Jeep Compass Expert Review

Up front, the new nose grabs attention with a larger air dam, a uniquely angled, chrome-free grille in anodised gun-metal grey, and new fog lamps tucked into the bumper. The new, slimmer LED headlights add bling, and there’s a front camera in the grille for the 360-degree parking assist. Along the side, diamond-cut alloys, square arches, and a contrast grey roof stand out. The profile remains sharp, while at the rear, new tail-lights, and an electric tailgate close round things off.

The biggest change is inside the cabin, where ruggedness makes way for sophistication and luxury. Everything’s new apart from the seats—there’s a fresh dash, new door pads, a massive touchscreen, a digital instrument panel, a new steering wheel and a redesigned centre console. Chrome and piano black accents elevate the cabin, and quality levels are superb. The console now has wireless charging, USB ports, and a new metal toggle for 4WD functions. The front seats remain comfy, now with power adjustment, memory and cooling. Rear space is generous, with supportive seats, good legroom and theatre-style seating. The rear vents also get a stylish piano black finish. Though roomy, rivals still offer better width for three passengers in the back.

The Compass is now available only with the 170hp, 2.0-litre diesel engine that can be had with automatic and manual gearboxes, in 4x2 and 4x4 forms. The 1.4-turbo petrol offered earlier has been discontinued and so has the off-road focused Trailhawk variant. The diesel feels gravelly at low revs, but delivers a smooth, linear surge when you press on. It revs to 5,000rpm, feels quick, and does 0-100kph in 10.3sec. The automatic gearbox is slightly quicker but still relaxed on downshifts, and there are no paddle shifters either.

While we haven’t subjected the Compass to our real-world efficiency tests, Jeep claims that the diesel manual 4x2 does 17.3kpl, the diesel auto 4x2 does 16.2kpl, while the diesel auto 4x4 returns 15.3kpl. 

Mechanically unchanged, the Compass remains one of the best to drive. It handles bad roads brilliantly, with slightly stiff springs that smooth things out at speed. The ride is flat and composed, and it’s light and easy in the city. Around corners, it feels impressively poised and confidence-inspiring.

Central to the new interior is the massive 10.1-inch U-Connect touchscreen with a tablet-like vibe. It’s bright, sharp, super responsive, and packed with features—connected tech, Jeep Life app functions, wireless Apple CarPlay, and over-the-air updates. You also get eight-way powered seats with memory, cooled seats, a panoramic double-pane sunroof, wireless phone charger, digital instrument cluster and dual-zone climate control, all adding to the premium, tech-laden experience. Safety kit includes 6 airbags, a 360-degree parking camera, traction control, hill-ascent and descent control and more. 

Priced between Rs 18.99-30.33 lakh (ex-showroom), the 2021 Compass is expensive, especially the fully-loaded Model S. It’s not the roomiest, the auto ’box isn’t the quickest, and engine refinement could be better. Still, it delivers strong performance, superb ride-handling, a robust build, and a plush, high-quality cabin that feels premium—making it a solid all-rounder worth considering.