Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty’s latest ride is a Jeep Compass SUV

Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty has just acquired a Jeep Compass SUV. She’s the latest among a long list of Jeep SUV owners from the celebrity world that includes Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar, among others. The Compass SUV that Rhea has acquired is finished in Magnesio Grey, a colour that not many choose. This understated colour is quite classy. Good choice, Rhea.

The Jeep Compass sold in India is the American SUV maker’s best selling vehicle. Jeep builds the Compass with a high amount of localization at its Ranjangaon factory, off Pune. In fact, the Compass built in India is the right-hand  drive version, and it’s meant not just for the market here but also for all other global markets that use a right-hand drive layout.

The Jeep Compass sold in India is available with two engine options: a 1.4 liter turbocharged petrol with 158 Bhp 250  Nm, and a 2 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged diesel engine that puts out 170 Bhp-350 Nm. As far as sales are concerned, the diesel powered variants of the Compass command the majority of the numbers.

This is understandable as SUV buyers in India overwhelmingly prefer the diesel version. The petrol powered version of the Compass is available only in front wheel drive guise, and gets two gearbox options: a 6 speed manual and a 7 speed, twin clutch automatic. The diesel engine gets both front wheel drive and all wheel drive layouts, but is currently available with a single gearbox option: a 6 speed manual.

Later this year, Jeep India will introduce a 9 speed torque converter automatic gearbox on the Compass Diesel –  specifically on the top-of-the-line TrailHawk version. The TrailHawk version of the Compass will have many bits that  make it off-road ready. It’ll be quite pricey, with a starting price of over Rs. 25 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi.

As for the off-road bits on the Compass TrailHawk, sand and rock modes for the all wheel drive system, restyled front and rear bumpers for better approach and departure angles, and revised suspension that offers more articulation for off road conditions will be on offer. The SUV’s interiors will also feature subtle changes, and the feature-set will be comprehensive, in keeping with the top-end model status of the TrailHawk.

Bookings for the Compass TrailHawk are yet to open at Jeep dealers across India. Reports indicate that the bookings  will open from the middle of June 2019, following which the launch will happen sometime in early July. The Jeep  Compass SUV’s prices start from 15.99 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi. The SUV is available in a range of variants to suit  multiple budgets. The Jeep Compass rivals the likes of the recently launched Tata Harrier, the Mahindra XUV500 and the Hyundai Tuscon in price terms.