Jeep Compass

Why would I buy it?

• Feature list
• Premium appeal
• Ride quality

Why would I avoid it?

• Costly top-spec trims
• Interior space
• Nine-speed AT is not the most intuitive to use

Engine and Performance

Powering the facelifted Jeep Compass is a 163bhp/240Nm 1.4-litre Multiair petrol engine with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DCT gearbox, and the one we’re driving for this review, a 2.0-litre 170bhp/350Nm Multijet diesel that’s mated to a nine-speed automatic with the brand’s Active Drive 4x4 system. You can also get this engine with a six-speed manual transmission.

As you crank the diesel mill, one will instantly be audience to a noticeable clatter within its cabin, despite being sincerely well-insulated one. In fact, there’s no running away from it, and the clatter is not just fairly audible on the go, but there’s a significant share of vibrations felt on the steering too. Then there’s the power delivery; it’s linear and although sufficient for most city driving situations, the nine-speed auto box is relatively slow to respond. 

Topping this is the perceptible lag when you mash the throttle to perform a more aggressive move or to overtake. This pause, whilst the downshift happens and the power flows in post that, fiddles considerably with the driving experience. It ultimately requires one to plan their moves in advance. Nonetheless, at highway speeds, the gearbox responds quicker, whereby cruising is accomplished without having the engine sweat a wee bit; making it an ideal cross country mile muncher.

Ride Quality and Handling

Nothing new here. So, the Compass’ ride remains slightly firm at slower speeds, but in no way makes the occupants uncomfortable. The faster you go, the better is the absorption of road imperfections by the sorted chassis setup and dampers, barring only the ultra-harsh bumps. These lend it mature road manners overall. The only thing to watch out for is the low front bumper that can scrape tall obstacles.

Meanwhile, handling, on the whole, is largely predictable with some body roll at hand. The steering itself is direct and fairly responsive (2.5 turns locks-to-lock). But on the downside, it does feel increasingly heavy. Although this heft comes in handy when you drive fast on winding roads, it can translate into extra effort while driving in tight confines. Nothing that can put you off though.

Comfort, Convenience, and features

It’s the cabin of the refreshed Compass that sees the most action; almost new, so to say. As a result, it feels more luxurious and lavish. An all-black colour theme replaces the earlier beige/black dual-tone cabin, which now uses a fresh dashboard with a new steering, a revamped massive touchscreen, and an all-digital intuitive instrumentation cluster that’s got cool graphics, but also gives away an Audi fragrance. Also adding that opulent edge is loads of chrome and contrasting gloss black slabs that are splashed all over the dashboard, steering wheel, and gear lever.

Space remains the same as the earlier model, so there’s good legroom and the large seat proportions make for comfortable seating in the front. Plus, the backbenchers also profit from a commanding view as a consequence of being positioned higher than the front ones. The only downside is that there’s only enough shoulder room for two to be seated in utmost comfort. But that aside, the rear occupants get their fair portion of AC vents, a USB charging socket, and 1.0-litre bottle holders.

When it comes to the 438-litre boot, it’s by far the segment standard, easily capable of swallowing not just two/three medium suitcases, but also a few duffle bags. Likewise, since the bench has 60:40 split-folding functionality, the boot enclosure can swell accordingly for more practicality. Meanwhile, the Compass’ significantly upgraded feature list now includes an all-digital instrumentation, dual-zone climate control, a double panel sunroof, electric driver’s seat with memory, a 360-degree camera with park assist, ventilated seats, and wireless charging.

The highlight, however, has to be the 10.1-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system that runs Jeep’s latest UConnect system. Its crisp graphics also aid the 360-degree camera functionality. Plus, there’s immaculate hands-free functionality through the voice command feature along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You also get loads of connected car technology that includes software updates and a Jeep App.

Safety features

As for safety, all variants get two front airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, ISOFIX child seat mounting points, and hill start assist. This ‘Model S’ variant also gets additional goodies such as side airbags, side curtain airbags, tyre pressure monitoring system, and hill-hold and hill descent control for the 4x4 models.

Exterior

At the first glance, it’s difficult to spot any changes, but on increased scrutiny, one will notice that the shiny chrome bits have been replaced by sporty black and grey trim. Inadvertently, this makes the fascia look significantly slimmer. Other than that, the side and rear portions look more or less the same, despite the addition of the gorgeous new 18-inch alloy wheels. Plus, the grey pillars and roof are a part of the dual-tone scheme for this Sport version. As such, the 2021 Compass continues with its mature and premium stance.

Conclusion

The previous Jeep Compass model excelled in everything but in the cabin department. This is why the mechanicals of the new Compass have been left untouched, while the rest of the car (read interior) went through a serious makeover. And, it is seriously appealing now. But it is at the cost of some rear-seat space when compared to its rivals. Likewise, since the Jeep Compass’ price ranges from Rs 20.20 lakh to Rs 34.59 lakh (OTR, Mumbai- for our tested ‘Model S’ 4x4 diesel AT), it is the most expensive in its segment, and also takes the fight to cars such as the MG Hector Plus and the Tata Safari. But what works for the Jeep Compass is that it is a capable SUV that also commands its place due to the exemplary heritage.

Photography: Kapil Angane and Kaustubh Gandhi

The engine option on the 2022 Jeep Compass Trailhawk is the familiar 2.0-litre diesel unit from the Compass. It churns out 168bhp of maximum power and 350Nm of peak torque. Like the standard automatic variants, this mill also comes mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox, but here four-wheel drive is standard. It also boasts Jeep’s SelecTerrain system for better off-road drivability. So, there's no change to the Multijet diesel engine. But the additional off-road equipment has added a bit to its overall weight and even the fuel efficiency is a bit down to 14.9kmpl. The same 4x4 variant in the Limited optional or the Model S optional trim delivers 15.3kmpl. On the other hand, the 4x2 variant has an ARAI- claimed fuel efficiency of 17.3kmpl. Also, the bad news for off-road enthusiasts and fanatics is that this 4x4 trim cannot be had with a manual transmission. There's only this automatic variant.

However, the good thing is the convenience this gearbox provides, complementing the engine well. Sure, you will miss the punchy feel from the manual version, but this one feels more relaxing. With loads of torque available at the bottom-end, the Trailhawk starts pulling right from 1,800rpm without a fuss. Then, it further starts making progress quickly after 2,000rpm, thanks to its strong mid-range. That means you'll be doing triple-digit speeds in no time. Now, that's a compliment for an off-roader as it's not a slow boring drive till the spot where you might actually plan to go off the road.

I'm sure most of the other times you'd want to comfortably cruise on highways or for that matter peacefully commute. For an urban dwelling too, this gearbox does the job well, with its nine closely stacked gear ratios. No, it doesn’t feel seamless, but still provides an adequate response to throttle inputs. And if required, you can shift manually too, but only through the cog as it misses paddle shifters. Still, you'd be mostly in a higher gear with reduced engine speeds, ensuring less engine noise and even reducing fuel consumption.

Given its 'Trail' rated specifications, this one is lifted by one inch compared to the regular Compass to provide higher articulation. So, it does ride a little higher. This lifted suspension helps in offering water wading capabilities of up to 19-inch depth. On your usual commute, it will clear the tallest of speed breakers without you having to worry a bit. And yes, if the terrain gets even worse, there’s an additional 'Rock' mode, over the Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud modes in regular Compass 4x4. Then, there are more aids in the form of hill-start assist, hill descent control, Jeep Active Drive Low that offers a low range and 4WD lock — all that are important for hardcore off-roading. All in all, the suspension setup provides a supple ride without unpleasant clunking or any noise. It's nicely tuned to provide an optimal balance between on-road as well as off-road ride comfort and handling.

Now, with three turns lock-to-lock it has the same 5.7m turning radius as the Compass. So, it’s as easy to manoeuver with a light steering that weighs up adequately as you dial up the speed. Expect some body roll in corners and even side-to-side movement at slow speeds on bad roads. Also, a departure from the standard variants that get Bridgestone tyres, the Trailhawk sports Falken Wildpeaks, which, in 225/60 R17 section are all-season all-terrain tyres. The carmaker claims higher traction capabilities on all types of terrains as with its predecessor. And, we did feel confident as it gripped well even under hard braking. However, the brakes could have had a better bite, especially with a mushy feel at the pedal. But thankfully it's progressive and with a well-tuned ABS, adds to all that assurance.

This is the latest iteration of the Trailhawk based on the Compass facelift, which was launched in India at the beginning of last year. It focuses on off-road upgrades, meaning it comes equipped with hardware that enables it to tackle even more difficult terrain. Of course, this is apart from its stylish appearance. So yes, in terms of cosmetic changes it does get a bit of a nip and tuck. To summarise, there's a tweaked grille, revised headlamps, a decal on the hood, new alloy wheels, a red-coloured towing hook, and yes, finally, the 'Trail-rated' badges. Also, to provide better approach and departure angles, it has these re-mastered bumpers that are different from the regular Compass. So yes, not just cosmetic but purposeful changes too.

Inside, things seem familiar in terms of layout, design, quality of materials, and equipment which we appreciated with the facelifted version. The driver seat is now electrically powered, and you sit in a nice driving position with good outward visibility. In fact, even the passenger seat is power-adjustable. The interior follows an all-black theme with 'Trailhawk' embroidered on seats. There's even red stitching for a refreshed appeal. Other bits remain the same as the Compass, with an ergonomic cabin and comfortable seats. Now, I know you would prefer to be in the driver's seat. But then what about your friends in the back seat? Well, there's not really a very generous space to stretch out and the dark interior might make the place feel even more confined. But then your friends won’t complain as the seats are supportive with a slight incline for a comfortable posture. And then the huge sunroof adds to the delight. Now apart from the good amount of storage and stowage places, the SUV has a boot space of 438-litre. It is more than sufficient to accommodate various luggage your friends might bring in. What's more, a powered tailgate further adds to the convenience.

Now, on to some noteworthy features on this top-spec version. It gets a big 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system running on UConnect 5 operating system. Then, there’s the customisable digital instrument cluster that we liked. Furthermore, there's a wireless charger and front ventilated seats. Moreover, this trim doesn't miss out on features like the outgoing one and packs in all the safety suites that Jeep has to offer on its top-spec models.

The Trailhawk brings in the practicality of the Compass with added off-road capability. So, if you love to go off-roading with friends, this one should certainly be on top of your list. After all, it now has all the creature comforts, modern equipment, is frugal, and even easy to drive. It can be your daily driver while also doubling up as an exceptional off-roader for a road-biased SUV. That said, Jeep's limited dealer network might still be a deterrent along with a high price tag like the last version. Upon launch, it will go up against the diesel automatics like the Hyundai Tucson, Mahindra XUV700, and the Isuzu MU-X.

Pictures by Kaustubh Gandhi