3 upcoming Jeep SUVs for India with their launch timelines

Jeep has tasted big success with the Compass mid-sized SUV, and the American automaker has lined up many more launches in the next couple of years. Here’s a quick wrap on what Jeep will launch in India over the next couple of years.

Compass Facelift

The facelifted Compass will be the next big launch from Jeep even as competition has increased by many times. The Compass, once fresh enough to do nearly 1,500-2,000 units per month, is now selling less than 1,000 copies per month. This, despite Jeep India offering discounts of upto Rs. 1.6 lakhs on select variants of the SUV. The reason for the Compass slowing down is new competition, much of it much lower priced. The Tata Harrier, MG Hector and the Kia Seltos have been chipping away market share from the Compass.

Therefore, a facelift is in order to boost sales. The facelifted Compass will be Bharat Stage 6 emission norms compliant, in both petrol and diesel. A 9 speed automatic gearbox will be offered on lower diesel variants while the exteriors will get a refresh. Expect minor tweaks on the inside as well, with a few feature additions. In terms of pricing, the facelifted Jeep Compass is likely to be at the same price levels as the current version. The launch of this facelifted model is expected to happen next year.

Sub-4 Meter Compact SUV

The big numbers for Jeep will come in the Rs. 10-15 lakh segments, and this is perhaps why the American SUV specialist is working on a sub-4 meter offering. The sub-4 meter compact SUV will square off against the likes of the Hyundai Venue and the Maruti Brezza. It could be the first sub-4 meter compact SUV to offer an all wheel drive layout (on the top-end variant). Butch styling inspired by the Jeep Renegade, a turbocharged petrol engine, and both manual and automatic gearbox options are likely to be offered on the ‘baby’ Jeep. A diesel engine is likely to be given the miss given the tightening emission norms. A launch by the end of 2020 is likely.

7 seat Compass

Jeep India is also working on a 7 seat version of the Compass, which apart from offering an additional row of seats, is also likely to feature revised styling. It’ll sold as a completely different SUV, and is likely to be a couple of lakhs pricier than the Compass. The new 7 seat Jeep SUV will share its mechanicals with the Compass in order to keep costs low. The platform will be shared as well. It’ll make for an interesting but a lot more affordable rival to the Skoda Kodiaq, which has been a big success in the Indian market. A launch in 2021 is on the cards.