The Compass
can do the three-
wheeling trick
and handle axle
twisters very well
Driven
To p : Finally the automatic on the diesel compass,
though for now the nine-speed is only on the
Tr a i l h aw k. Above: That 4WD-Low switch is what
makes all the difference to the off-roadingdownshift. There are no paddleshifters for
manual control, and there is no Sport mode
on the gearbox to quicken the shift action.
You can shift the gear lever to the left and tap
it up and down to engage manual mode and
that helps hold on to gears when you’re in
the hills and also deliver engine braking. The
additional ratios also allow for a lower first
gear for better acceleration and a taller top
for more relaxed cruising and of course better
fuel efficiency, aided by the power take off unit
that disconnects the rear axle when cruising
on the road. We didn’t really get a chance to
test the efficiency, though on the way back
from our off-roading we did see 11kmpl on the
display while heavy off-roading saw the figure
drop to 5kmpl.4-Low and Rock mode
The Compass is natively front-wheel drive, in
the interests of fuel economy and emissions,
and when it starts to sense slip, the clutch
on the rear axle opens, making it four-wheel
drive. If you do see a tricky section you can
engage the four-wheel drive lock so that theCompass is primed in 4x4 and there’s no delay
in drive going to the back wheels — which is
all same as the regular 4x4 Compass. The
Trailhawk has an additional button on the 4x4
selector knob: 4-Low. 4-Low is only available
on first gear (it locks it in first gear) and it
results in a crawl ratio of 20:1. Crawl ratio is the
first gear ratio multiplied by the transfer case
multiplier and axle ratio — basically it almost
doubles the torque in first, the additional grunt
helping it climb hills and power over obstacles
that would have the regular Compass running
out of breath.
The Trailhawk also has an additional mode
on the Selec-Terrain traction management
— Rock. As you toggle between Snow,
Sand and Mud, the level of traction control
intervention reduces to allow the tyres to dig
through the loose surface and find grip on the
harder surface underneath. Rock mode only
works with 4-Low where the front and rear
driveshafts are locked and the traction control
system is more aggressive as you want to be
tip-toeing over boulders with maximum grunt
and not spinning the tyres and letting rocks fly
damaging your own 4x4 and those behind you.Trail Rated
Before we hit the trails, some background
on the Trail Rated badge. While the exact
specifications for Jeep to certify its 4x4s as
Trail Rated is a closely-guarded secret, there
are five key parameters that go into the
certification — traction, ground clearance,
articulation, manoeuvrability and water
fording.
First we test traction and articulation by
putting the Trailhawk through a series of
ditches and side slopes that tilt the Compass
at crazy angles, hoist the wheels in the air and
the 4x4 system sends torque to the tyres with
traction (braking the uselessly spinning wheels
with no traction) and keeps the Jeep chugging
along. The Compass can do the three-