Before the Jeep Compass Trailhawk, with its much-awaited diesel-automatic combination, arrives in India, the SUV-maker will launch a lower-spec Sport Plus variant. The Jeep Compass Sport Plus variant will sit between the base Compass Sport and the mid-spec Compass Longitude and will get more equipment than the base trim.
New exterior features on the new variant will include 16-inch alloy wheels, black moulding around the rear windshield and on top of the doors, black roof rails, reverse parking sensors and ‘Sport Plus’ badging on tailgate. The cabin of the Compass Sport Plus will feature a 5.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and dual-zone climate control that can also be operated via the touchscreen display. Standard equipment from the Compass Sport like dual airbags, ABS, ESC, traction control, daytime running lamps, front and rear armrests, electrically adjustable ORVMs and remote keyless entry, will be carried over.
Like the base Compass Sport trim, the Sport Plus will be available with a 163hp, 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine and a 173hp, 2.0-litre turbo-diesel motor. Both engines power the front wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox, unlike higher variants of the petrol Compass that get a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
Expect prices of the Compass Sport Plus to be slightly higher than those of the base variant.
Jeep seems to be working hard to keep sales of the Compass buoyant in the face of fiercer competition from the Tata Harrier. Just a couple of months back, it launched a mid-spec Longitude (O) variant of the Compass petrol-automatic (previously only available with the diesel engine). In the coming months, Jeep will introduce a diesel-automatic Compass in India with the more off-road focussed Trailhawk.
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