Iconic American sports utility vehicle brand Jeep is planning to make a global off-roader priced under Rs10 lakh in India, to compete with products such as the Ford Eco Sport and Renault Duster, and might possibly partner with Tata Motors for engines, transmissions, and even new products.
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Other good things about the fresh Compass: styling that seems lifted nearly directly from the larger, and handsome, Jeep Grand Cherokee, expanded access to improved interior materials, infotainment features, and safety gear from other Jeep models, and a reasonable, although not class-leading amount of cargo space.
The Compass ushers in four new versions of Jeep parent company Chrysler’s Uconnect infotainment system.
As has been widely noted, it looks like a miniature Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Worldwide customers will be offered a choice of five engines, though the selection will vary between markets. Jeep, which accounts for sales of 1.4 million units annually and among the largest contributors to FCA, expects to see numbers grow with the Compass thanks to its potential in emerging markets. Interestingly, a six-speed manual transmission is available regardless of which drive configuration is chosen. In keeping with Jeep’s current categorization of its vehicles, it’s likely the Compass will be categorized here as an MA passenger vehicle instead of an MC off-road passenger vehicle.
For for the USA market, the Compass will be built in Mexico.
A shorter version of Jeep’s seven-slot grille paired with the double-brake-line clamshell hood accentuates the new Compass’s low, wide stance while a slanted roofline adds an extra dose of athleticism. Year to date figures are through October 31, 2016.
The Compass’s 103.8-inch wheelbase is closer to the Renegade’s, but its 101-cubic-foot passenger volume falls just shy of the Cherokee’s 103 cubes. Jeep is claiming highway fuel economy of up to 30 mpg. About 80% of the Compass will be localised right from the first day of production. The SUV segment has been the fastest growing segment in India and Jeep is looking forward to take advantage of it in order to grow globally and locally as well.
US sales of compact SUVs amounted to 6.3 million units in 2015.
Jeep brand CEO Mike Manley thinks the Compass will get it done.
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That may explain why Jeep seems to have paid particular attention to ride quality in the 2017 Compass, equipping all models with frequency damping shock absorbers on the front and rear struts from suspension giant Koni. That title now belongs to the midsize Cherokee, with about 293,000 sold around the world this year through October.
