When Jeep first announced that the Compass SUV will be coming to India, we were excited but considering what the rest of the cars in its portfolio were priced at; there was a little bit of apprehension about what it would be like. We then got to drive it exclusively and we loved it. After which, we got to know more about the car that was to be launched in India and got to drive that one too and were left impressed. Well, now, the price of the Jeep Compass has blown us away and it's a major threat not only to the rest of the SUVs in the segment but also some of the sedans in this the price band of Rs. 15 to Rs. 20 lakh and that's why we're taking a look at how the Compass stacks up to the sedans.
Also Read: Jeep Compass Launch Date Announced; Expected Price, Features And More
The latest carmaker to launch a car in this price band is Skoda with the 2017 Octavia Facelift and we can tell you, having driven it, that the car is very well equipped, given the price it's launched at. Visually, the Skoda Octavia facelift is pretty much similar to the previous model so it still carries those straight lines and subtle design of an executive sedan that is commonly seen in cars in this segment. The Toyota Corolla Altis too looks good and is very subtle in its design language. The Hyundai Elantra, however, stands out amongst the others with sharper lines, curvy and chiselled design which makes it a better looking car considering the generation it's launched in. Now, the Jeep Compass, looks muscular, rugged and carries the DNA from the Grand Cherokee. It is in fact a baby Grand Cherokee and you can't miss the essential Jeep stance and the front design. Of course, we are comparing the looks of an SUV to sedans, but still among the cars we mentioned, the Elantra and the Compass stand out among the rest. Also Read: Jeep Compass Diesel SUV Review
The Hyundai Elantra is 4570 mm long, while the new Skoda Octavia is the longest at 4670 mm. The Toyota Corolla Altis is 4620 mm long while the Jeep Compass is the shortest of the lot and measures in at just 4447 mm. As for the wheelbase, the Hyundai Elantra and the Toyota Corolla Altis both take the lead at 2700 mm, while the Skoda Octavia gets a wheelbase of 2688 mm. The Jeep Compass gets just 2636 mm of wheelbase and this is probably why the rear seat feels a bit cramped.
Boot space on all the cars is good, the Elantra gets 420 litres of it while the Altis comes in close with 475 litres of space. The Skoda Octavia wins this battle hands down with its trunk gulping in 590 litres of your cargo. Sadly, you have to do with just 410 litres of space on the Jeep Compass. Now, let's just get to the features that all these cars have on offer.
| Model | Skoda Octavia | Hyundai Elantra | Toyota Corolla Altis | Jeep Compass |
| Length | 4670 mm | 4570 mm | 4620 mm | 4447 mm |
| Width | 1814 mm | 1800 mm | 1775 mm | 1818 mm |
| Height | 1476 mm | 1465 mm | 1475 mm | 1640 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2688 mm | 2700 mm | 2700 mm | 2636 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 155 mm | 170 mm | 175 mm | 178 mm |
| Boot Space | 590 litres | 420 litres | 475 litres | 410 litres |
Also Read: Jeep Compass vs Mahindra XUV500 vs Hyundai Tucson: Spec Comparison
The updated Octavia also gets new LED daytime running lights and fog lamps on the bumper. The Octavia also comes with 17-inch Alcatras alloy wheels and LED taillamps. There's also Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and Mirror link to give the best smart phone integration. Other features include -automatic front wiper system with rain sensor, hands-free parking, rear view camera and more. Safety features include 8 airbags, ABS with EBD and hydraulic brake assistant, rear defogger, fatigue detection and more.
Also Read: Skoda Octavia Facelift Review
The Hyundai Elantra comes with projector headlamps, LED position lights. The car also comes with a touchscreen infotainment display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Hyundai has also equipped that car with a host of convenience features like drive mode select, hands-free smart trunk, auto cruise control, keyless entry with smart key, armrest for both front and rear seats, and USB/AUX-IN/Bluetooth connectivity to name a few. Other comfort and safety features include - sunroof, side and curtain airbags, front ventilated seats, speed sensing auto door lock, ABS and EBD as standard, electronic stability control, hill-start assist and rear parking sensors.
The Toyota Corolla Altis also gets projector headlamps and LED day time running lights. It also gets reclining rear seats which is a segment first offering. Other features include a touchscreen infotainment system, with DVD player, hand gesture and more. Toyota's safety standards have been maintained as the car offers 7 SRS airbags, Hill start Assist control, Vehicle Stability Control and an impact absorbing structure adding to the excellent cabin rigidity and occupant safety.
The Jeep Compass is well-equipped and comes with smart white leather upholstered seats that extend to the door as well. The overall dashboard layout is simplistic and functional, but elegant. The centre console boasts of a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The model also gets height adjustable driver's seat, electronic parking assist, frequency sensing damping technology and a lot more.In fact, Jeep India says the Compass gets over 50 safety features including hill start assist, full function Traction Control, Electronic Stability Control, Panic Brake Assist, Hydraulic Boost Failure Compensation and Electronic Roll Mitigation. The SUV comes with a total of six airbags. Also Read: Jeep Compass SUV: Five Features You Did Not Know
On the powertrain front, the 2017 Skoda Octavia facelift comes in three engine options - 1.8-litre TSI, the 1.4-litre TSI and the top-end 2-litre TDI diesel. The 1.8-litre TSI engine makes 178 bhp and 250 Nm of peak torque while mated to a 7-speed DSG gearbox. The smaller 1.4-litre TSI petrol gets mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and makes 147 bhp while the 2-litre diesel punches out 141 bhp. The new-gen Hyundai Elantra comes in both petrol and diesel engine options - an all-new 2-litre petrol engine and a 1.6-litre diesel motor. While the petrol motor makes a class-leading 150 bhp and develops a peak torque of 192 Nm, the oil burner offers a maximum of 126 bhp. Transmission options for both the engines include a 6-speed manual gearbox and a 6-speed automatic unit.
Also Read: 2016 Hyundai Elantra India Review
The facelifted Corolla Altis also comes in both petrol and diesel guises. The petrol engine is the 1.8-litre unit that makes 138 bhp of peak power and 173 Nm of peak torque and is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox and an optional CVT auto box. The diesel trim gets the 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged unit that makes 87 bhp and 205 Nm of peak torque mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox.
Power on the Jeep Compass SUV comes from two engine options. For petrol duties, there is a new 1.4-litre Multi-Air Turbo motor that makes 160 bhp of power and 250 Nm of peak torque, paired to a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed DCT automatic. Diesel power comes from the 2-litre Multijet oil burner tuned for 170 bhp and 350 Nm of peak torque, and is paired to only a 6-speed manual for now. While the petrol motor will be available in only the 2WD guise, diesel will be offered in both 2WD and 4WD options.
Also Read: Jeep Compass Exclusive First Drive: Promising Compact SUV For India
| Model | Price (ex-showroom post-GST) |
| Skoda Octavia | Rs. 15.49 lakh to Rs. 22.89 lakh |
| Hyundai Elantra | Rs. 12.48 lakh - Rs. 18.46 lakh |
| Toyota Corolla Altis | Rs. 14.88 lakh - Rs. 18.26 lakh |
| Jeep Compass SUV | Rs. 14.95 lakh - Rs. 20.65 lakh |
But the all important question now is whether you would choose the sedans over the Jeep Compass SUV In fact, Skoda is currently running an advert saying that the Octavia facelift is a better choice than the SUVs and it's right because there are good amount of features on offer and enough and more space for 5 people, but then again, it's a sedan. The top-end Jeep Compass SUV with 4x4 capability undercuts the Skoda Octavia by a margin of more than Rs. 2 lakh and that's the biggest advantage that Jeep has. Both the Skoda Octavia and the Hyundai Elantra make sense, the Jeep Compass is certainly a great choice, which is why we feel, given the SUV-biased sentiments in the country currently, these sedans are certainly under threat.
