The wait for the Jeep Compass Trailhawk’s India launch is about to end soon. We’d told you the off-road-focused, diesel-automatic variant of Jeep’s midsize SUV will be launched by July 2019, and now, official details about the Compass Trailhawk have emerged at its India reveal.
First and foremost, we must talk about the powertrain. The Compass Trailhawk debuts the BS6-compliant, 2.0-litre MultiJet Turbo II diesel engine, which is mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox – a combination that potential Compass buyers have been eagerly waiting for. The MultiJet Turbo II – which is also set to make its way into the Tata Harrier’s engine bay – produces 170hp and 350Nm of torque, and despite being BS6-compliant, can also run on BS4 fuel. In a first for the Compass range, the Trailhawk will also feature engine start-stop tech, which will help improve fuel efficiency.
Jeep says the Compass Trailhawk has been tested for over four lakh kilometres in India, and the company says it has worked on improving the AC performance, vehicle dynamics and drivability, while also trying to better control NVH levels. Additionally, Jeep has also refined the voice command and navigation systems, which it says have been tested in urban as well as rural areas.
What helps distinguish the Compass Trailhawk from the regular Compass on the outside are the dual-tone 17-inch alloy wheels, a black ‘anti-glare’ decal on the bonnet, and a gunmetal finish for the seven-slotted grille, fog lamp surrounds and the window line. Conspicuous by their absence are the Trailhawk’s signature red tow hooks at the front, an omission forced by India’s recently enforced pedestrian protection norms, which require cars to have smooth front ends. The red tow hook at the rear, however, is very much present.
Being the off-road-focused version of the Jeep Compass, the Trailhawk sports the ‘Trail-Rated’ badges and gets Jeep’s Active Drive 4x4 system, which is essentially a system with a low-range, a rear locking differential, hill descent control and an additional Rock mode for the Selec-Terrain system. Additionally, the Compass Trailhawk’s ground clearance is 205mm, a full 27mm higher than the standard Jeep Compass, and it also gets reprofiled front and rear bumpers, which give it improved approach and departure angles. Also, the air intake is set higher, giving the Trailhawk a water-wading depth of 480mm, up from the standard Compass’ 405mm. And just to make it more off-road-ready, Jeep has equipped the Trailhawk with underbody skid plates, all-terrain Falken Wildpeak HT tyres (225/60-section) and all-weather floor mats, too.
The India-spec Compass Trailhawk’s features list includes a contrast roof, six airbags, a reverse camera, cornering fog lamps, an electronic parking brake, a panoramic sunroof and an 8.4-inch touchscreen for the Uconnect infotainment system, similar to the one on the Compass Limited Plus variant.
When it is launched in the coming weeks, the Jeep Compass Trailhawk’s price is likely to be close to the Rs 27 lakh mark, which will put it right at the top of the Compass range.
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Uday Singh
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