With good design, power, speed and good tire traction, the vehicle feels suitable for both on and off roading
With good design, power, speed and good tire traction, the vehicle feels suitable for both on and off roading
The Compass Trailhawk is not really new to India. In 2019, Jeep launched this off-road focused version here, but when it released the 2021 Compass, it stopped the Trailhawk version and instead offered only the regular trims. Now, a year later, the updated Compass gets the Trailhawk variant with all the expected off-road bits and a few minor changes. What is it like?
On the outside, the Trailhawk’s black bonnet decal gets an attractive, clean red stripe with the letters ‘Trailhawk’ engraved on the inside; The alloy wheels are a different pattern and the bumper gets a slightly different styling, though, like before, it is sharply cut for a better angle of approach.
Apart from this, as before, high ride suspension, full underbody protection and red rear tow hooks are all present; And like the previous Trailhawk, the front tow hook has been removed due to pedestrian safety norms. The red Trailhawk badge remains on the tailgate, while the Trail Rated 4X4 emblem adorns the fenders.
Unlike the 18-inch rims on the facelifted Compass, the Trailhawk gets met with shorter 17-inches, which provide better cushioning and rim protection off-road thanks to the taller sidewalls. Curiously, the tires are marked HT (Highway Terrain), but Jeep says these Falcon tires are better suited for off-road duty.
Inside, the new Trailhawk benefits from major interior improvements like the updated Compass, thus, gets the new dashboard, free-standing 10.1-inch touchscreen, steering wheel and highly customizable 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, thankfully it has a Also includes neat twin -dial display option.
Based on the top spec ‘S’ trim, the Trailhawk also gets goodies like a 360-degree camera that is powered and ventilated with useful spotting ground off-road, a large, panoramic sunroof and memory function for the driver’s side. There are front seats. Also, like the regular Compass, the space is not class leading and the boot space is almost adequate.
Differentiating itself from its siblings, the Trailhawk is embroidered in the ‘Trailhawk’ seats with red stitching on the seats, dash and steering. What sets it apart, however, is Rock Mode in a selectable drive mode. Interestingly, while the pre-facelifted car had a separate sand and mud mode, the updated car – and thus the new Trailhawk – has these combined.
Driving the Trailhawk off-road is easy enough and the auto mode works well – even automatically locking the rear differential when needed. You can also use the mode manually if you want specific control over the terrain. Snow mode starts the car in high gear and is extremely gentle with power, Sand and Mud limits wheel spin to keep you from digging yourself in with too much wheel spin, while Rock mode lets you gain a leg. Allows a little more spin to help. on hard ground.
The mods work well, and the compass picks up quite a bit on whatever you throw at it; Traction from the tires is good and power delivery is nice and linear, enabling good throttle modulation. What makes and sets the Trailhawk apart is the superior off-road angle – 30 degrees for approach, 24 degrees for ramp breakover and 34 degrees for departure. Jeep hasn’t released the angles for the newly updated compass, but the facelifted car had a 16.8-degree approach, 22.9-degree ramp brake-over and 31.7-degree departure angle.
Another handy bit off-road is the 20:1 crawl ratio. Interestingly, while others have a lower ratio gear in terms of shifting – thus multiplying the torque coming out of the gearbox – the Compass’s low ratio is built inside the gearbox itself and is, in fact, the first gear in the box. Is. Thus, for normal driving, the compass starts in the second ratio and gears 2 to 9 are used for regular driving on the road, the first is used for difficult conditions and when 4low is selected. The advantage with this system is that it creates a more efficient electric current.
Impressively, the Compass’s off-road prowess is accompanied by its on-road manners. At low speeds, there is a noticeable body shake and the ride is stiff, but it never crashes into potholes and as you go faster, the ride gets better and better. The high speed stability and stability, even on less than perfect road surfaces, is really impressive and confidence-inspiring. The steering feel is impressive and the wheel gets good height at high speeds. Although the effort is acceptable, at parking speeds, those who prefer super light wheels will be disappointed.
The refined 170hp, 2.0-litre diesel engine, and paired with a 9-speed autobox, offers a smooth drive experience. However, it is not peppy and punchy and the gearbox is quite slow to respond even in manual mode. That doesn’t mean it’s low-powered—there’s enough power on tap to get you up to speed—but its smooth and linear nature makes it best suited for steady-speed driving. Compared to the regular car, the Trailhawk also feels less dazzling, with no doubt that heavy weight is a factor, which also shows in a claimed fuel efficiency of 14.9kpl, compared to the 4X4 ‘S’ trim car’s 15.3kpl. is less than.
So, which compass should you buy? Should you buy one in the first place? If space is a big priority, look elsewhere, but if you’re looking for a tough, well-equipped SUV that’s a pleasure to drive both on and off-road, the Compass should be the best on your list. should be above. And then, if you really want to venture off-road and keep going when the Compass stops, look to the Trailhawk.