Indians love their SUVs. This love affair has been going on for quite some time. Countrywide the number of SUV users is huge. Over the past 5-7 years, the number of SUVs used in the urban Indian environment has never been higher. This can be advocated our road conditions, higher disposable income, the need for a bigger family car etc. Nevertheless, an SUV has been a sort of statement of intent or a statement of achievement for a few in the society. When SUVs were introduced in India they did not have a great impression in the Indian market. This was mainly because they were diesel only cars, cumbersome to drive, lacked efficiency and maintenance a costly affair. Car manufacturers have managed to shed this image by offering vehicles easy to drive, efficient and easy on the maintenance. The major SUV manufacturers in India are – Mahindra, Tata, Toyota etc. (for passenger vehicles). The car manufacturers in the luxury segment are Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, JLR etc. The newest entrant to the Indian SUV scenario is Jeep. Jeep’s Indian journey began in 2016. The oldest manufacturer 4X4 utility vehicles had finally entered India. Jeep’s legacy of producing 4X4 vehicles extremely capable of taking you anywhere dates to 1941. The only brand capable of giving Jeep a run for its money with respect to 4X4 vehicles is – Land Rover. Both the Jeep Grand Cherokee & the Jeep Wrangler are excellent vehicles. However, they did not quite make a good first impression on the Indian market. This was mainly due to the pricing of both the cars with the Grand Cherokee & the Wrangler priced at an upwards of Rs.95,00,000 and Rs.70,00,000 respectively.
12th April 2017 – Jeep launched its third offering for India, the Jeep Compass. Jeep’s most affordable model yet! Promises to be a game changer for the brand in India. Based on its elder sibling – the Grand Cherokee, the Compass is a compact SUV perfect for the urban environment. What is more exciting is that the Compass comes with the world-renowned Active Drive Mode, Jeep’s own 4X4 management system. The Compass comes with a 4X4 option, but will also be offered with 4X2. On the exterior, the Compass has a bold, aggressive look with a modern flair to it. With a decent 178mm ground clearance, the Compass can take on our roads with ease. The iconic 7 slat Jeep grille gives the car a unique identity. The rear of the vehicle is designed well too with a beautiful integration of the tail lamps with the overall design of the car. The large wheel arches and the big wheels give the car a rugged look. Moving inside the cabin is large and spacious giving passengers an airy feel. The layout is practical, you will find the buttons, knobs, and switches exactly where you would want them to be. The rear of the cabin has generous space too, comfortable for 3 passengers to sit comfortably on long journeys too. The Compass will be powered by 2 engine options – the 1.4 L Multi-Air petrol engine producing 160 bhp & a 2.0 L ECO diesel engine producing 170 bhp. Both these engines will be mated to a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed automatic gearbox. The Jeep Compass comes with the Select 4X4 Management System – enabling the driver to select the condition of the terrain and environment the car is being driven in. This system has 4 modes: Auto, Snow, Sand and Mud. Each mode can change the power delivery to the front and rear wheels thus making the car very efficient in the respective driving conditions. The Compass will come with a whole host of safety features; ABS, EBD, Electronic Stability Control, Hill Start Assist, Hill Hold Assist, Airbags etc. The Jeep Compass is the first vehicle from the brand to be made in India. With heavy localization, the Compass is expected to be priced very competitively. We expect the price to begin at an upwards of Rs.17 lakh with the top end going till about Rs.26 lakh. With production at the new Ranjangaon facility expected to begin by June, the Compass shall hit the Indian roads by August.
A great looking car, practical layout, good engine and powertrain, a world class 4X4 system and an offering form a legendary brand, finally, an excellent price – the Jeep Compass has all the requirements to be a superstar in the Indian car market. It will surely give competitors such as the Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano, Hyundai Tucson, Mahindra XUV 500 a run for its money. This should be a real game-changer for Jeep in India.
