In June, Jeep India had announced that the Jeep Compass bookings have reached 1,000 units. Now, Autocar India reports that this figure has jumped to 4,000 in just over a month. 60% of the bookings are in the top-spec diesel configuration.
The Jeep Compass is one of the most hyped vehicles in India this year. It's not just the excitement of the cheapest ever and largely affordable Jeep to hit the market, but also Jeep India's aggressive expansion of its sales network. The company inaugurated its first dealership in September last year, in Ahmedabad. Now, it has over 50 dealerships spread nationwide. Most of these outlets are existing Fiat dealerships, though.
The Jeep Compass is available in India with two engine options: 1.4-litre MultiAir turbocharged petrol and 2.0-litre Multijet II turbocharged diesel. The petrol engine produces 162 PS and 250 Nm of torque. The diesel engine develops 173 PS and 350 Nm of torque. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard, but the petrol model does have a 7-speed DCT option. The Jeep Active Drive four-wheel drive system is available only in the diesel model. The diesel model will gain a 9-speed automatic transmission option later, likely in January.
The Indian-spec Jeep Compass is offered in three main grades: Sport, Longitude and Limited, with the latter two having an optional sub-grade with more equipment. HID headlamps, 17-inch alloy wheels, LED tail lamps and black roof are among the exterior highlights. On the inside, the Jeep C-SUV gets features like dual-zone climate control, 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear parking sensors, rear camera, electric parking brake and more.
Also See: India-bound 2018 Jeep Renegade rendered
The Jeep Compass' launch in India will take place on 31 July, 2017. However, this event will probably mark only the price announcement, as the report says that deliveries are to commence only in early October. Petrol model buyers will have to wait a little longer, Jeep India has confirmed that it will sell only the diesel model initially. Prices could start somewhere between INR 15-18 lakh (ex-showroom). Sales of the diesel model with a 9-speed automatic transmission will start around February 2018. The Jeep Compass competes directly with the Hyundai Tucson and the VW Tiguan.
[Source: Autocar India]
