Jeep Compass Trailhawk Review
Car Tested: Jeep Compass Trailhawk; Road Test No. 1105; Test Location: Lonavala
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 30 lakhs (est.)
With outstanding off-road capabilities, a bold look and a punchy diesel engine, the Compass Trailhawk is a lovely SUV
Jeep India launched the Compass in 2017 and this SUV got an overwhelming response in the market, with the vehicle fetching really impressive sales. Customers loved the premium look and feel, the brand value of Jeep and of course the performance but there were 2 things that we really missed in this vehicle and that’s a diesel automatic trim and the off-road focussed Trailhawk variant. It’s been a long wait for the Trailhawk but now it’s finally here and might I say I’m thoroughly impressed.
The Trailhawk gets better approach and departure angles
Exteriors – There are quite a few changes to the exterior of the Compass Trailhawk when we compare it to the regular version but these changes are subtle meaning if a layman looks at both the cars from a distance, he might not be able to identify all the differences. The Trailhawk gets new bumpers with improved approach and departure angles which come in to be very useful while off-roading. On the hood, you get a black coloured anti-glare decal while the fenders have the elusive Trail Rated badge which isn’t just a badge but a stamp that certifies the off-road ability of this car.
All the chrome details have been blacked-out on the Trailhawk
The Compass Trailhawk has various cosmetic and hardware modifications for tackling the worst of terrains
The Jeep Compass Trailhawk also comes with blackened logos and badging, snazzy looking alloys and a dual-tone colour theme. For now, this variant is offered in two colour options – Red/Black and White/Black. It gets a blacked-out grille too, with all the excess chrome of the regular Compass deleted. The car does have a lot of street cred and looks trail ready yet maintaining the class in its styling. In line with the off-road orientation of this variant, it comes with 4 skid plates, a 30 mm higher ground clearance taking the figure to 205 mm and a red tow hook at the rear. The front tow hook has been removed from the India-spec model because of safety norms.
Trailhawk gets all the modern features along with a panoramic sunroof
Interiors – Step inside the Jeep Compass Trailhawk and the first thing you notice is that the white upholstery has made way for an all-black interior which not only looks sportier but is also not as prone to dirt. The cabin has a feeling of premiumness and feels well put together. The layout remains the same as the regular Compass but of course, there’s a new gear lever for the AT and a bunch of additional buttons for the 4WD mode. Ergonomics also remain more or less the same.
The black+red upholstery colour scheme looks gorgeous
Apart from an all-black interior and a new gear lever, the cabin is similar to the regular Compass; still feels premium
In terms of tech, the Trailhawk gets an 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system which gets Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth and navigation. Sound quality from the 6 speakers is pretty good though you might have to play around with the bass/treble settings to get the desired output. The instrument cluster is neat and Jeep has provided a 7-inch colour display which showcases various info about the vehicle. The SUV also gets a panoramic sunroof and a dual-zone automatic climate control system. The Compass finally gets a push button start and cruise control.
Rear seats are spacious and the boot is large too
Nothing has changed in terms of space and storage in the cabin. The seats are well-shaped offering a comfortable seating position with good bolstering and decent headroom and leg space. At the rear also, you have enough space but fitting 3 full-sized adults could turn out to be a bit tight. With ample storage spaces in the cabin and a large boot, the Compass is a very practical car.
The diesel engine is refined and has a strong mid-range
Performance – The Jeep Compass Trailhawk comes with the updated 2.0-litre MultiJet II Diesel engine which is also BS6 compliant but can run on BS4 fuel. Churning out 170 PS and 350 Nm, the Compass finally gets a diesel auto variant with the engine being mated to a 9-speed automatic. In terms of refinement and NVH, changes to the Trailhawk are very evident because this feels significantly quieter than the regular Compass and vibrations are felt lesser too. Of course, you can hear the engine’s noise at high RPMs but it is still comparatively quieter.
The 9-speed AT is smooth to shift but could have been quicker
Customers will like the convenience offered by the 9-speed AT
The oil-burner churns out good performance with the Trailhawk feeling very punchy and responsive. Turbo lag feels well contained and there’s a good surge in the mid-range. The addition of the AT has added to the convenience factor. At low speeds though, the gearbox tends to feel confused in choosing the right cog. It is however very smooth in its operations though not lightning quick. While it misses out on an S mode, you do get a manual tiptronic mode should you like to take things under your control. The SUV now gets an auto start-stop mode too with the aim of reducing fuel consumption and it works well.
The Compass Trailhawk has fantastic ride quality and brakes
Driving Dynamics – Jeep has fine-tuned the suspension of the Compass Trailhawk and it evidently offers a better ride than the regular Compass. The suspension feels so more pliant now and the ride feels plush. The Trailhawk takes bad roads in its stride and never fumes or complains. The steering response has also improved with it being more communicative and eager to respond. The Compass feels planted over most type of roads but starts understeering when you push it around the corners. The brakes suit the car and offer impressive stopping power.
The Trailhawk gets a better approach angle and a 4 Low mode
Off-Road – The Jeep Compass Trailhawk comes with Jeep Active Drive which includes modes like Auto, Sand, Snow, Mud and Rocks. It also gets a 4 Low mode and has a crawl ratio of 20:1. We put the car through its paces in some challenging off-road conditions and it shined over each of the obstacles. The way with which the SUV tackled everything was quite impressive and it barely scraped its underbelly anywhere except a couple of instances where the skid plates got in contact with some rocks. The Trail Rated badging isn’t just a farce, it fits the car really well. With the new bumpers and the increased ground clearance, the Trailhawk has an approach angle of 26.5-degrees, departure angle of 31.6-degrees and breakover angle of 21.2-degrees. The standard Compass has a snorkel height of 720 mm while the Trailhawk’s figure stands at 840 mm. The rear tow hook is super useful, it can pull upto 1.5x the gross weight of the vehicle.
The Trailhawk comes with all the safety and assistance features
Safety and After Sales Service – The Jeep Compass Trailhawk comes with 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, Electronic Roll Mitigation, ISOFIX mounts, ESC, Hill Start Assist and Hill Hold. The only area where the Compass needs to worry is the network of service stations across the country which isn’t as wide as that of rivals like Hyundai and Honda.
The Compass Trailhawk is a serious off-roader
Verdict – Hard to find any major fault with the Trailhawk, this is indeed a very good package. The Compass Trailhawk hasn’t been launched yet so we don’t know the pricing. However, since the Compass Limited Plus costs Rs. 28 lakhs (OTR, Mumbai), we’re expecting this to cost about Rs. 30-31 lakhs keeping in mind the additional kit it offers. It might seem overpriced with this tag but a lot of customers have been waiting for the diesel AT combo more than the off-road bits so it’s going to be interesting to see whether people opt for a top-end Compass or go for the base variant of one of the bigger SUVs like the Mahindra Alturas G4, Ford Endeavour and Toyota Fortuner. I feel the Trailhawk makes a lot of sense if you’re into off-roading and don’t fancy the idea of owning a large 7-seater SUV but yet want something premium.
The infotainment system comes with built-in navigation
What’s Cool
* Aggressive and purpose-built looks
* Premium interior with all the features
* Punchy performing diesel and great ride quality
* Off-road capability is simply fantastic
What’s Not So Cool
* Price will be on the higher side
* Limited service network
Alternatives: – Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tiguan
You get a 7-inch colour display which is informative
Jeep Compass Trailhawk Specifications
* Engine: 1956cc, 4-Cyl, Diesel
* Power: 170 PS @ 3750 RPM
* Torque: 350 Nm @ 1750-2500 RPM
* Transmission: 9-Speed AT
* Fuel Consumption: 10-12 km/l
* Fuel Type: Diesel
* Tyre Size: 215/65/17
* Suspension: McPherson Strut (Front), Multi-Link (Rear)
* Brakes: Disc (Front & Rear)
* Safety: 6 Airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, Hill Start Assist, Electronic Roll Mitigation
Jeep Compass Trailhawk Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 4398 mm X 1818 mm X 1657 mm
* Wheelbase: 2636 mm
* Ground Clearance: 205 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 60-litres
* Kerb Weight: 1641 kgs
Would you opt for the Trailhawk over a base variant Ford Endeavour?
Further Reading –
Jeep Compass Trailhawk Video Review
Jeep Compass Test Drive Review
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