Watch Jeep Compass, Endeavour, Safari Storme & Isuzu V-Cross take on an off road obstacle (Video)

In June this month, Jeep launched the much-awaited Trailhawk variant of the Compass SUV in India. Priced at Rs. 26.8 lakhs, (ex-showroom Delhi), it is the most expensive Compass variant and rubs shoulders with other big SUVs like the Mahindra Alturas G4 in terms of pricing. The reason for its high price was attributed to its complex 4×4 drivetrain, a 9-speed DCT gearbox and several other enhancements to enhance the off-road prowess of this compact SUV. But how does the Jeep Compass Trailhawk stack up against old school off-roaders like the Ford Endeavour, Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, Tata Safari Storme, and the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy? The video below by Anshuman Bishnoianswers just the same in which the Compass Trailhawk is pitted against several other SUVs.

As seen in the video, all the off-roaders are taking up a challenge to go over an uphill climb. Vehicles like the Ford Endeavour, Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, Tata Safari Storme, and the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy are shown in the video where they take this challenge and complete it without much of an issue. The Safari and the Endeavour took more than one try at the incline but they finally conquered the slope. The Jeep Compass Trailhawk, however, could not scale the slope even after multiple attempts. Even with different drivers and off-road techniques, the Compass could not go up the slope and got stuck midway through the climb.

Now the Jeep Compass is quite a capable vehicle when it comes to driving around the concrete jungle but it does not put up a stellar show when used for hard-core off-roading. Even the Trailhawk variant, which comes with multiple enhancements specifically made for better off-road prowess, does not stack up well against other proper big 4×4 SUVs. The reasons behind that, however, are pretty simple. The Jeep Compass Trailhawk is built on a monocoque chassis which means it is great for city and highway usage. However, traditional body on ladder frame SUVs can’t be beaten in off-roading by a monocoque SUV and the same is the case with the Compass Trailhawk here.

Moreover, in the video, we see that the drivers didn’t push the Compass too much due to its low ground clearance. The Trailhawk comes with better approach and departure angles along with an enhanced ride height than other variants but is still quite a ground hugger compared to other proper 4×4 SUVs. Another reason here is that the Compass Trailhawk does not come with a real low-ratio transfer case which is essential for hardcore off-roaders.

Now all this does not mean that the Jeep Compass Trailhawk is a lesser vehicle or anything. The only thing that can be made out of this video is that the Jeep Compass Trailhawk is not meant for heavy off-road usage. However, it comes with enough kit to beat almost every other monocoque 2WD or AWD SUV in the market. Also, the Compass Trailhawk might be a few hands shorter than proper 4×4 SUVs in terms of off-road prowess but it is much more comfortable and better to drive on regular roads.

Talking about the engine details of the Jeep Compass TrailHawk, the SUV is equipped with a Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms compliant 2-liter Multijet turbo diesel engine that puts put 170 Bhp of peak power and 350 Nm of peak torque on tap. The engine is mated to a 9-speed DCT gearbox that sends power to all four wheels.