The Rs 18 lakh to Rs 23 lakh segment in India demands premium for it is the first stepping stone for car buyers on their way to luxury cars. The Jeep Compass seems to be built exactly for this kind of a market thanks to its brand value and it being an SUV. At this price tag, the Jeep will find itself amidst the entry-level D-segment sedans. Amongst them, the Toyota Corolla is unnecessarily overpriced while the Hyundai Elantra lacks epoch; which leaves the Skoda Octavia as the lone challenger for the Jeep Compass.
We compare the top-spec trims of the two, the Jeep Compass Limited (O) diesel and the Skoda Octavia TDI Style Plus, which should ideally have matching price tags, to see which one scores high on paper.
Dimensions
The Skoda Octavia at 4659mm is almost a foot longer than the Compass and is almost as wide as the SUV. While the Compass sits taller at a 180mm ground clearance, the Skoda is not too far behind with a 155mm ground clearance. While the boot space of the Compass is rated at 410 litres, the foldable seats and the high roof will allow you to stow a lot more luggage. The Skoda Octavia has a 590-litre boot – one of the largest boot space in business.
In terms of styling though, the rugged looks of the Jeep will certainly suit Indian tastes, what with the high bonnet and typical SUV styling.
Equipment
The top-spec Jeep comes fully loaded with HID projector headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, side scuff plates and a glossy black roof for that premium sporty look. On the inside, you get automatic climate control and leather upholstery with the ski-grey treatment. The driver seat might get a power adjustable seat.
The Skoda Octavia is also equipped luxuriously with the two-zone climate control and the AC vents for the rear passengers as well. It gets electric driver seat, power mirrors as well as an electrically operated sunroof.
Both the cars get Bluetooth enabled infotainment systems with touchscreen displays, power-steering with steering mounted audio controls and auto-folding mirrors with armrests for front and rear passengers.
Engine and gearbox
The Jeep gets a 2.0-litre four cylinder turbocharged diesel engine that develops close to 170bhp of power and 350Nm of torque. It will get a seven-speed automatic dual-clutch gearbox along with the famous Jeep four-wheel drive system and one can also opt for the Active Drive as an optional add-on.
The Skoda Ocatvia also gets a turbocharged 2.0-litre four cylinder diesel unit that develops over 140bhp of power and 320Nm of torque with power sent to the front wheels only through a six-speed automatic gearbox.
Conclusion
While the Skoda offers a bit more luxury and the traditional sedan styling, the Jeep Compass offers more power and of course the SUV looks. The Jeep also has the advantage of four-wheel drive but then the handling characteristics of the Skoda Octavia are tough to match against the SUV. Also, Skoda is updating the Octavia and the new car will better the current one in most of the aspects adding more firepower to the sedan in this shootout.
