Jeep is building a sub-4 meter compact SUV. The vehicle is likely to be based on the US Small Wide platform, which is the same platform that the Compass sits on. The new, sub-4 meter Jeep Compact SUV will sit in one of the fastest growing segments of the Indian car market, and will be a global vehicle. We now have new information about the launch timeline of this SUV. The baby Jeep will be launched in 2022, and India will be one of the major markets for the new vehicle. What’s very interesting is that Jeep will take aim at the Suzuki Jimny with the new compact SUV. This means that it’ll have great off-road capability, along with enough practicality for everyday use. Since Maruti Suzuki has all but ruled out the Jimny for the Indian market, off road enthusiasts who want an affordable, practical and compact 4X4 could do well to wait for the new Jeep compact SUV.
Marco Pigozzi, Jeep’s European Head of Brand Marketing, had this to say to CarScoops,
The car will be able to be used as a bad-ass Jeep, but it has also been designed to be used everyday. The baby SUV will be around four metres in length. We have the capability to deliver the electrification we need.
These statements indicate that the new Jeep compact SUV will be off-road ready, and that even a TrailHawk variant is likely to be offered to buyers. Hybrid and electric powertrains could also be a part of the variant mix. A turbocharged petrol engine is likely to be the base powertrain, around which the hybrid layouts could be offered. Jeep is unlikely to offer a diesel engine as the smallest Euro 6 (similar to Bharat Stage 6 emission norms) motor that the Fiat Chrysler alliance currently has is the 1.6 liter Multijet unit but this engine will not meet the sub-4 meter tax bracket in the Indian market. The 2 liter Multijet diesel will be overkill as well although it does meet BS6 emission norms already.
With this announcement, it’s clear that Jeep has three major launches in the next 2-3 years. The next big launch from Jeep in India will be that of a facelifted Compass, arriving sometime next year. The 7 seat version of the Compass, with a totally different top hat, will arrive sometime in 2021 while the sub-4 meter offering will make its way into the market in 2022. All three models will be built in India with a significant amount of localization. India could continue to be a export hub for right-hand drive markets, as is the case currently with the Compass.
Also Read: Skoda Karoq: What to expect from the Tata Harrier/Jeep Compass rival