In order to attract a wider range of audience, Jeep has added yet another variant to its bestselling SUV in India. The Compass, which received a new range-topping variant in September last year, is now available with a petrol-AT combination in the Longitude (O) trim. The said variant is priced at Rs 18.9 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and it should work well with those prospective customers who put the convenience of a two-pedal setup above the need for a lengthier list of features.

What’s the bonnet? It is the same petrol-AT combination which, until now, was available from the Limited variant onwards. The 1.4-litre turbocharged engine produces 163PS of power and 250Nm of torque, while the transmission duties are handled by a 7-speed automatic transmission. Prior to this, the Jeep Compass was available with only a diesel-MT combination in the Longitude (O) trim.

The new variant is noticeably less expensive than those with the same powertrain. If you want the numbers, it costs Rs 1.07 lakh less than the Limited trim, Rs 1.65 lakh less than the Limited (O) trim and a whopping Rs 2.57 lakh less than the Limited Plus trim. The difference in prices comes from the list of features that the Longitude (O) misses out on. That list includes Leather seats, reverse parking camera, Bi-Xenon HID headlamps, dual-tone paint option, side and curtain airbags, auto headlamps and wipers, an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 18-inch alloy wheels and a panoramic sunroof.

The Jeep Compass has is currently bringing the bread and butter home for FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) in India. For the record, the American brand Jeep is part of the FCA automotive group. In India, the Compass falls in a price range where several high-riding models such as the Mahindra XUV500, Hyundai Tucson and the Tata Hexa fall. In the near future, the Compass will gain two direct competitors in the form of the Tata Harrier and the MG Hector.