Jeep India has launched the Compass Sport 9AT at ₹21.99 lakh (ex-showroom), bringing a nine-speed automatic gearbox to the entry-level Sport variant for the first time. The new SUV is powered by the familiar 2.0-litre MultiJet II turbo-diesel engine, which produces 170hp and 350Nm of torque. It is offered with front-wheel drive, six airbags, cruise control, Auto Hold and wireless smartphone connectivity.
The new variant is aimed at buyers who want the Jeep Compass’s diesel performance and automatic convenience without moving to a more expensive trim. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the second week of November 2026.
However, the Sport 9AT is still an entry-level variant. While it gets essential safety and convenience equipment, buyers will need to consider whether its simpler cabin and smaller infotainment screen meet their expectations at this price.
In this detailed MotorFuturist comparison, we examine the Jeep Compass Sport 9AT’s price, engine, transmission, design, interior, technology, safety, comfort, practicality and ownership considerations. We also compare it with alternatives such as the Tata Harrier diesel automatic and Mahindra Scorpio-N diesel automatic to understand where the new Jeep makes the most sense.
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Jeep Compass Sport Diesel Automatic: Price and Key Details
The new Compass Sport 9AT is priced at ₹21.99 lakh ex-showroom. It gives buyers an automatic option in the entry-level Sport trim, rather than requiring them to step up to one of the higher variants.
Jeep Compass Sport 9AT: Key Specifications
| Specification | Jeep Compass Sport 9AT |
|---|---|
| Variant | Sport 9AT |
| Ex-showroom price | ₹21.99 lakh |
| Engine | 2.0-litre MultiJet II turbo-diesel |
| Engine displacement | 1,956cc |
| Maximum power | 170hp |
| Maximum torque | 350Nm |
| Transmission | 9-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive |
| Seating capacity | 5 passengers |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
| Infotainment system | 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen |
| Smartphone connectivity | Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay |
| Safety highlights | 6 airbags, electronic stability control, traction control and Auto Hold |
| Suspension technology | Frequency Selective Damping |
| Optional accessory pack | ₹29,900 |
| Expected delivery start | Second week of November 2026 |
All prices are ex-showroom. Equipment and specifications should be confirmed with an authorised Jeep dealership before booking.
Jeep Compass Sport 9AT Price: What Has Changed?
The main change is the availability of the nine-speed automatic transmission in the entry-level Sport trim.
Previously, customers looking for a Compass automatic had to consider the more expensive automatic variants. The new Sport 9AT lowers the entry point for buyers who prioritise an automatic gearbox but do not necessarily need every premium feature offered by the higher trims.
The new variant costs ₹21.99 lakh ex-showroom. Buyers can also choose an optional accessory pack priced at ₹29,900.
Jeep Compass Sport 9AT Price Breakdown
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Jeep Compass Sport 9AT | ₹21,99,000 |
| Optional accessory pack | ₹29,900 |
| Price with accessory pack | ₹22,28,900 |
The final on-road price will be higher after registration, insurance and applicable local charges. Confirm the accessory pack’s final availability and pricing with the dealer.
The accessory pack is optional, so buyers do not have to pay for it if they prefer the standard exterior and interior specification.
Is the New Compass Automatic More Affordable Than Before?
The answer is yes within the Jeep Compass range: the Sport 9AT is now the entry point for customers who want the SUV with an automatic transmission.
However, it is important to distinguish between the cheapest automatic Compass and the cheapest automatic diesel SUV in the market. The new Jeep is not automatically the lowest-priced option across the entire segment. Buyers should also compare the entry-level diesel automatic variants of competing SUVs before making a decision.
The Compass’s appeal will depend on how much value a buyer places on its engine, nine-speed gearbox, suspension setup, steering response and overall driving character.
Exterior Design: Familiar Jeep Styling With a Simpler Specification
The Compass Sport 9AT retains the familiar design of the Compass. It does not introduce a new body style or a major exterior redesign.
Its styling is relatively understated compared with some of the more aggressively styled SUVs in the segment. The overall shape, upright proportions and distinctive front-end design give it a recognisable Jeep identity.
Jeep Compass Sport 9AT Exterior Features
| Exterior feature | Availability |
|---|---|
| LED headlamps | Yes |
| LED daytime running lights | Yes |
| 17-inch silver-finished alloy wheels | Yes |
| Black outside rear-view mirror housings | Yes |
| Integrated turn indicators | Yes |
| Chrome window surrounds | Yes |
| Rear spoiler | Yes |
| Shark-fin antenna | Yes |
| Optional Swoosh decal | Accessory pack |
| Mud flaps | Accessory pack |
Does the Sport 9AT Look Different From Higher Variants?
The Sport 9AT retains a relatively simple exterior specification, with silver-finished 17-inch alloy wheels and black ORVM housings.
The optional Swoosh decal adds a more distinctive visual element along the shoulder line and rear pillars. Buyers who prefer a cleaner appearance can skip this accessory.
The important point is that the Sport 9AT is positioned as an entry-level trim. It offers the core Compass design without attempting to replicate the more premium appearance of higher variants.
Optional Accessory Pack: What Does It Include?
Jeep is offering an optional accessory pack priced at ₹29,900.
| Accessory | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Swoosh decal | Adds a distinctive exterior design element |
| Ambient lighting | Enhances the cabin atmosphere |
| Dashcam | Records driving footage; the manufacturer describes it as having predictive safety features |
| All-weather floor mats | Help protect the cabin floor |
| Mud flaps | Help reduce mud and debris thrown up by the wheels |
The accessory pack is a personalisation option rather than a mechanical upgrade. It does not increase engine output, change the gearbox or turn the front-wheel-drive Compass into a four-wheel-drive SUV.
Buyers should also ask the dealership about the dashcam’s exact functions, installation and warranty coverage before purchasing the pack.
Interior and Cabin: Essential Features Over Luxury
The Compass Sport 9AT has a dark cabin theme with grey fabric inserts on the dashboard and door pads. The fabric seats feature blue stitching, giving the interior a subtle contrast.
The cabin follows the entry-level trim’s straightforward approach. Rather than focusing on luxury finishes, the Sport 9AT provides the equipment needed for everyday driving and smartphone-based entertainment.
Jeep Compass Sport 9AT Interior Features
| Interior feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cabin theme | Dark |
| Dashboard finish | Grey fabric inserts |
| Door-pad finish | Grey fabric inserts |
| Seat upholstery | Fabric with blue stitching |
| Infotainment screen | 8.4-inch touchscreen |
| Digital instrument display | 3.5-inch display |
| Audio system | Four speakers |
| Smartphone connectivity | Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay |
| Steering controls | Steering-mounted controls |
| Outside mirror adjustment | Electrically adjustable |
| Ambient lighting | Available through optional accessory pack |
| Dashcam | Available through optional accessory pack |
Does Using Car Air Conditioning Increase Fuel Consumption?
Infotainment and Connectivity
The Compass Sport 9AT comes with an 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen. It supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, allowing compatible smartphones to connect without a cable.
For everyday use, these functions cover many of the requirements buyers have for navigation, calls, messaging and music.
Infotainment Comparison
| Feature | Jeep Compass Sport 9AT | What buyers should consider |
|---|---|---|
| Touchscreen | 8.4-inch Uconnect | Functional, but smaller than the displays available in some rival variants |
| Wireless Android Auto | Yes | Allows compatible phones to connect wirelessly |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | Yes | Useful for iPhone users |
| Audio system | Four speakers | Basic compared with premium multi-speaker systems |
| Instrument display | 3.5-inch digital display | More basic than a fully digital instrument cluster |
| Ambient lighting | Optional accessory pack | Not part of the standard specification described at launch |
| Dashcam | Optional accessory pack | Adds recording capability; confirm exact functionality |
The Compass offers the essential smartphone connectivity many buyers use daily. Nevertheless, infotainment is one area where the Sport trim’s entry-level positioning becomes clear.
A buyer who spends considerable time inside the vehicle and wants a more premium cabin experience should test the system in person and compare it with the equipment available in similarly priced alternatives.
Engine and Performance: 170hp and 350Nm From the 2.0-Litre Diesel
The new Compass Sport 9AT uses Jeep’s familiar 2.0-litre MultiJet II turbo-diesel engine.
The four-cylinder engine produces 170hp and 350Nm of peak torque. These figures are unchanged from the broader Compass diesel powertrain specification.
The key development is the availability of this engine with the nine-speed automatic gearbox in the entry-level Sport variant.
Jeep Compass Sport 9AT Engine Specifications
| Engine specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine type | Four-cylinder turbo-diesel |
| Engine family | MultiJet II |
| Displacement | 1,956cc |
| Maximum power | 170hp |
| Maximum torque | 350Nm |
| Transmission | 9-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive |
| Fuel | Diesel |
Nine-Speed Automatic Gearbox: The Main Attraction
The nine-speed automatic gearbox is the most important feature of the new variant.
Jeep has brought this transmission to the entry-level Sport trim, allowing buyers to choose automatic convenience without moving directly to a more expensive Compass variant.
An automatic gearbox can make everyday driving easier, particularly in stop-start traffic. It also removes the need for repeated clutch operation, which can be tiring during long periods of urban congestion.
Jeep Compass 9AT: Advantages and Considerations
| Factor | Potential advantage | What buyers should check |
|---|---|---|
| Nine-speed automatic | Offers a wide range of gear ratios | Test low-speed smoothness and response |
| City driving | No clutch operation for the driver | Check behaviour in slow-moving traffic |
| Highway driving | Multiple ratios can help the engine operate across different speeds | Assess overtaking response during a test drive |
| Diesel torque | 350Nm supports everyday pulling requirements | Evaluate engine noise and refinement |
| Front-wheel drive | Suitable for ordinary paved-road use | Not equivalent to a dedicated 4WD system |
| Entry-level automatic trim | Makes the automatic Compass more accessible | Compare its equipment with rival automatic variants |
A nine-speed gearbox should not automatically be assumed to be better than every six-speed automatic. Gearbox calibration, shift quality, low-speed response and the way the transmission works with the engine matter just as much as the number of ratios.
The Compass should therefore be evaluated through a proper test drive rather than on gearbox specifications alone.
Ride and Handling: FSD Suspension Continues
Jeep has retained Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) suspension on the Compass Sport 9AT. The variant also retains Dynamic Steering Torque (DST), which is intended to support responsive steering behaviour.
These systems are part of the Compass’s driving package, and their inclusion is notable because the new automatic is based on the entry-level Sport trim.
Suspension and Handling Features
| Feature | What it means |
|---|---|
| Frequency Selective Damping | Suspension damping is designed to respond differently depending on the nature of road inputs |
| Dynamic Steering Torque | A steering-related system intended to support responsive handling |
| Front-wheel drive | Sends engine power to the front wheels |
| Independent suspension setup | The Compass uses an independent front suspension and multi-link rear suspension |
| Nine-speed automatic | Manages gear changes without manual clutch operation |
FSD should not be interpreted as a guarantee that the Compass will ride better than every rival. Ride comfort depends on the suspension tune, tyre size and pressure, road surface, speed and passenger load.
For buyers, the most useful test-drive route would include broken urban roads, speed breakers, highway stretches and a few corners. That would provide a better understanding of how the SUV feels in everyday conditions.
Safety Features: Six Airbags and More
The Compass Sport 9AT adds six airbags, Auto Hold and cruise control over the manual Sport variant, according to the launch announcement.
It also includes electronic stability control, traction control, hill-start assist, ISOFIX child-seat anchors, tyre-pressure monitoring, an electronic parking brake and a reversing camera with rear parking sensors.
Jeep Compass Sport 9AT Safety Equipment
| Safety feature | Availability |
|---|---|
| Six airbags | Yes |
| Electronic stability control | Yes |
| Traction control | Yes |
| Hill-start assist | Yes |
| ISOFIX child-seat anchors | Yes |
| Tyre-pressure monitoring | Yes |
| Electronic parking brake | Yes |
| Auto Hold | Yes |
| Cruise control | Yes |
| Reversing camera | Yes |
| Rear parking sensors | Yes |
What Does Auto Hold Do?
Auto Hold can help keep the vehicle stationary after the driver brings it to a stop, reducing the need to continuously apply pressure to the brake pedal in suitable conditions.
It can be useful in city traffic and at traffic signals. Drivers should still understand the system’s operating conditions and follow the instructions in the owner’s manual.
How Does the Compass Compare on Safety?
Safety comparisons need to distinguish between equipment and crash-test performance.
Airbag count, electronic stability control, child-seat anchors and tyre-pressure monitoring are important equipment considerations. A crash-test rating, on the other hand, is based on a separate assessment protocol.
Buyers should compare the precise variant’s safety equipment and check the latest applicable crash-test results rather than assume that two SUVs with similar airbag counts provide identical protection.
The Compass Sport 9AT’s six airbags and electronic safety systems are useful inclusions, but its launch equipment list alone is not enough to declare it safer than the Harrier or Scorpio-N.
Our recommendation: Test-drive the Compass Sport 9AT alongside the closest Harrier diesel automatic variant and a similarly budgeted Scorpio-N automatic. Compare the final on-road quotations, equipment, rear-seat comfort and gearbox behaviour. If you prefer the Compass’s driving character and do not need a more luxurious cabin or additional seats, the new Sport 9AT could be a sensible entry point into Jeep’s five-seat SUV range.
