Jeep's Compass-based seven-seater SUV spied testing

For a while, we've been speculating the arrival of a seven-seater version of the Compass in India. Add to this mix the Jeep H6 and it almost became evident that the latter will be the much-speculated three-row version of the Compass. However, this is only partially correct.

Jeep Seven Seater SUV Test Prototype QRT Front Quarter

The all-new three-row Jeep model (codenamed H6) will be built on the current Compass' platform but will not look anything like the latter.

At the start of this month, FCA India had announced its upcoming plan to invest about $250 million in our market. More specifically, this investment will be used for launching four Jeep SUVs in the country by the end of 2022, one of them being the 2021 Compass facelift that was recently unveiled and is set to launch on January 27. In this announcement, FCA India had also confirmed the imminent arrival of an 'all-new global mid-size three-row model' (codenamed H6) that will also be locally-manufactured in India, alongside the locally-assembled versions of the Wrangler and the 2021 Grand Cherokee.

Now, for a while, we've been speculating the arrival of a seven-seater version of the Compass in India. Add to this mix the Jeep H6 and it almost became evident that the latter will be the much-speculated three-row version of the Compass. However, this is only partially correct.

Jeep Seven Seater SUV Test Prototype QRT Side View

Our Italian partner Quattroruote has managed to click some images of a very early test prototype of the Jeep H6 and based on some fresh information that's come to light, the H6 will be a completely new Jeep model but with the underpinnings of the Compass. In broad terms, the Jeep H6 will use the same engine and potentially the same interior set-up as the 2021 Compass. However, keeping the size increase in mind, the 2.0-litre diesel mill will be uprated to develop close to 200bhp in the H6. All-wheel-drive (AWD) and a nine-speed torque converter automatic are also expected to be part of the standard kit.

Jeep Seven Seater SUV Test Prototype QRT Rear Quarter

In terms of exterior styling though, the Jeep H6 is expected to be unique when compared to its siblings. For this reason, the H6 will not be called the 'Grand Compass' and will arrive with a new name. Since the test prototype is in a very early stage of development right now and the car's debut is more than a year away (late 2022, perhaps), at the moment it's hard to comment on the kind of styling the H6 will bring along.