700 litres. The lifting angle however is a bit high and hoisting heavy baggage would require some serious muscle.
Features: The SUV comes equipped with almost every convenience that one would expect from a car at this price point. So, there's dual-zone climate control, adequate USB and AUX ports, rear AC vents and rear-seat armrest.
There's also a seven-inch infotainment system which, however, could have been of a bigger size considering what is on offer in some of Compass' direct and indirect rivals. It is also not very easy to navigate on this screen while the touch isn't the most responsive. Interestingly, there's a compass on the Compass but no inbuilt navigation system.
Instead, one would have to make do with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with the added convenience of integrated voice command and Bluetooth audio streaming. There are six speakers in the car as well.
On the safety front, the Compass scores high with cornering fog lamps, six airbags, electric parking brake (EPB), All-Speed Traction Control (TCS), electronic roll mitigation, Hill-Start Assist and child seat anchors - Isofix.
Drive: While the Compass also comes with the option of a 1.4-litre petrol with a six-speed manual transmission and the same with an automatic option, this review is focused on the trim which gets Fiat's 2.0-litre Multijet II diesel engine. At close to 170hp of power, the spec on paper is quite commendable. Most of it does translate onto the road as well in the six-speed manual transmission. Steady, stately and solid, the Compass has a solid feel about it.
On the climb though, the car constantly needed down-shifting which was, frankly, quite an irritant. The gear-throws too aren't the best and will take time getting used to - especially in city traffic conditions.
Out in the open though, the Compass manages to bypass most of these hitches and punches forward easily into triple-digit speeds. That the steering has a heavy feel about it is great at high speeds but - once again - could be a tad bit of a problem when trying to cram the car into tight parking spots Indian cities are infamous for. That said, it is understandable that Jeep chose to go with a heavier steering feel because a) one cannot have it all, and b) the reassurance from clean highway drives would mitigate the troubles left behind within the city drives. And then there is the fact that there is not much noise seeping inside the cabin to distract you.
The suspensions also have a big role to play in keeping the drives comfortable and on the compass, they are a bit on the stiffer side. So, while minor bumps would be gobbled up by the Compass at cruising speeds, chances are that city speed-breakers would be felt more often than not. But it is not a deal-breaker by any means.
Off-road drive: What is an SUV if it cannot conquer uncharted territories? That is exactly where the Compass thrives in a field full SUVs minus off-road capabilities.
Equipped with four drive modes - auto, snow, sand and mud, the Compass does quite a decent job in picking and pulling itself through challenging terrain. This review put the car through a stream, wooden ledges, slush, mud and brutal gravel and it managed to - assisted amply by the all-weather Firestone tyres - climb through.
Verdict: The Compass is a big step in the right direction for Jeep in India. It is also going to be manufactured here - at the company's Pune facility - which means that the strong pricing - in the range of Rs 20 lakh and Rs 25 lakh - can be expected when officially launched this August.
For those looking for bragging rights courtesy cars from more recognised brands, the Compass may fall short of expectations. For those looking for a nearly unending list of features too may look elsewhere. And for those looking for the constant thrill of a peppy drive within city limits, the Compass won't quite hit the mark.
Yet, this here poses a major challenge to the likes of
Hyundai Tucson
, VW Tiguan and perhaps even the big seven-seaters from
Ford
and Toyota because of the fresh appeal it brings with it. The Compass ticks all the right boxes when it comes to both sophistication and ruggedness. It has good looks, great interiors, composed drive and - while most never would take it off the safety of tarmac, excellent off-road capabilities. The bulls-eye that remains to be hit is the pricing.
Jeep Compass