2020 Jeep Compass Review: Is the Jeep Compass Worth Buying in India?

1. Jeep Compass Overview: Top Models

Jeep Compass goes on sale in India in four trim levels including the Sport Plus, Longitude, Longitude Plus and Limited Plus, combined to make the following variants:

2. Jeep Compass 360 View: Exterior Review

Jeep Compass has been widely acclaimed for its iconic handsome look. Right at first glance, you can easily recognize the car like a Jeep thanks to its signature styling cues that no other SUV can imitate.

Front View

The Jeep Compass’s front end scores high, especially with its unmistakable seven-slotted radiator front grille and sleek headlamps – a good reminiscent of the Grand Cherokee elder brother. The grille gets a better visual appeal with piano black finish and chrome surrounds, giving the Compass a more premium front facade that grabs more attention from the opposite. The squared-off front bumper just completes the SUV’s dominating look.

Side View

Coming with a right amount of muscle on its exterior package, the Jeep Compass’s side profile features a subtle yet muscular character line that stretches from the front, merges with the door handles to the rear parts. The squared-off wheel arches - typically a Jeep trait, just enhances the SUV’s overall ruggedness and fits well with the stylish 5-spoke alloy wheels. The black body claddings running from the front towards the rear end also do for the same effect. You might notice the sloping roofline of the Compass, combined with the thick D-pillar, further complements the sporty-looking silhouette of the Compass SUV.

Rear View

Just like the front, the rear profile of the Jeep Compass gets a fair amount of aggression mixed with elegance. The blacked-out windshield reflects the chrome surroundings, as you may notice, or not, originates from the front towards the rear. The split taillamps look sharp and cool with LED treatments. Jeep logo stands prominently at the centre of the tailgate. 

Overall, the Jeep Compass gets quite a polished exterior design that becomes one of its biggest highlights.

3. Jeep Compass Dimensions: Length, Width, Height & More

Jeep Compass is a mid-size SUV that rivals the like of Tata Harrier, Hyundai Tucson. The dimensions of the Jeep Compass are given in the table below:

4. Jeep Compass Design: Interior Review

Apart from the exterior, the interior of the Jeep Compass is also a strong highlight of the tough SUV. Designed to do both on and off roads, the Compass doesn’t lose out on the comfort and convenience quotient. That said, Jeep Compass achieves a good amount of premium and spaciousness on the inside. The Compass’s cabin rolls out a perfect driving experience by the generous adoption of soft-touch materials.

Seating Capacity

Jeep Compass can seat up to five people comfortably on one drive. The seating space is reasonable at the front and rear, but it is not as spacious as what we see on the Compass’s rivals like MG Hector, Tata Harrier or Hyundai Tucson. Still, the Compass offers good knee room for its passengers at both roads but the headroom and shoulder supports could have been better, if any, for the taller occupants.

Comfort Features

Jeep Compass is quite a well-equipped SUV. It might not be as well-connected as the MG Hector. It doesn’t come with e-SIM that offers the Internet on the go but the Compass does fulfil the most urgent and necessary needs one would require for a short or long drive.

The black-white interior theme of the Compass just gives away a comfy feel. The premium and well-appointed cabin of the Compass is packed with certain comfort goodies including a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, electrically-adjustable seat height, remote keyless entry, 8.4-inch UConnect infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay supports, multi-information display, auto climate control and more.

Other key features that the Compass offers include 8-way power driver’s seat, steering mounted audio controls, tilt steering, gear shift indicator, acoustic windshield and so on.

Safety and Security Features

On understanding that safety is a top priority for the modern Indian customer when considering buying a new car, Jeep Compass also packs itself with a range of safety and security features. Active turn signals, electronic parking brake, 6 airbags passenger airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, All-speed Traction Control System, Isofix Child Seat Anchors, dual-note electric horns, electronic roll mitigation, hill start assist, seat belt latch with dual locking tongue, rear wiper and defogger, double crank prevention system are the standard safety and security features in the Jeep Compass.

5. Jeep Compass Performance: Engine Review

Earlier this year, Jeep has updated all variants of the Compass SUV to the BSVI compliance. The American brand first introduced the tasty diesel and automatic combo to the Indian market, be it a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel mill mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox. Soon after that, the carmaker brought in the 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 6-speed MT and a 7-speed DCT along with a 6-speed manual transmission to the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel model.

Jeep Compass is a good SUV built on a monocoque. The Compass retains its driving dynamics as its American trait. The SUV is extremely agile and more manageable on the drive compared to other conventional SUVs.

The introduction of the AWD variants is just juicy. The Compass is even equipped with MacPherson strut and independent suspension at the rear, giving the SUV all confidence to handle the undulations and bad roads. The ride quality is a bit stiff in the city but it’s a lot better on the highways. The all-disc brakes can bring the car to a standstill easily, especially during a collision or any emergency situations. The 170 horsepower is just mighty and gives you decent grip, although the engines might be a bit noisy but do you care that much?

6. Jeep Compass Mileage: Is it fuel efficient?

Compared to its competitors, the Jeep Compass does not set good records for fuel-efficiency. The ARAI-rated fuel mileage figures of Compass are at 16.0 kmpl for the petrol version and 17.1 kmpl for the diesel models. So in the real-world conditions, the figures could be even lower.

7. Jeep Compass Cost: Is It Affordable to Buy?

Jeep Compass is not an affordable car indeed. The Compass is priced in India at the range of Rs 16.49 – 24.99 Lakh so it is more expensive than the similar offerings like Tata Harrier (Rs 13.69 – 18.95 Lakh) or MG Hector (Rs 12.73 – 17.72 Lakh) (all prices, ex-showroom, Delhi)

8. Jeep Compass Colours: How Many Options?

In India, the Jeep Compass is available in 6 different exterior colour options: Exotic Red, Hydro Blue, Vocal White, Magnesio Grey, Minimal Grey and Brilliant Black.

9. Verdict: Is Jeep Compass Worth Buying?

There is something we like and a few we don’t, about the Jeep Compass. Yes, it’s true. The Tata Harrier and MG Hector are here, to be the more affordable offering. The Jeep Compass doesn’t offer you low running costs as well since Jeep’s fuel economy is not so good. The Compass’s engines are a bit nosy if you rev them hard to their mid-range and more.

However, these weak points might not be a deal-breaker if you consider the Compass’s core strengths including its build quality, its excellent driving dynamics, its comfortable cabin with good entertainment, its off-road capabilities with brilliant suspensions, transmission and drivetrain options – a true 4x4 off-road-focused SUV along with a long equipment list. The Compass is a serious competitor in its segment. The Compass diesel-automatic is really a big deal for that price tags. And if you are having around Rs 20 Lakh to spend on an SUV, the Compass can never be a bad idea.

In final words, we do hope that Jeep Compass Review could one way or another help you pick up some good details about the SUV. For more Jeep cars review, kindly stay updated with IndianAuto.