First Drive review- Jeep Compass 2.0 Multijet Turbo Diesel Longitude trim
Jeep, the much awaited brand in India sure have made a grand entry with the Compass 2017 a compact SUV. The car strikes as a bold baby brother of the Cherokee with a few arch lines similar. The picture you get in your mind for the word Jeep would be a muscled up SUV while the Compass is a bit on the shorter side only to compliment the ride and vehicle control.
For as long we all we have known term SUV in India has been replaced by the brand name Jeep. Cars from Jeep have always promised to be a reliable partner who you can grow old with, as the owners of the the WW2 Willeys Jeep would say.
The one rule, only a car guy knows- You have not brought the right car if you don't look back at it every time you walk away from it. I looked umpteen times at it after the drive. Your kid would feel proud to get off the car and make a statement with the car of his family to the school, you would offer to take your collogues for tea a couple few kilometre from your office to show what a good build car would be like, and for the ladies its another car, but they too will look at it every time with a pride of owning it. The chrome Jeep grill makes this handsome one look like a baby grizzly bear, that will attack you if you are not knowing who and what it really is under the hood. It sure is a looker.
So another thing only car guys feel- The car talks to you and asks you what it needs. This baby didn't just talk it was blasting Ace Frehley and Billy Corgan to me, the diesel engine never makes you feel short of power, steering never makes you feel short of control, response and feedback and there is no play in the wheel. The engine is very responsive at all gears and all rev ranges, so the Compass overtakes without any lag. Compass the American kid with an Italian heart is the one who will make the Korean brothers Creta and the Tucson cry when they mess with the wrong kid.
When on road the Compass while pleasing you with the might as a powerful Cherokee horse, also makes your passengers happy by being a flying unicorn. There is not much of a body roll when moving from a stand still to accelerating U turn. The first in class Frequency Selective Damping suspension not just works but makes its rivals a statement -"who's here to stay'. I hit a few potholes deliberately to make misery to the comfort my passenger tushie where at, but damn the Compass went over the pothole like there where no potholes.
You feel the engine running only by the feedback you get from the steering as you drive and not with the acoustics. Thanks to the Acoustic Windsheilds ( made by AIS in India, a little smug as we make it and Saint Gobain isn't) and the wonderful engine damping done by Jeep and Fiat. The Car is designed with Off roading abilities and the under-body skids and the clearance make the ability visible from the outside whilst the rider position gives you the view to see where you are going and what is in front of you. But at any point this car will not make the ride stiffer and bitter in the cities, thanks to the FSD suspension and boy, it handles the curves and corners like a boss. I loved the way it gave me all the control and making me feel that curves and bends can come all day long and I have a car to handle it.
The car handles absolutely well and does what you ask it to do. It likes to be mastered by a worthy driver and strictly not by an amateur. The car would be a good upgrade if you have been driving a Hyundai or a Suzuki and a familiar car for the ford driver as this is a equally good handling car. The Gear shifts is smooth as butter and the 6 speed manual gear box will sure be your likes in the city and off on the highway too were you can cruise in the 6th gears mid range revs. The 173 bhp of the Jeep against the 128 bhp of the Creta and 158 bhp of the Tucson makes the Jeep the powerful of the lot. The car delivers you the power when you really need it and this can't be felt driving the Creta and the Eco-sport (is no match to both with its 78 bhp diesel engine).
I am tall guy, 6'2" in height and I need a lot of room. The car gave me my comfortable driver height thanks to the manual seat height adjuster( which for the price could have been electric) and Rake&Reach steering. My passenger was of an average Indian height(5'11") felt that he had enough leg room with my full pushed-back driving position. The driver seat were super comfy and way better than the Hyundai Creta and Ford Eco-Sport, but comfortable as Tucson.
When it was my turn to sit in the rear, the head room was good and the seats were really comfy, to add to the needs of the millennial there is a USB charger port made available under the rear AC ducts.
The central console is neat and is a bit complex to navigate when you are driving, or may be its that I am more used to the simple German car UI while this seems a bit complex.
On the lines of safety the car offers all weather tyres as standard for all the variants, and also ESC ( electronic stability Control), ABS ( Anti Lock Braking System), Traction control and DRL is a standard in all the variants. But one feature that is so new to India is the Electronically Distributed Braking System, a feature added with ABS who's presence can be felt on a greasy wet road when the car gives absolute power to you, the driver to make sharp and precise cuts. Both Front and back brakes are ventilated discs for the EDBS. The car even to a new driver will show its is rigid, thanks to the additional frames in the monocoque body. This not only makes it a better handling car but also a safe one too.
The 4X4 variant was not available at the dealership and my dealer has assured to get the 4X4 for the next test drive this week again. Yes, I am madly deeply and sincerely in love with the car and felt I might cheat on my VW for the Jeep.
The other options in this price range shall be the Hyundai Creta 1.6L Diesel CRDi 6 speed Automatic at 14.9 lakh INR and the Hyundai Tucson 2.0L Diesel at 20 lakh INR.
Jeep could pamper the owners with few more features for the cost paid for the vehicle. I would definitely love the car with a sun-roof and all leather dual tone interior even in the mid variant.
Big elephant in the room- After sales service. Jeep has assured that this one big question that lurks in the minds all buyers is answered. Fiat assures that the service chain will be at the best and earlier mistakes from the TML partnership will be rectified and campaigns on service will soon be made.
Why the MPV is not equal to a SUV?
I have not compared the Compass with the Innova Crysta or the XUV 500 or the Tata Hexa as they are 7 seater MPVs and SUV wannabe. It will also not be fair to do that but sure the Compass can give a knock or two with its performance on the Mahindra XUV and the Tata Hexa.
Will I buy it?
If I have 20 lakh INR for a budget I'll surely buy the car. I hope this car brings the change and provides the Indian buyer the need for more powerful cars.If you want a good driving experience, powerful and reliable engine, with a car you and your kid can feel proud every time you go out, then go for the Jeep 2.0 Diesel Longitude trim.
Ps:I have uploaded my test drive video in my YouTube channel. Do check it out. Feedbacks and suggestions are highly appreciated and welcomed
For as long we all we have known term SUV in India has been replaced by the brand name Jeep. Cars from Jeep have always promised to be a reliable partner who you can grow old with, as the owners of the the WW2 Willeys Jeep would say.
This car is not like those mass produced cars you find in India currently.You find a Loch Ness monster lurking in the back door glass ceramic print, when you notice every detail. Designers leave such aspects to convey what the car meant to them whilst designing it as a signature.
 |
| Sure is a looker |
The one rule, only a car guy knows- You have not brought the right car if you don't look back at it every time you walk away from it. I looked umpteen times at it after the drive. Your kid would feel proud to get off the car and make a statement with the car of his family to the school, you would offer to take your collogues for tea a couple few kilometre from your office to show what a good build car would be like, and for the ladies its another car, but they too will look at it every time with a pride of owning it. The chrome Jeep grill makes this handsome one look like a baby grizzly bear, that will attack you if you are not knowing who and what it really is under the hood. It sure is a looker.
So another thing only car guys feel- The car talks to you and asks you what it needs. This baby didn't just talk it was blasting Ace Frehley and Billy Corgan to me, the diesel engine never makes you feel short of power, steering never makes you feel short of control, response and feedback and there is no play in the wheel. The engine is very responsive at all gears and all rev ranges, so the Compass overtakes without any lag. Compass the American kid with an Italian heart is the one who will make the Korean brothers Creta and the Tucson cry when they mess with the wrong kid.
When on road the Compass while pleasing you with the might as a powerful Cherokee horse, also makes your passengers happy by being a flying unicorn. There is not much of a body roll when moving from a stand still to accelerating U turn. The first in class Frequency Selective Damping suspension not just works but makes its rivals a statement -"who's here to stay'. I hit a few potholes deliberately to make misery to the comfort my passenger tushie where at, but damn the Compass went over the pothole like there where no potholes.
You feel the engine running only by the feedback you get from the steering as you drive and not with the acoustics. Thanks to the Acoustic Windsheilds ( made by AIS in India, a little smug as we make it and Saint Gobain isn't) and the wonderful engine damping done by Jeep and Fiat. The Car is designed with Off roading abilities and the under-body skids and the clearance make the ability visible from the outside whilst the rider position gives you the view to see where you are going and what is in front of you. But at any point this car will not make the ride stiffer and bitter in the cities, thanks to the FSD suspension and boy, it handles the curves and corners like a boss. I loved the way it gave me all the control and making me feel that curves and bends can come all day long and I have a car to handle it.
 |
| Neat layout with good engine damping |
I am tall guy, 6'2" in height and I need a lot of room. The car gave me my comfortable driver height thanks to the manual seat height adjuster( which for the price could have been electric) and Rake&Reach steering. My passenger was of an average Indian height(5'11") felt that he had enough leg room with my full pushed-back driving position. The driver seat were super comfy and way better than the Hyundai Creta and Ford Eco-Sport, but comfortable as Tucson.
When it was my turn to sit in the rear, the head room was good and the seats were really comfy, to add to the needs of the millennial there is a USB charger port made available under the rear AC ducts.
The central console is neat and is a bit complex to navigate when you are driving, or may be its that I am more used to the simple German car UI while this seems a bit complex.
 |
| View from the rear as I sat. |
On the lines of safety the car offers all weather tyres as standard for all the variants, and also ESC ( electronic stability Control), ABS ( Anti Lock Braking System), Traction control and DRL is a standard in all the variants. But one feature that is so new to India is the Electronically Distributed Braking System, a feature added with ABS who's presence can be felt on a greasy wet road when the car gives absolute power to you, the driver to make sharp and precise cuts. Both Front and back brakes are ventilated discs for the EDBS. The car even to a new driver will show its is rigid, thanks to the additional frames in the monocoque body. This not only makes it a better handling car but also a safe one too.
 |
| A safe car for the loved ones |
 |
| A that's why Hyundai's are low rated in NCRT tests |
 |
| The DRLs for all variants. |
The 4X4 variant was not available at the dealership and my dealer has assured to get the 4X4 for the next test drive this week again. Yes, I am madly deeply and sincerely in love with the car and felt I might cheat on my VW for the Jeep.
The other options in this price range shall be the Hyundai Creta 1.6L Diesel CRDi 6 speed Automatic at 14.9 lakh INR and the Hyundai Tucson 2.0L Diesel at 20 lakh INR.
Jeep could pamper the owners with few more features for the cost paid for the vehicle. I would definitely love the car with a sun-roof and all leather dual tone interior even in the mid variant.
Big elephant in the room- After sales service. Jeep has assured that this one big question that lurks in the minds all buyers is answered. Fiat assures that the service chain will be at the best and earlier mistakes from the TML partnership will be rectified and campaigns on service will soon be made.
Why the MPV is not equal to a SUV?
I have not compared the Compass with the Innova Crysta or the XUV 500 or the Tata Hexa as they are 7 seater MPVs and SUV wannabe. It will also not be fair to do that but sure the Compass can give a knock or two with its performance on the Mahindra XUV and the Tata Hexa.
Will I buy it?
If I have 20 lakh INR for a budget I'll surely buy the car. I hope this car brings the change and provides the Indian buyer the need for more powerful cars.If you want a good driving experience, powerful and reliable engine, with a car you and your kid can feel proud every time you go out, then go for the Jeep 2.0 Diesel Longitude trim.
Ps:I have uploaded my test drive video in my YouTube channel. Do check it out. Feedbacks and suggestions are highly appreciated and welcomed
Wonderful detailed review. Surely itching to test drive d car after going through d review. Thanks for making understand features of this variant even before pulling gears ����
ReplyDeleteThank you Sunil san for your words. Sure is very encouraging and motivating.
Delete