Should I buy a petrol or diesel powered Jeep Compass

I'm looking at the Sport trim with a manual transmission.

BHPian plosh recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hey folks, I'm looking to buy a Jeep Compass soon. My issue is that I'm split between the two engine choices. The issue with petrol is the lower efficiency and the petrol/ethanol blend issue as mentioned here.

On the other hand, the diesel engine worries me because diesel cars seem to be getting phased out, and I won't want this car's life to be cut short. Additionally, the diesel variant will set me back by another 2-2.5 lakhs, which I'd prefer to avoid unless necessary. I'm looking at the Sport trim with manual transmission.

Basically want to ensure I pick a model that:

• Won't be rendered obsolete due to some fuel mix changes or regulations.
• Won't cost too much to buy and to run.

I'd love your opinions on this. The petrol/ethanol mix issue seems like it could end up being a big deal, else would've been leaning towards petrol.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

It all depends on your individual preferences, but I (and a majority of BHPians) prefer the 2.0 turbo-diesel of the Compass. It's a capable motor with excellent driveability, mid-range punch, robustness & good efficiency. On the other hand, I found the 1.4L turbo-petrol to be above average, at best. Where the 2.0 diesel really impresses, the 1.4L turbo-petrol feels overworked, laggy at low revs, guzzles fuel when driven hard and has average NVH levels at high rpm. The only area that the petrol delighted me in was outright acceleration, but that's it.

I would pick the diesel. Don't worry about 10 year bans. They aren't coming to Ponda / Goa anytime soon. Yes, the diesel is the more expensive, but it's also the better engine, more fun to drive, more efficient and will get you significantly higher resale whenever you sell it. Don't sweat over phasing out either. For one reason or the other, a lot of spectacular engines (Ford's 3.2L, S-Cross 1.6L, Maruti's 1.5L diesel, Audi's 3.0 TDI, Hyundai's 1.6L CRDi etc. etc.) got phased out, but not because of any fault of the respective power plants. Whoever owns those motors today still loves them.

Have you test-driven both for at least 10 - 15 km? If not, please do so this week.

Here's what BHPian abhishek46 had to say on the matter:

The Compass's 1.4 petrol unit is a pretty 'average' performer.

It could keep up with the diesel, if you drive it pedal-to-metal.

However, in real world conditions, it is under-whelming.

Simply put, it pales, in comparison with its 2.0-litre diesel cousin.

Here's what BHPian sushantk had to say on the matter:

I have a Compass petrol AT 2020 model. I had test drove both petrol and Diesel last year and liked diesel more overall (especially low end torque). My requirement was an AT gearbox, and the cost difference between for diesel AT and petrol AT was 5+ lakhs, so I went with petrol. I had to compromise on the Petrol AT gearbox which is not that great in city traffic but my 70-80% runs are on highway, so I am okay with it.

In your case, since you are looking for manual transmission, I would suggest to go for Diesel. The only thing you should be looking out for is your acceptance level for the NVH Diesel. I found it little more than my comfort, but that could be just my perception as I have been driving only petrol cars. Have long test drives and take your time to choose.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.