PERFORMANCE IS BETTER THAN PROMISE

Joseph Pulitzer was bang on. Intent is good but it is the delivery of a promise that really separates the best from the rest

FOR ALL THE GOOD INTENT YOU MIGHT HAVE in your heart, unless it is matched by action in the real world it all comes to naught. Like Mr Pulitzer, we too know that all too often a promise remains but a promise, without performance. Thankfully, we can’t apply that one on the Compass for this Jeep is power packed.

With the Compass you get a choice of two powertrains. First up, and this is no doubt the more popular one, is the one powered by FCA’s famed two-litre MultiJet II turbodiesel. It is extremely refined. Mated to a slick shifting 6-speed transmission, this four-cylinder unit puts out a healthy 170.6bhp and 350Nm of torque.

It feels properly brisk with very strong mid-range torque and should dispatch 100kmph on the speedo in almost 11 seconds. More importantly, for the SUV loving folks out there, you can stick it in fifth or sixth gear and cruise all day long. Alternatively, if you are in an enthusiastic mood, like we mostly are, you can go through the gearbox with its precise shifts and enjoy hustling the Compass along at quite a solid pace.

For the petrolhead, Jeep has a petrol engine with a choice between a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual clutch DDCT gearbox. The engine in question is the refined 1.4-litre MultiAir petrol with a variable geometry turbo and variable valve timing. The engine’s maximum output is 161bhp and 250Nm.

Like its diesel avatar, the petrol powered Compass is very responsive too with 0-100kmph coming up in just 10.23 seconds. Turbo lag is minimal, and after 2000rpm the Compass surges ahead with urgency and stays in the power band all the way till 6500rpm. For those of you who enjoy your D-I-Y kits, the manual should fit in nicely with your lifestyle but if you feel the need for convenience in our crowded cities, then the 7-speed DDCT should save your left limbs a lot of trouble.