The Jeep Compass has the highest levels of localisation in its segment, which could perhaps help FCA price it aggressively. 
 
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) announced the Jeep Compass for the Indian market nearly two years ago and the D-day is finally round the corner. It is an outcome of the Rs 1,800+ crore FCA poured into its Ranjangaon facility. 

 
A lot of you must be aware of this, the Compass nameplate has only four manufacturing bases around the world: India, Brazil, China and Mexico. The Ranjangaon facility will power all right-hand-drive (RHD) markets. 
 
Jeep will begin exporting the Compass from India from the last quarter of this year. Meanwhile, FCA will cater to the local demand, which is expected to be high!

 
Expected Launch and Variants 
 
For now, the Jeep Compass will only be available in three trim levels: Sport (base), Longitude and Limited (top-spec). The most extreme version of the Compass, the Trailhawk, is expected to be introduced at a later stage. 
 
The Compass is likely to be launched in August and FCA is expected to price it in the vicinity of Rs 20 lakh. The Compass will take on the likes of the Hyundai Tucson, the upcoming Skoda Karoq and the fifth-gen Honda CR-V along with the recently launched Volkswagen Tiguan. 

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Dimensions

 
 
Mechanicals 
 
The India-spec Compass will be offered with two engine options – the 2.0-litre Multijet II diesel and 1.4-litre turbocharged MultiAir II petrol engines. The 2.0-litre diesel can only be had with a 6-speed manual, while the 1.4-litre petrol comes with an option of a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DDCT (Dual Dry Clutch Transmission) automatic. 

 
Safety Features 

• Jeep Compass will come with dual-front airbags as standard, while the 4×4 diesel variant offers a total of six airbags 
• Standard braking safety tech include electric parking brake, anti-lock brake system with electronic brake distribution, HBFC, PBA, all four disc brakes and adaptive brake lights
• Hill start assist and ESC (electronic stability control) are also standard 
• Higher models get TCS (traction control system) and electronic roll mitigation
• Offers cornering fog lamps, rear fog lamps and daytime running lamps (non-LED)

• DST (Dynamic Steering Torque) is also offered. When vehicle instability is detected, DST works in conjunction with electronic power steering and the ESC modules by providing torque to the steering wheel and guiding the driver to correct the course of the vehicle.
• Rides on all-season rubber  

Features 

• Comes with Bi-Xenon headlamps with LED light guides and wrap-around, split LED tail lamps

• There will be two infotainment systems on offer from FCA’s Uconnect stable: a 5.0-inch and a 7.0-inch touchscreen unit. The latter will be compatible with Apple CarPlay (access to Apple Maps, Messages, phone and Apple Music) and Android Auto (access to Google voice search, Google Maps and Google Play Music). Both the units will be coupled to a 6-speaker sound system 

(In Picture: Uconnect 5.0)

• The climate control unit can be regulated through the 7.0-inch touchscreen as well
• The Compass comes upholstered in ‘Ski-Grey McKinley’ leather with ‘Ruby Red’ stitching. The cabin features dual-tone theme with soft-touch plastics 

• The instrument cluster gets a 3.5-inch DID (driver information display). It has customisable menus such as speedometer, vehicle information, fuel economy, trip information, audio, stored messages, and screen setup and settings. It can be customised using the steering wheel-mounted controls. The global version also features a larger, more flamboyant 7.0-inch display (check out the image below)

• Offers dual-zone climate control with rear AC vents 
• The diesel 4×4 variant is equipped with Jeep Active Ride with Selec-Terrain system, which offers driving modes – Auto, Snow, Sand and Mud

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