Many people are very confused when choosing a suitable car between the BMW X1 and Jeep Compass. The X1 and the Jeep Compass car might not stand in the same segment in India and each car has its own different traits. However, both the Jeep Compass and BMW X1 are the successful SUV for their respective brands in our country. They have established their own dominant position in the premium compact SUV segment and deserve to be taken into consideration when you make a purchase. So which model would offer you best for your buck? German quality or American prowess? Let’s make a decision after reading through our intensive BMW X1 vs Jeep Compass comparison below.
Now that the BMW X1 is sitting in a couple of segments above the Jeep Compass, it is understandable that the BMW X1 is bigger than the Compass by quite a margin. Here’s how the BMW X1 measures up against the Jeep Compass in terms of dimensions.
Dimensions |
BMW X1 |
Jeep Compass |
Length |
4447 mm |
4395 mm |
Width |
2060 mm |
1818 mm |
Height |
1598 mm |
1640 mm |
Wheelbase |
2670 mm |
2636 mm |
Having said, the X1 stays on a bigger side when it comes to the dimensions. The X1 sits in a 4,447 mm length that is 52 mm longer than the Jeep Compass which gets a length of 4,395 mm.
The new X1 is also largely wider than the Jeep Compass by 242 mm and sits in a longer wheelbase of 2,670 mm as against the Compass’s 2636 mm in the wheelbase. However, just in terms of height, the BMW X1 is shorter than the Jeep Compass but for a small margin. The German SUV sits at a convenient height of 1,598 mm while American counterpart sits a bit higher at 1,640 mm.
It is a bit hard to confirm which SUV is better looking at a glance as both the BMW X1 vs Jeep Compass are the absolute lookers on the road. Coming as a make-it or break-it offering by Jeep, the Compass manages to garner the eyeballs from the Indian market for many good reasons, one of which is its iconic Jeep look. Whereas BMW X1 has been always standing out from the crowd with its luxurious and sporty proportions as well as the distinctive BMW X range’s characteristics.
For starters, it doesn’t take an experienced eye to realise that the BMW X1 stays in line with its bigger brothers in the global X family when it comes to the styles. As seen in almost new BMW cars in recent time, the BMW X1 gets a massive signature kidney grille with a lot of chrome inserts and 3D effects at the front, combined with the sharp LED headlamps to give the car a prominent front fascia.
To give you a comparison, the front face of the X1 looks more aggressive than that of the Jeep Compass. Still, the Compass’s signature seven-slot grille is unmistakable and worth looking at, but it would be a bit boring if standing alongside the German folks. The front bumper of the X1 looks more distinctive with new horizontal LED strips as the fog lamps while Jeep car carries over the regular fog lamps housing. However, the new large black inserts on the outer ends of the X1’s bumper looks a little out of place while the front blacked-out cladding looks seamless on the Compass, adding to its SUV-ish appeal.
A quick look into the profile of the SUVs and we can easily confirm that none are more or less prominent. The Jeep Compass gets an unmatched side profile with squared-off wheel arches, body-coloured wing mirrors with chrome accents running to the across the windows to the tailgate along with underbody black claddings parallel with the black roof. The X1’s profile, on the other hand, adds more flavours with strong shoulder lines, sportier machined-cut alloys and sloping roofline.
In general, the BMW X1 appears like a rich man wearing a gorgeous outfit with decent chrome garnishes. The Jeep Compass, in the meantime, is more like an agile athlete that never minds dust and mud splashing over his clothes.
Jeep Compass can’t compare with the BMW X1 when considering the plush and sophistication inside the cabin. In fact, it is the same segment as the Hyundai Creta or Ford Ecosport that the Compass is competing with, so no wonders, the BMW X1 looks better when it comes to the interior.
BMW has been long-known for the superior interiors built in their vehicles. Luckily, they do exactly the same for the BMW X1. The entry-level luxury SUV gets a sophisticated dashboard that boasts of a driver-centric cockpit customary for the BMW alongside many high-quality styling elements.
The contrast-coloured double-stitching on the dashboard gives the X1’s cabin a richer feel. There’s plenty of buttons and controls along with air vents placed appropriately on the dash for not only a good cosmetic appeal but also a more convenient usage. The all-black theme gives the SUV a sense of premium. High quality as it is, the BMW X1’s interior turns out to show its age compared to the newer BMW models. The free-standing 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system sounds massive on paper but its placement makes it a bit smaller than it’s it.
On the other hands, Jeep Compass’s dual-tone ski grey cabin succeeded in delivering a bit of interest to the people who are staying in. It might not score the same height in terms of quality as the BMW X1, but the smart design and plastic all-round make the Compass’s cabin look and feel really upmarket. Interestingly enough, the 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system looks larger than the 8.0-inch unit of the X1, thanks to its layout and position. However, the black-white dashboard looks a bit plain compared to the faux wooden one in the X1. The dual centre air vents flank the touchscreen looks quite outdated compared to the neatly-design air vents of the BMW counterpart.
The Jeep Compass is not built for the utmost entertainment during the trips, so don’t expect it to win over the BMW car in this part of the comparison. Still, it does not mean that the Jeep’s SUV is totally a loser. It still grabs enough essentials for the most comfortable drives.
Jeep Compass offers a 7.0-inch touchscreen Uconnect infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, dual-pane panoramic sunroof, 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seats featuring 4-way power lumbar system, electronic auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror, a customizable 3.5-inch graphic information cluster, dual-zone climate control, six-speakers premium sound system along with plenty of storage spaces on the inside.
BMW X1 seems to up the game level by offering a wide range of innovative driving assistance on its compelling package. The key creature-comforts on the X1 include multi-function steering wheel, power steering, ambient lighting, automatic climate control, vanity mirror, adjustable headrest, smart access card entry, cooled glove box, leather seats, one-touch operating power window, panoramic glass roof, power boot, etc.
The 8.8-inch touchscreen iDrive infotainment system of the X1 feels much more premium and offers a lot more functions regarding the connectivity. However, while getting wireless Apple CarPlay supports, the X1’s infotainment system still misses out on Android Auto. The micro-activated carbon particulate filter can be a compensation for that, giving the car a huge edge over its Compass rival. The power-adjustable seats for driver and passenger with the former getting memory function also become a hit. The folding-down 40:20:40 split backrest enables the car to increase the cargo capacity from 500 litres up to 1,500 litres, which is another advantage that the Jeep Compass doesn’t keep up with.
As far as the safety is concerned, the BMW X1 gets six airbags, anti-lock brakes, attentiveness assistance, dynamic stability control (DSC) that feature dynamic traction control, cornering brake control, electric parking brake with auto hold function, electronic immobilizer with crash sensor, side-impact protection, ISOFIX child seat mount, tyre-pressure monitoring system, parking distance control and a rear-view camera.
Meanwhile, Jeep Compass doesn’t play the second fiddle to the BMW X1 with a long list of safety features including 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, cornering fog lamps, all season tyres, Hill Start Assist, Traction Control, Electric Parking Brake, all four disc brakes, Frequency Damped Suspensions and many more.
BMW X1 is available with a range of petrol and diesel engine options along with two automatic transmission options, making as many as 4 variants. The Jeep Compass also comes with two engines, both petrol and diesel that makes great combinations with both manual and automatic gearboxes.
Petrol Engines |
BMW X1 |
Jeep Compass |
Engine Type |
2.0-litre petrol |
1.4-litre turbo-petrol |
Displacement |
1998 cc |
1368 cc |
No. of cylinder |
4 |
4 |
Max Power |
192 HP @ 5,000 – 6,000 rpm |
163 HP @ 5,500 rpm |
Max Torque |
280 Nm @ 1,350 – 4,600 rpm |
250 Nm @ 2,500 – 4,000 rpm |
Transmission |
7-speed Steptronic Sport |
6-speed MT / 7-speed DDCT |
Drivetrain |
2WD |
2WD |
Speaking of the petrol configurations, the BMW X1 comes with a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine making 192 HP of power and 280 Nm of torque. Whereas, the Jeep Compass comes with less power by using a smaller 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol mill good for 163 HP/ 250 Nm of torque. However, while the BMW X1 is an automatic-only SUV, the Jeep Compass makes itself more enticing with both manual and automatic transmission on board.
Diesel engines |
BMW X1 |
Jeep Compass |
Engine Type |
2.0-litre diesel |
2.0-lite Multijet II Diesel |
Displacement |
1995 cc |
1956 cc |
No. of cylinder |
4 |
4 |
Max Power |
190 HP @ 4,000 rpm |
173 PS @ 3,750 rpm |
Max Torque |
400 Nm @ 1,750 – 2,500 rpm |
350 Nm @ 1,750 – 2,500 rpm |
Transmission |
8-speed Steptronic Sport |
6-speed MT |
Drivetrain |
2WD |
2WD/ AWD |
As for the diesel mills, both the SUVs are powered by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine. The X1 diesel once again towers over the Compass in terms of output figures. It is capable of generating a mighty power of 190 HP and a max torque of up to 450 Nm while the Jeep Compass makes do with a 173 PS and 350 Nm of torque. The BMW X1 diesel comes coupled with an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission while the Jeep Compass’s 2.0-litre oil burner is available with a 6-speed manual transmission.
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When it comes to the refinement, the Jeep Compass can’t compare with the BMW offering. In fact, the Compass is a more capable off-road-focused SUV that has an ability to tackle tough situations. In terms of handling, the Compass should be lag behind the X1 by miles but the Jeep prowess is much superior to the Indian driving conditions which is replete with speed breakers like potholes and rough roads. The Compass is offered with an all-wheel-drive system which is given a miss on the X1 SUV.
On the other hands, the BMW X1 offers a greater refinement level and driving dynamics. It looks more like a mile-muncher that could give the most hair-raising drives at the triple-digit speeds.
You know the answer. At the top speed of 222 kmph, the BMW X1 is much faster than the Jeep Compass which gets the top speeds of 160 – 170 kmph.
Specs |
BMW X1 |
Jeep Compass |
Top Speed |
222 kmph |
160 kmph (petrol) , 170 kmph (diesel) |
Acceleration ( 0 – 100 kmph) |
7.7 seconds (petrol) 7.9 seconds (diesel) |
9.99 seconds |
Specs |
BMW X1 |
Jeep Compass |
Fuel Type |
Petrol | Diesel |
Petrol | Diesel |
Fuel Tank Capacity |
51 litres |
60 litres |
Fuel Mileage |
19.62 kmpl |
17.1 kmpl (diesel) 16.0 kmpl (petrol) |
The BMW X1 is decently priced at around Rs 35.9 – 42.9 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) that makes it staggeringly more expensive than the Jeep Compass.
Prices |
BMW X1 |
Jeep Compass |
Ex-showroom Prices (Delhi) |
Rs 35.9 – 42.9 Lakh |
Rs 16.49 – 24.99 Lakh |
On-road Prices (Delhi) |
Rs 41 – Rs 50.23 Lakh |
Rs 19.06 – 29.95 Lakh |
The BMW X1 is directly competing in the luxury SUVs segment including the Audi Q3, Range Rover Evoque, Porsche Macan as well as the upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLA in India.
Jeep Compass becomes arch-rival of the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Mahindra XUV500, Tata Harrier, etc. in the mid-size SUV segment.
Undeniably, the Jeep Compass is a more value-for-money product when comparing it with the pricier BMW X1 in the segment of sports utility vehicles. Jeep Compass has a lot going for it that helps it turns a fortune for Jeep India at a time when the earlier Jeep cars had their chips.
A good handling, excellent performance, confident driving manners and good capabilities to do the off-roads are things that make Jeep Compass a favourite. The more affordable price sticker is also what the SUV easier to be recommended than the BMW X1 counterpart.
In case the Jeep Compass doesn’t feed you well, the BMW X1 is just there for you, considering that money is no objects. If you want to grab the more eyeballs on the way with the utmost opulence, versatility, comfort and driving dynamics, the X1 easily becomes a good choice. The German quality is ultimate and it could redefine your real SUV attitude toward a more modern lifestyle.