Jeep Compass Disadvantages (Cons) and Advantages (Pros): Things To Know Before Buying The Compass

The 2.0-litre diesel engine makes 171bhp and 350Nm of torque while the 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol unit puts out 160bhp and 250Nm. To learn more about the SUV in detail, you can check out our Review Of The Jeep Compass.

That said, here the pros and cons of the Jeep Compass!

Disadvantages (Cons)

The Jeep Compass comes with a 7-speed automatic in the petrol variants and a 6-speed manual in the diesel variant. The manual gearbox on the diesel variant is not bad in any way, but some would prefer a diesel automatic if they live in the city.

Similarly, those who are looking forward to buying a manual petrol SUV will also be disappointed with the Jeep Compass.

While its main rivals such as the Tata Hexa and the recently-launched Mahindra XUV500 come in 7-seat options, the Jeep Compass is a strict 5-seater. In fact, the Compass is only almost the size of a Renault Duster for almost double its price.

In addition to this, the rear seat is a bit cramped for three adults.

The Jeep Compass packs quite some feature such as keyless entry, dual-zone climate control, smartphone connectivity and more. However, compared to its competition, the list of features is far less. For the price range, one would expect cruise control, auto headlamps & wipers, sunroof or even leather seats.

The boot space at 438 litres isn't that good, but you can extend it to 770 litres with the rear bench folded down. On the contrary, the 5-seater Hyundai Tucson has 513-litres of boot space.

The Jeep Compass is a compact SUV, ideal for both the city and the backroads. However, it has got a high turning radius of almost 5.7 metres; higher than many larger SUVs.

Advantages (Pros)

The Jeep Compass features a design identical to its elder sibling, the Grand Cherokee. The dominant seven-slat grille, the sharp proportions and the rectangular arches have succeeded in catching the attention of many Indians. There are a lot of Compass customers in India who praise its design more than anything.

The 2.0-litre diesel engine is extremely frugal and responsive. The torque output is ideal for both stop-and-go city roads and also for going up steep inclines. It does have a slight turbo lag, but then again, which diesel engine doesn't?

As mentioned earlier, the diesel engine comes mated to a 6-speed manual which is smooth; assisted by a soft clutch pedal.

The seven-inch touchscreen infotainment comes as standard across all variants and is a breeze to use. It supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well.

Owing to the off-road character of the Jeep, the Compass gets four driving modes in its Selec-Terrain all-wheel-drive system. Choose between Auto, Snow, Sand and Mud – the system adjusts the engine mapping and traction control to move easily over the selected terrain.

The individual suspension setup of the Jeep Compassfurther increases its off-road capability.

While the Compass does lack some features compared to its competition, the entry-level Jeep makes no compromise in terms of safety. The Jeep Compass comes with disc brakes on all four wheels, ABS, EBS, ESP and six airbags (dual airbags come as standard).

Verdict

When Jeep India first started operations in India, sales were really poor since they had no affordable models for the general public. But after the launch of the Jeep Compass, everything changed. The Jeep Compass is one of the ‘best-selling' SUVs which cost under Rs 30 lakh on-road. But is it the ‘best' SUV in the price range? Let us know your thoughts.