I never have been a fan of automatics, but when I drove an automatic properly some years back, the story changed. I was a huge fan of automatics, Especially high-end automatics, its a bonus the cars coming with paddle shifts. VW Polo TSI, Volvo S60 is named few.
Even then whenever I got a chance to drive an automatic, I would be happier. But I hate AMTs. It has some lag, that I cannot live with. But I won’t resist a chance to drive a car, so I will adjust with the manual shifter.
When the Jeep was launched Compass in India, I was very excited and I booked a test drive through an online request. Fiat India does not seem to check emails regularly, hence I didn’t get any mails or feedback calls for the test drive.
One fine day I took an off from my daily job and decided to drive to native from Kochi for a personal matter. When I reached the toll I thought, why not check the Compass on the way.
I took a U-turn and reached Fiat Jeep showroom and asked for a test drive. The showroom was packed with the customers who came for booking or service. I heard a new Jeep compass owner asking the service adviser. Boy why this light doesn’t turn off?. He was talking about the day time running lamp. That boy was trained to deal with the customers, without changing the facial expression, he said. Sir, it won’t turn off 🙂
Coming back to the test drive, there is no diesel available for the test drive. I asked for an automatic, without any hesitation they given the car to test.
I already saw the car in flesh and read so many reviews, I think you guys too read that. Hence my review only focuses on the automatic car and the features I experienced.
At first glance I fount that the cabin and dashboard are well laid out and feeling premium. You can smell that rich car fragrance where you get from Merc or Beamer.
Push-button start and keyless entry is the basic feature now on the high-end cars, It is no different in the case of The Compass too, but I felt the ergonomics are weird for the push start button as it is located at the keyhole on the steering console. Some will love it but I hate that.
Starting the engine was seamless, no jerks or vibrations felt inside. Engine mounts are doing the job well as the NVH is awesome for this big but small machine.
Jeep Compass not having a spacious cabin that can seat 5. Best suited for 4 and with the rear AC vent, sitting at the back make you feel better for sure. Better NVH helps here too, you cannot notice the speed that big mammoth actually doing.
About the engine, it was pulling like anything. Not faster like a sedan in the same price bracket but doing justice for that 1.4 Petrol Turbo engine with the 163 PS and 250 Nm torque. But the refinement level was wonderful I must say.
I was driving a 2WD automatic as the AWD is available only for manual counterparts.
You can’t notice the gearshifts until you look close on the tachometer, the shifts are smooth, if you are a relaxed driver and the 100 kilometer comes soon and the engine spinning at 4000 RPM.
You can control the shifts manually by putting the liver left and using the sports mode. Jeep Compass doesn’t have the paddles but just a push on the A pedal hard, make you smile. The engine is free-revving to the red line whenever you push to metal.
I felt very nice to drive this bigger car, but not that much bigger inside though. If you like the look of an SUV and feel of luxury at lesser price. This is the car for you. There are three models available and my pic would be Automatic as it is an added advantage.
