fbpx
JeepRumors
Trending

AutoCar India, Gives Us The Scoop On The New 7-Passenger Jeep® 598:

Compass-Based Three-Row Is Coming For Brazil and Indian Markets...

Over the past several years, the Jeep® brand has been expanding its offerings around the globe. This includes some models that aren’t available in the United States, home to the iconic brand. This started with the introduction of the 2019 Jeep Grand Commander (K8), a three-row midsize SUV built exclusively for the Chinese market. Since then it has continued with the introduction of the 2020 Jeep Commander PHEV (plug-in hybrid) in China, and the European 2020 Jeep Renegade and Compass 4xe PHEV models

2022 Jeep® 598 Prototype In Brazil. (Marlos Ney Vidal from AutosSegredos.com.br).
2022 Jeep® 598 Prototype In Brazil. (Marlos Ney Vidal from AutosSegredos.com.br).

With Jeep looking to expand its global notoriety even further, there are some global markets where the brand has a tough time selling certain models due to cost, as well as vehicle size. So instead, Jeep has decided to build a specific model for that market like the Commander/Grand Commander for China. One such Jeep will be launched later this year in two different global markets – Brazil and India.

The Jeep 598 platform, is a three-row SUV based on the current Jeep Compass. Codenamed H1 in Brazil and H6 in India, the yet-to-be-named vehicle will be manufactured in both countries fulfilling the need for a bigger SUV which the current two-row Compass and Cherokee can not.

2022 Jeep® 598 Prototype In Brazil. (Marlos Ney Vidal from AutosSegredos.com.br).
2022 Jeep® 598 Prototype In Brazil. (Marlos Ney Vidal from AutosSegredos.com.br).

Thanks to our friends at AutoCar India, we are now learning more details about the India-spec version which is expected to launch in April 2022. 

According to their sources, the 7-passenger Jeep 598 will share most of its underpinnings with the newly facelifted Compass which started production in January. They expect that the new H6 will use a formula similar to the new Grand Cherokee L (WL) and upcoming long-wheelbase Grand Wagoneer (WS), by using much of the Compass’ updated front styling upfront, with changes made to the body from the B-pillar rearward. AutoCar India indicates that the rear doors will be more upright in the rear, with unique rear styling mimicking the newer Grand Cherokee.

2022 Jeep® 598 Prototype In Brazil. (Marlos Ney Vidal from AutosSegredos.com.br).
2022 Jeep® 598 Prototype In Brazil. (Marlos Ney Vidal from AutosSegredos.com.br).

They expect that the H6 will retain a lot of the creature comforts from the Compass. The Compass has a handsome new interior that might be a carryover to the new model, as we believe Jeep will want to save as much money as possible in the development of the new H1 and H6, as those markets tend to purchase vehicles on the lower end of the market. But it shouldn’t keep Jeep from offering captain’s chairs for the middle row in some trim-levels.

India-Spec 2022 Jeep® Compass S 4×4. (Jeep).

AutoCar India, also shed some light on the upcoming powertrain for the Indian marketplace. It expects that the H6 will come with the same 2.0-liter Multijet turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine as the Compass. However, they believe that it might be upgraded to make around 200 horsepower because of the added weight. Currently, the 2.0-liter makes 173 horsepower under the hood of the 2021 Jeep Compass.

2022 Jeep® 598 Prototype In Brazil. (Marlos Ney Vidal from AutosSegredos.com.br).
2022 Jeep® 598 Prototype In Brazil. (Marlos Ney Vidal from AutosSegredos.com.br).

They also expect that it will come standard with a 9-speed automatic transmission and offer 4×4 capability on the higher trim levels. There was no word about a gasoline-powered model for the Indian market.

They did however briefly mention the Brazilian H1 model, stating that it will probably get the 1.3-liter turbocharged GSE-T4 (or Global Small Engine – Turbo 4-Cylinder) we have come to love under the hood here in North America in the Renegade. The 2.0-liter Multijet diesel will also be available in Brazil.

2022 Jeep® 598 Prototype In Brazil. (Marlos Ney Vidal from AutosSegredos.com.br).
2022 Jeep® 598 Prototype In Brazil. (Marlos Ney Vidal from AutosSegredos.com.br).

The Jeep H6 enters the Indian marketplace with added competition from Volkswagen and Skoda, which are bringing new vehicles to the segment soon. While those two vehicles feature gasoline offerings, AutoCar India believes that the diesel offering in the H6 could place it as a competitor of more body-on-frame SUVs like the MG GlosterToyota Fortuner, and Ford Endeavour.

The new 7-passenger Jeep should be going into production first in Brazil sometime in August. Production for the Indian market should start in April of 2022.

A special thanks to our friends at AutoCar India and AutosSegredos for the help with this article.

Robert S. Miller

Robert S. Miller is a diehard Mopar enthusiast who lives and breathes all that is Mopar. The Michigander is not only the Editor for MoparInsiders.com, 5thGenRams.com, and HDRams.com but an automotive photographer. He is an avid fan of offshore powerboat racing, which he travels the country to take part in.

Related Articles

Loading new replies...

I’d like to know how much of the development work on these global Jeep products is transferable to North America, or if it is intended. It seems to me that a great amount of talent and resources exist in India and Brazil and could be used to offset and speed up development costs and time on various products. I am also curious on how the French and Italians will augment this process as it seems to be happening with the sub compact Jeep in India. My concern is that the “American” essence of domestically branded product will be lost in the process.
Indeed their are benefits and losses in globalization, I just want my Dodge to be the personification of what it should be, pure bred American muscle with an attitude by and for Americans who like that stuff. Does “Scat Pack” even translate? Curious and concerned.

Reply Like

click to expand...

It time for Jeep to focus time and resources on the Cherokee model.

Reply Like

It time for Jeep to focus time and resources on the Cherokee model.

I totally agree, but it is obvious by this new three row Compass, that the Cherokee is the odd man out for Jeep globally. Too much overlap for the a bit too big Cherokee in its current FWD configuration. The solution I advocate is to market the next generation Cherokee only in the North American market where it remains popular, as a down sized Grand Cherokee on a shortened platform, two row only, in the soon to be exited current Grand Cherokee niche. The Cherokee would then assume the lucrative size, maybe an inch or two smaller, and RWD advantages of old GC and can be manufactured on the same assembly line. This redefined Cherokee would better fit the Jeep rugged chemistry and free up its current factory for new product, perhaps Peugeot based vehicles for the Chrysler brand. I agree, time to rethink the Cherokee. This idea seems totally on target. Totally.

Reply Like

click to expand...

It time for Jeep to focus time and resources on the Cherokee model.

Cherokee (KM) development is already underway. The Cherokee Classic (KL) pre-2019 is getting a minor MCA for interior this year and the regular (KL) in China is also getting another MCA. We will keep our current model for another year or two and then KM will come along. Should be slightly larger to push it further away from Compass.

Reply 1 Like

I’d like to know how much of the development work on these global Jeep products is transferable to North America, or if it is intended. It seems to me that a great amount of talent and resources exist in India and Brazil and could be used to offset and speed up development costs and time on various products. I am also curious on how the French and Italians will augment this process as it seems to be happening with the sub compact Jeep in India. My concern is that the “American” essence of domestically branded product will be lost in the process.
Indeed their are benefits and losses in globalization, I just want my Dodge to be the personification of what it should be, pure bred American muscle with an attitude by and for Americans who like that stuff. Does “Scat Pack” even translate? Curious and concerned.

7 passenger Compass won't come to U.S. & Canada at least for now.
As Sergio & Manley presentation back in 2018 stated Jeep will have more regionally crafted products to grow the brand Globally as the world brand of Company.

Reply Like

click to expand...
Back to top button