Jeep Compass

Jeep Compass Review

Jeep, renowned for its off-road prowess, has established a formidable reputation of creating capable off-roaders all around the world, even the smaller models. The Compass is one of them, being one of the few compact SUVs in India that offer an optional 4x4 drivetrain. But its reason for success in India goes beyond its off-road abilities. When it was launched, it provided a sophisticated and affordable alternative to the likes of the Hyundai Creta, which was the most successful compact SUV at the time. As time passed, owning a Compass became more expensive, while not offering much more. A mid-cycle facelift did give it much better interiors, but with the top-end variants breaching the ₹30 lakh barrier, is it still a good purchase? Let’s take a look.

Jeep Compass Pros and Cons 

Jeep Compass Exterior Design

The Compass design has aged gracefully over the years and is one of the most recognisable silhouettes in India today. Since launch though, not much has changed on the outside, especially towards the rear. The facelift brings a refreshed front bumper and grille, and the old projector headlamps make way for a beautiful all-LED setup in the higher variants. The alloy wheels are also new, and select variants and special editions also get blacked out wheels with red highlights. The silhouette is very compact, but doesn’t take away from the Compass’ appeal. It still looks very much like a Jeep, especially because of the 7-slit design grille, high bonnet, and body claddings.

Jeep Compass Interiors 

While not much has changed on the outside since launch, the Jeep Compass’ interiors have taken a significant step forward in the mid-cycle facelift. It gets an all-new, sleek dashboard reminiscent of the much larger Grand Cherokee, with good quality finish for most touch points. Snoop lower down and you will find some hard plastics, which will be easy to clean after a day off-road.

Depending on the variant, the interiors also see some changes. For the most part, the insides are finished in all-black upholstery, with brushed metal inserts. However, select editions get red inserts and red stitching as well, making the cabin feel much more lively. The floating 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment is also integrated well into the dashboard, and the 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster adds another dose of modernity to the cabin. Making the dark cabin feel more airy is a big panoramic sunroof, but despite its best efforts, the rear seats do end up feeling cramped — a combination of genuine lack of space, small windows, and the dark theme. Standout details such as contrast-coloured stitching, piping on the seats, and 64-colour ambient lighting elevate the overall interior experience. 

Jeep Compass Comfort 

When it comes to ride comfort, the Jeep Compass delivers a mixed bag. Its suspension has an underlying stiffness, which does end up making it feel a bit uncomfortable over potholes and small bumps. However, the stiffness translates to a very absorbent ride on broken roads, giving you a feeling of security when dealing with the rough stuff. The ride also stays planted on highways, making this a great intercity car. The seats too are comfortable and well-bolstered, and under thigh support is great in both rows. However, the rear seat isn’t as spacious as rivals, and it isn’t wide enough to fit three passengers.

Jeep Compass Performance and handling

Powering the Compass is a Fiat sourced 2.0-litre Multijet II engine that puts out 168 bhp and 350 Nm, and if you are thinking that these figures sound familiar, that is because this engine also powers a bunch of other cars, including the Tata Harrier. The engine has strong low end grunt, making it suitable for off-roading. However, it is not the most refined unit in the market. It’s mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 9-speed automatic, and driving enthusiasts would prefer the manual because the automatic tends to be lazy to shift. It is a gearbox that is best enjoyed in a leisurely manner, and allows for a no frills driving experience. 

Thanks to the stiffer suspension setup, the Compass also excels at handling, holding itself well around corners. The ride stays flat on highways, making this an effortless long distance cruiser. The Compass is also available as a 4x4, which adds a significant dose of off-road ability to the compact SUV, making it one of the most capable in the segment when the tarmac ends. In fact, even the 4x2 variants are capable off-road, handling light to medium trails with a sense of maturity.

Jeep Compass Key specifications 

Jeep Compass Safety Features

While it hasn’t been tested by Global NCAP yet, the Jeep Compass scored an impressive 5-star crash test rating from Euro NCAP, which has even more stringent testing norms than Global NCAP. It doesn’t get any ADAS features, which would’ve been a good addition at this price point, but it's packed with all the other safety features that you’d come to expect from a car in this segment, such as six airbags, ABS, EBD, electronic roll mitigation, traction control, ESC, a tyre pressure monitoring system, ISOFIX child seat mounts, hill assist, 360-degree camera, and many more.

Jeep Compass Technology and Infotainment

Taking centre stage on the Compass’ sleek dash is a floating 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are a part of the system’s offerings, which is paired with a 9-speaker Alpine audio setup. Interestingly, the digital instrument cluster gets an even larger 10.25-inch screen, which shows a variety of information as well. The Compass also gets other features like wireless charging and USB ports, rounding off the equipment list.

Is the Jeep Compass for you?

The Jeep Compass is one of the pricier compact SUVs in the Indian market. But while it commands a premium over the likes of the Hyundai Creta and the Tata Harrier, the Jeep Compass also has an appeal its rivals don’t. It is one of the few models in the segment that also has a 4x4 drivetrain option, and even the 4x2 variants are pretty capable off-road. If a rugged compact SUV is what you seek and are not on a strict budget, then the Jeep Compass could be perfect for you. But if you are looking for an everyday compact SUV that you will mostly use in cities, then its Korean, German, and Japanese rivals will prove to be more value for money.