American carmaker Jeep is all set to expand its Indian portfolio with its upcoming 7-seater Toyota-Fortuner rival, codenamed the ‘H6’. It is expected to make its global debut next month and could be known as "Patriot". Jeep Patriot was actually a compact SUV that was sold in the US alongside the first-generation Compass. The brand has registered this nomenclature in India in 2007 and the upcoming 7-seater SUV may use the same name.
The three-row Jeep SUV will share its underpinnings with the Compass SUV; however, it will have its own styling elements, which are likely to be inspired by the new Grand Cherokee. It is expected to be powered by Compass's 2.0-litre diesel engine with more power output. For reference, the Compass diesel produces 172PS/350Nm. The gearbox options are likely to include a 6-speed manual and a 9-speed ZF-sourced automatic unit along with 4X2 and 4X4 drivetrain choices. Besides this, it could also get Jeep Wrangler’s 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit. Paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, this frugal motor makes out 268hp of power and 400Nm of torque.
In terms of features, the Jeep Patriot is likely to shares its interior design with the Compass SUV. However, it would be a more feature-rich offering, comprising advanced features like adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, blind-spot alert, park assist, and lane assistant, etc.
The upcoming 7-seater Jeep SUV will be manufactured in India for Asian and European markets. Expect it to be priced between Rs 30 to Rs 40 lakh (ex-showroom), placing it in the same price bracket as the Ford Endeavour, Toyota Fortuner, Mahindra Alturas G4, and MG Gloster.
