Long Term Review 2

So Vikrant’s busy travelling schedule meant I got the keys to the Compass. A good looking SUV with an automatic transmission, I wasn’t complaining at all. Now me and Vikrant do the same 80km commute to and fro. So it was going to be interesting to see how the Compass performs.

I’ll start with the engine first up. The Compass gets a 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder turbo petrol. It has a 160bhp and 250Nm to play with which seem like pretty good figures. Now the engine feels refined and driving around town it feels pretty smooth. However this motor does not like to be hurried. The 1500 plus kg kerb weight and the slight turbo-lag makes the Compass a little slow to respond to light throttle inputs. But nothing that can’t be fixed with a little extra pressure from the right foot.

While the performance around town is satisfactory, the fuel efficiency figures can get quite erratic. In normal moving conditions, the Compass returns between 9-10kmpl, but in bumper to bumper traffic the number falls in the high 7kmpl category.

The performance part done with, let’s get to the insides where I spend at least three to four hours daily. The Compass is extremely comfortable thanks to the large cushy seats and soft touch materials all around. The infotainment system works flawlessly and the large screen very receptive to touch. There’s plenty of storage too, and more importantly enough cup holders for coffee or water.

To make commutes comfortable, you also need good ride quality. The Compass is just right for the roughed up city roads. Sharp edges do cause a thud, but when it comes to the regular potholes and speed breakers, the Compass just sails through. The Compass has already covered 1230 km since the last report and the next one just might see it tackling the highways.

Vehicle Log

Odo: 8380km

Km this month: 1230km

Fuel: 74 litres

Fuel Efficiency: 9.2kmpl

Pictures by Kaustubh Gandhi