Jeep Compass

The cabin is built on a 2,636 mm long wheelbase that carves generous room for occupants in front and at the back. Jeep has packed Compass with a plethora of comfort and convenience features, most of which are available with the top-spec Limited and Trailhawk variants. Dual-zone climate control, automatic dimming internal rear vision mirror, etc. are some of the comfort techs that are available only with the higher variants. The standard kit, however, consists of rear air conditioning outlets, power windows, power locking fuel filler door, power adjusting wing mirrors with defrost, rear window wiper, rear defroster among others. Out of the four grades, Limited gets the 9-speaker BeatsAudio system with subwoofer, while the rest of the grades feature a six-speaker audio unit. An integrated voice command, Bluetooth connectivity, steering wheel mounted audio control, USB port, power outlets are common across the line-up. While the 5-inch infotainment system is available with the lower variants, the larger 8.4-inch Uconnect unit with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come only with the top-spec trims. Aside from standard fitments, some additional packages can also be availed with specific variants. The cargo space is quite spacious and multiple storage points have been provided within the cabin. 

The current Australia-spec Jeep Compass is based on the global platform, which also underpins the smaller sibling, Renegade. Positioned between Renegade and Cherokee, it measures 4,394 mm in length, 1,819 mm in width and 1,644 mm in height. The lighting system comprises of bi-xenon headlamps and adaptive LED tail-lamps; both are specific to the top-spec variants. Daytime running lights are standard, while fog lamps with cornering lights are missing in the base Sport grade. Other styling elements, such as 18-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, black painted roof, glass with deep tint sunscreen, etc. are available based on the variant one picks. The grille in front is finished in black and is highlighted by a bright surround, albeit the neutral grey surround is available only with the off-road-focused Trailhawk version. Door handles are painted in body colour, and wing mirrors equip supplemental turn signals. A double-pane panoramic sunroof is optional on the Limited and Trailhawk variants only. As for Jeep Compass colour options, it comes in Mojave Sand, Bronze Metallic, Vocal White, Brilliant Black, Minimal Grey, Hydro Blue, Grey Magnesio and Colorado red shades. 

Out of the two engines, the diesel unit is more efficient on the road, while the petrol motor lags in punch. The steering wheel, on the other hand, is quite agile and handles well. Suspension set-up at the front is a McPherson Strut type unit and the rear is equipped with strut shockers. 

Jeep offers Compass with two engines, a 2.4-litre Tigershark unit and the 2.0-litre MultiJet unit from Fiat. All the variants, save for Trailhawk, get the 2.4-litre naturally aspirated motor, tuned to make 175 PS at 6,400 rpm against top torque of 229 Nm at 3,900 rpm. On the other hand, the 2.0-litre powertrain pumps out 170 PS at 3,750 rpm along with 350 Nm torque at 1,750 rpm. Limited is the only variant in the Compass range (other than Trailhawk), which gets the Fiat-sourced engine as optional. As for fuel consumption, it stands at 10.3 kmpl for the petrol version (urban/highway combined), whereas the diesel version is rated at 17.5 kmpl. In terms of performance, the petrol-powered variants achieve the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in about 10 seconds as opposed to the diesel engine which takes 9.7 seconds. The Jeep Compass specifications also include a 2WD drivetrain (FWD) and a four-wheel system. A six-speed manual and automatic units are available with the petrol engine, while the nine-speed auto box is only for the diesel motor. 

raking duty is performed by ventilated front discs and sold disc units at the back. The safety package misses out on several significant features that can be availed as optional such as full-speed forward collision warning plus, lane departure warning plus, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection and advanced brake assist. Parkview reverse parking camera with dynamic distance grid lines and seven airbags are standardized, however, park sense front & rear sensors, parallel & perpendicular park assist with stop, tire pressure monitoring system can be availed only with the top-spec grades. Adaptive cruise control could be availed at additional cost only on the Limited and Trailhawk variants. It also packs electronic stability control, electronic roll mitigation, traction control, cruise control, rain brake assist and a bunch of other safety features as standard. 

 In terms of performance, the Jeep Compass is a capable SUV with excellent off-road abilities. While the petrol engine struggles a bit, Fiat’s 2.0-litre oil burner is impressive. However, it misses out on some of the active safety bits that are standard in rivals.