Jeep Compass Trailhawk India-Assembly Starts; Launch Expected In Early-2019

The Trailhawk variant comes with a lot of cosmetic changes compared to the regular Jeep Compass sold in India. The prominent changes on the Jeep Compass Trailhawk include the redesigned bumper with the red tow hooks, slightly higher ground clearance, 17-inch wheels and a panoramic sunroof.

Jeep India recently launched the new Compass Limited Plus variant at Rs 21.07 lakh ex-showroom (Delhi). Since that time, Jeep fans have been waiting for the Compass Trailhawk to come to India; the popular five-seater SUV in various global markets, including the USA.

Highlights such as the ‘Trailhawk' badging, a new 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment (available on the Limited Plus) and host of safety aids further add to the equipment list. Once launched in India, it will be the most premium Jeep Compass variant available for purchase.

Being a Jeep product, the Compass has got appreciable off-roading capabilities; although not as extensive as a Wrangler. We have tested it out in various Indian terrains and environments — read our official Jeep Compass review.

The current version of the Jeep Compass in India is offered in both petrol and diesel formats. The 1.4-litre MultiAir turbocharged petrol engine makes 160bhp and 250Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission.

As for the diesel version, power comes from a 2.0-litre Multijet unit. The engine is good for 170bhp and 350Nm of torque, while being mated to a six-speed manual. Only the diesel variant gets all-wheel-drive.

Meanwhile, the India-spec Jeep Compass Trailhawk is expected to come only in a diesel format. However, unlike the regular variant, the diesel engine will be mated to a new nine-speed ZF automatic transmission which drives all four wheels.

The Jeep Compass Trailhawk is expected to carry a price tag of almost Rs 23 lakh ex-showroom (Delhi). Once launched, it will rival the Mahindra XUV 500 and the highly-anticipated Tata Harrier.

Thoughts On The Jeep Compass Trailhawk

When Jeep first came to India, they only had the Grand Cherokee and Wrangler on offer; both priced at a higher premium compared to its rivals. Sales were quite low and it was when the Compass was introduced that the company started seeing profits. In fact, the Jeep Compass has witnessed record sales figures over since its launch and the Trailhawk variant will boost it even further.