It has been eight years since Jeep launched its first locally assembled product in India, the Jeep Compass. It joined the company’s range of fully imported cars, which, while impressively capable, were out of reach for the large majority of buyers. The Compass changed all that; with prices starting from as low as (roughly) ₹15 lakh, ex-showroom, it was accessible, and if you were to spec it with AWD, it is quite adept at tackling off-road trails, too. To back all that was a rugged yet premium appearance. If you wanted a car with a Jeep badge, the Compass was a great way to start the journey with. Now, with the introduction of the 4x2, diesel-powered AT version, Jeep has doubled down on its intent to making the brand more appealing to a wider variety of customers. Prices now start at ₹24.83 lakh, ex-showroom, and with that, you get a Jeep that’s easy to drive and live with (even in the city), one that still looks like a mini Grand Cherokee and has a distinctly premium cabin. We spend some time with the new variant to understand if the lower price tag translates into a huge compromise on the core appeal of the Compass.
fresh look
There’s no compromise in the looks department, that’s for sure. The Compass has always reaffirmed its premium position with a design that’s an unmatched blend of Jeep heritage and modern SUV styling. The seven-slat grille adds to the signature look, flanked by a pair of sharp-looking headlights. The new set of alloy wheels freshens up the look, while the prominent wheel arches further the car’s outdoorsy appeal. Owing to the lack of AWD, the model doesn’t have a ‘4x4’ badge at the back, but apart from that, it’s identical to the regular Compass. It’s nice to see how nearly all colours tend to work well on the Compass, including the vibrant shade of Ignite Red of our test car.
The biggest update Jeep had made on the Compass as it facelifted the SUV a few years ago was the upmarket cabin. It still feels a touch above similarly priced rivals in overall perceived quality. The dashboard is covered with soft-touch materials, quite thoughtfully laid out, and with the presence of physical buttons, it seems definitely more likeable than many others. A 10.1-inch touchscreen is the primary infotainment display and comes with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. The front seats offer brilliant support, and the rear bench doesn’t lack in space. The other thing that the Compass excels at is sound-deadening; it isolates occupants from outside noise quite flawlessly. The ‘S’ variant we tested comes with a new interior theme: in place of chrome, it has a red highlight, which not just looks great but also complements the car’s exterior colour.
The other thing that the Compass excels at is sound-deadening; it isolates occupants from outside noise quite flawlessly | Photo Credit: Ishaan Jaiswal
The Compass was never loose on the move, and this iteration is no different. It feels reassuring from the moment you take off. It corners flat and with confidence; show it bad roads, and it’ll still surprise you with the unmatched levels of suppleness. The ride and handling balance is a great mix of comfort and composure, while the steering is similarly weighted: light for everyday driving but quite direct at the same time. The lack of AWD mechanics means serious off-roading isn’t on the agenda, but despite that, tackling light trails won’t be an issue thanks to the focussed suspension, ample ground clearance, and its intelligent traction control system.
Occasionally powering through muddy terrain also needs power, and thankfully, the Compass is in no shortage of that. The 2-litre Multijet II diesel engine makes 168 bhp and 35.88 kg-m, and comes mated to a 9-speed torque converter. With drive going only to the front wheels, the Compass in this spec lacks the capability of an AWD system, but the gearbox has been tuned to make quick progress as effectively as possible.
Since there’s no power going to the rear wheels, Jeep has shaved about 65 kilos of weight. While far from the quickest, this makes the front-wheel-drive Compass feel peppy; the 0-100 km/h time of 9.8 seconds isn’t too bad at all. The engine makes solid progress from 1750 rpm onwards and delivers strong midrange performance till about 4000 rpm. The ARAI fuel economy figure of 16.2 km/l doesn’t look too bad, either; we feel 12-13 km/l should be doable.
The Compass in the diesel 4x2 AT spec gets nearly everything you would want from a Compass at a much affordable price. It’s great for cruising, it doesn’t falter on bad roads, the cabin is a pretty nice place to be, and it doesn’t lack power or driver appeal. Most importantly, it ensures that owning a Jeep-badged car is no longer a distant dream.
© Motoring World
Published on August 29, 2025