So Jeep India has finally come up with its highly anticipated model, the Compass SUV. With the launch of the Jeep Compass, the iconic American SUV maker has forayed into a mainstream segment. Jeep commenced its Indian operations with the launch of three niche products- Grand Cherokee, Grand Cherokee SRT and Wrangler Unlimited. While being highly desirable models, the exorbitantly priced SUVs failed to get Jeep India much business. Now, however, things look all set to change with the launch of the Compass. Available at a starting price of Rs 14.95 lakh, the Compass makes the Jeep brand a lot more accessible to the masses. However, this also means that a lot many other SUVs and the Compass are at loggerheads. The Compass finds itself bang in the middle of Tata Hexa territory. We’ve decided to compare Tata Hexa and Jeep Compass in our post here.
Also See- Is Jeep Compass Really Cheaper than XUV 500? Think Again!
True, we do understand the two models here aren’t direct rivals – One is a slightly MPV-ish SUV with 7 seats while other is a 5-seater that tries hard to be a true blue American SUV. However, there’s a definite price overlap between many models of the two SUVs. This is sure to lead to some prospective buyers of the Hexa getting attracted to the Compass. At least those who don’t really need 7 seats can think about putting their money on the Compass instead. Our Tata Hexa and Jeep Compass comparison aims to help such buyers get rid of the dilemma.
It does seem like Tata is already worried about the advent of the Compass. No surprise then, that, it has decided to take a dig at the Compass to convince prospective buyers of the new Jeep otherwise. In a recent advertisement aimed squarely at the Compass, the manufacturer goes on to say that the Hexa “Takes you anywhere. No compass required.” The advertisement goes on to highlight the advantages of Hexa through a direct comparison of the specifications.
It’s pretty clear that the Hexa outclasses its latest rival in terms of Prices, Seating Capacity and even features. Hexa goes on to offer bits like a really very premium 10-speaker audio system, rain-sensing wipers, sunroof and cruise control. Such features are very much conspicuous by their absence on the Compass. Also, the Hexa benefits from more torque and an automatic gearbox for the Diesel engine variant. m of the Compass. They have a price tag of INR 15.03 Lakhs and INR 18.05 Lakhs respectively. While Tata Motors might have the better offering on paper, Jeep’s perceived brand image of being a premium name will be a cause of worry. Jeep is already reporting 5,000+ bookings for the Compass with petrol and automatic transmission variants to come later this year.
Compare Tata Hexa and Jeep Compass – Prices
Tata Hexa | ₹ 10.96 lakh – 16.24 lakh* |
Jeep Compass | ₹ 14.95 lakh – 20.65 lakh* |
*all prices are ex-showroom
It’s pretty clear here, the Hexa has clear price advantage if you compare it with the Compass. The Compass has been making a lot of news for its attractive starting price of just ₹ 14.95 lakh. However, if you compare these with the Hexa’s prices, it’s pretty clear to see that the Compass isn’t all that cheap. On the contrary, prices of its Diesel engine variant start at Rs 15.45 lakh, which brings it dangerously close to the top-end Hexa’s price. In comparison, for less than ₹ 50,000 more, the Hexa offers you more torque, more seats, more features, a 4×4 system (available only on top-end Compass) and of course, the sheer road presence the Hexa’s size commands. Round 1 to the Tata Hexa then.
By the way, the Hexa doesn’t come up with a Petrol engine, which shouldn’t be a big issue as Petrol SUV buyers are really low in numbers. With this in mind here’s a price comparison of the Jeep Hexa Diesel and Tata Hexa.
Jeep Compass Diesel Variants | Prices | Tata Hexa | Prices |
Sport | Rs 15.45 lakh | XE | Rs 10.96 Lakh |
Longitude | Rs 16.45 lakh | XM | Rs 12.81 Lakh |
Longitude O | Rs 17.25 lakh | XMA | Rs 13.91 Lakh |
Limited | Rs 18.05 lakh | XT | Rs 15.04 Lakh |
Limited O | Rs 18.75 lakh | XTA | Rs 16.13 Lakh |
Limited 4×4 | Rs 19.95 lakh | XT 4×4 | Rs 16.24 Lakh |
Limited O 4×4 | Rs 20.65 lakh | – | – |
Also Read: Jeep Compass vs Hyundai Creta | Jeep Compass vs Hyundai Tucson | Jeep Compass vs Toyota Fortuner
Compare Tata Hexa and Jeep Compass – Specifications
Specifications | Jeep Compass | Tata Hexa |
Engine | 1.4-litre turbo petrol/2.0-litre turbo diesel | 2.2-litre turbo diesel |
Power | 160 BHP/170 BHP | 147.94 BHP(XE); 154 BHP |
250 Nm/350 Nm | 320 Nm (XE); 400 Nm | |
Transmission | 6-speed MT or 7-speed AT/6-speed MT | 6-speed MT or 6-speed AT |
If you compare Tata Hexa and Jeep Compass, you’ll notice the latest Jeep SUV is available in both Petrol and Diesel engine variants. This is definitely one area where the Compass has an upper-hand over the Hexa. We say this as the flagship product from Tata doesn’t offer a Petrol engine option. The Petrol engine that powers the Compass is a 1.4-litre TJet turbocharged unit that outputs a max. power of 160 BHP and a peak torque of 250 Nm. The petrol engine variant offers you a choice of a 6-speed Manual and a 7-speed Automatic transmissions. The Diesel engine for the Compass is a 2.0-litre Multijet Turbocharged unit that outputs 170 BHP and 350 Nm. The Diesel engine is currently available with a 6-speed Manual Transmission only. The top-end trim offers an option of 4×4.
On the other hand, the Hexa offers a choice of two Diesel engines. Essentially, it’s the same Diesel that is being offered in two states of tune. In its lower state of tune, this motor is available only on the base model. In comparison, all the variants offer a lot more power and torque. Also, even the Hexa gets a 4×4 hardware on the top-end variant. One area where Hexa offers an advantage if you compare it with Compass is that the Hexa offers a 6-speed Automatic transmission as well. Currently, there’s on automatic on offer on the Compass.
Also Read: Jeep Compass vs Ford Endeavour | Jeep Compass vs VW Tiguan
Compare Tata Hexa and Jeep Compass – Mileage
Model | Mileage (petrol) | Mileage (diesel) |
Jeep Compass | 13-14 KMPL (MT)/12-13 KMPL (AT) (estimated) | 17.1 KMPL (4×2)/16.3 KMPL (4×4) (ARAI) |
Tata Hexa | – | 14.4 KMPL (ARAI) |
If you compare the mileage, the Compass is the clear winner here. The Compass is not only lighter, but also gets smaller engines. Hence, it isn’t a surprise to see it boasting much higher mileage figures. Even the petrol model of the Compass is likely to offer a reasonably decent fuel mileage of around 14 KMPL. The Diesel Compass offers an ARAI-tested mileage of 17.1 KMPL for 4×2 model and 16.3 KMPL for 4×4 model. In comparison, the Hexa is a lot heavier and comes with a bigger engine. Hence, it offers a considerably lower mileage. Both the automatic and the manual variants of the Hexa have an ARAI-tested mileage of 14.4 KMPL.
Compare Tata Hexa and Jeep Compass – Dimensions
Dimensions | Jeep Compass | Tata Hexa |
Length (mm) | 4,420 mm | 4,788 mm |
Width (mm) | 1,820 mm | 1,903 mm |
Height (mm) | 1,650 mm | 1,791 mm |
Wheelbase (mm) | 2,640 mm | 2,850 mm |
The Hexa should appeal to you if you believe in the ‘the bigger, the better’ motto. The Hexa is really a lot bigger than the Compass. Length, width, height, wheelbase – take any parameter and the Compass is simply no match for the Hexa in this comparison. Thanks to the bigger dimensions, the Hexa ends up offering as many as 7 seats. The Compass, in comparison, offers only 5-seats. The Hexa gets 3 rows of seats, while the Compass gets only 2 rows.
Compare Tata Hexa and Jeep Compass – Exterior
The latest small SUV from Jeep, the current-generation Compass, looks really modern and attractive. It has got a very distinctive design owing to the handful of typical Jeep cues it gets. The highlight of the Jeep’s design is the 7-slat grille that plays a large role in providing this vehicle an instantly recognizable visual identity. At the first glance, the Compass looks like a baby Grand Cherokee, which makes the Compass an even more attractive product for the aspirational ones. Other characteristics of the design include a really bold stance and a hint of sportiness thru bits like very short overhangs. The Compass looks butch and sophisticated. Other bits like wrap-around taillamps help the car look more sleek.
In a stark contrast, the Hexa is for those who subscribe to the ‘Big is beautiful’ school of thought. Come to think of it, the Hexa is significantly larger than even the Mahindra XUV500. While the Hexa doesn’t look anywhere as sporty or as iconic as the Compass, it does manage to hold its own by offering a really bod stance that looks sufficiently rugged without being very loud. That said, it does miss out on the kind of sophistication that the Compass exhibits. But at the end of the day, design is a very subjective matter and it all depends on the personal taste of a buyer.
Compare Tata Hexa and Jeep Compass – Interior
On the inside, the Compass offers a really nice interior setup. The cabin is made up of high quality materials and taking a prominent position on the dashboard is the 7-inch UConnect system. The centre stash goes on to offer many ergonomically placed buttons and controls. The Jeep Compass offers a three-spoke steering wheel that’s not only good to hold but also looks fairly sporty. A highlight of the features list is the Selec-Terrain drive mode selector. This is located near the hear lever. Overall, the interior of the Compass is a really nice place to be in.
If you compare Tata Hexa and Jeep Compass in terms of interior, chances are you’ll miss all the sophistication that the Jeep SUV here has on offer. That said, the Hexa makes for this by offering acres of space. If you compare the top-end Hexa with the similarly priced model of the Compass, the former offers a lot many more features. Even the top-end model of the compass doesn’t offer bits like the excellent 10-speak audio system or the sunroof.
Tata Hexa vs Jeep Compass Comparison Verdict
Price- Okay, compare the Hexa and the Compass, and the Compass won’t look all that cheap to you anymore. The top-end Diesel model of the Hexa is only about 50 grands costlier than the entry-level Compass Diesel. On the other hand, the entry level Hexa is almost Rs 4 lakh cheaper, and yet offers a Diesel engine instead of the Petrol engine on the base Compass.
Specifications- The Compass’ Diesel offers slightly more power, but the Hexa offers a lot more torque. Sure, the Compass is lighter, but the Hexa isn’t all that behind in performance stakes. Moreover, Jeep is yet to launch the Diesel Automatic variants in India, but the Hexa provides a pretty efficient auto ‘box on mid- and top-end trims. Both the vehicles offer a 4×4 system.
Mileage – The Compass is not only lighter, but also offers a smaller engine. No surprise then, that, it offers more mileage.
Dimensions – The Hexa is much larger than the Compass. It offers 7 seats, while the Compass offers only 5 seats. It also offers a larger storage space.
Design – If you compare the designs, these two SUVs are as different as they can be. While the Compass impresses with its compact, modern and sufficiently muscular looks, the Hexa impresses with its sheer size and stance.
Compare Tata Hexa and Jeep Compass – VERDICT
First things first, the Compass is far costlier than the Hexa. Secondly, the Hexa offers an automatic gearbox and more torque. True, the Compass offers a higher mileage and looks more sophisticated, but the Hexa is much more spacious and even offers more features. You can get the top-end Hexa, with 4×4 and all the bells and whistles, for almost Rs 4 lakh lesser than the top-end Compass. Plus, you can get the base Hexa, which has a Diesel engine, for Rs 4 lakh lesser than the base Compass, which has a Petrol engine. No doubt, the Hexa offers a lot more value for money than the Compass.
What do you think? Have been able to correctly compare Jeep Compass and Tata Hexa? Do agree with the verdict of our Tata Hexa vs Jeep Compass comparison? Share your views by penning them down in the comments section below. Stay tuned for more comparisons.