While Jeep discontinuing the petrol engine on the Compass has caused an uproar, the diesel unit was always the better engine in the first place. The Compass was first launched with the 2.0l diesel engine with a manual gearbox while later the petrol engine was brought in along with more gearbox options. Till recently, the Compass was available with both petrol and diesel while stricter emission norms means that the petrol engine is not available any more.
The earlier 1.4 turbo petrol was decent in power but the diesel made a better fit with the Compass with better driveability plus better efficiency too. The 2.0l diesel has a 170bhp output along with a 350Nm of torque which is more than the petrol. Having previously tested both, the diesel has always scored better and it remains our choice.
However, with markets like Delhi being more petrol driven, the range does need a petrol powertrain. For now, the diesel remains the mainstay of the Compass range with 4x4 also being offered. The Jeep India range now includes the Meridian and the Compass with both getting a diesel engine only while the Meridian has been diesel only from the start ever since its launch.
The Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee do come with a turbocharged petrol engine but it is a larger sized engine. Globally the Compass does have a new petrol engine and we might expect petrol to return with the Compass.
That said, diesel remains a big choice for SUVs at this price point for its torque and better efficiency along with more range hence, like other SUVs, the Compass remains a solid choice still for its diesel engine. The Compass range right now starts at Rs 21.44 lakh.
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