Jeep Compass Trailhawk

Is The Jeep Compass Trailhawk The Best Compass Yet?

- Tuhin Guha

I wouldn’t want to be a part of the product planning team in a car company which needs to update a car that looks great, drives well, has great brand recall and sells reasonably well even after being around for a few years. But the team at Jeep India was in this exact position and their response to that challenge is this, the new top-dog of the Compass range, the 2019 Jeep Compass Trailhawk.

Now if you are in tune with the workings of the car world, you will know that anything with the ‘Trailhawk’ badge on it means more off-road ability, more specifically low-speed rock crawling ability. So it’s only pertinent that we start our test of this new SUV by doing exactly what it says on the cover. On a trail. And here it’s very capable and, most endearingly, very easy. The balance and ease with which the Compass Trailhawk handles off-road terrain is one of its two biggest plus points. The suspension absorbs everything thrown at it, the steering is accurate but has a nice shape ideal for positioning it correctly in these situations.

We put it through rock patches, a water crossing, sandy trails, tight gravelly hairpins and some serious descents, and all the new off-road kit made their presence felt. The 26.5-degree approach, 21.2-degree break over and 31.6-degree departure angles allow the Trailhawk to traverse big obstacles without bottoming out. Like all serious off-roaders, narrower rims have been fitted to improve the tyres seal against the rim, and also provide some protection to the wheel itself. Water wading depth has gone up to 483mm as well due to a repositioned air snorkel, 120mm higher than before. The new nine-speed torque converter automatic gearbox, the other big highlight of this SUV, is also adept in this setting. It keeps the engine on the boil at all times, thanks to its low 20:1 ratio.