Jeep fans will get another reason to party soon as Renegade based sub-4m compact SUV has been spied testing on the Indian roads. The India specific version will feature a slight reduction in overall length, leaving Jeep India in a segment of vehicles where taxes are just 29% for petrol and 31% for diesel cars.
As the government has finalized taxes based on length only, it is to be seen yet that which engine Jeep uses for their youngest product. Using the 1.6L engine would suit them the best or else, the 1.3L will prove a failure among powerful rivals like Ford EcoSport.
Maruti Vitara Brezza is using the same engine but, fans feel the lack of power in comparison to other cars like Tata Nexon and Ford EcoSport. The former is good for 260 Nm of maximum torque, leaving Jeep with no other option than bringing the same or even slightly higher value.
The sub-4m India specific Jeep Renegade will also rival Maruti Jimny indirectly as both have a large length difference. Also, Jimny is expected to feature a petrol engine and diesel may not be on the charts for initial months. Jeep is also preparing an Endeavour sized SUV for India.
The problem with the huge one will be pricing as 5-seat Compass is currently available with a price tag of INR 21.94 lakh for the manual gearbox variant. On the other hand, if sub-4m SUV with a Fiat-sourced 2.0L engine arrives, they won’t be able to place it under INR 12 lakh for the 2WD variant.
Even high levels of localization would not help them keep affordability under check for India. Jeep has always been desired by fans for their 4×4 vehicles with class-leading capabilities. It is now to be seen how effectively they shift this interest of users into a compact vehicle.
Spy Photos Source: RushLane
