Jeep Compass May Get Tata Motors’ 1.5-Litre Turbo-Petrol Engine
Jeep may use Tata’s 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine for Compass and Meridian
Stellantis, the parent company of Jeep, is reportedly considering equipping the Jeep Compass and Meridian SUVs with Tata Motors’ upcoming 1.5-litre T-GDi petrol engine. This move would help the brand re-establish its petrol SUV lineup in India, where it currently offers only diesel options.
The 1.5-litre turbocharged gasoline direct injection engine, first showcased by Tata at the Auto Expo 2023, produces 170 HP and 280 Nm of torque. It’s a four-cylinder unit paired with both manual and automatic gearboxes and will first power the reborn Tata Sierra, before being introduced in the Harrier and Safari models.
For Jeep, adopting this engine could offer an economical solution to reintroduce petrol variants without developing a new powertrain from scratch. The company discontinued the Compass’ 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine in 2023 after the implementation of BS6.2 norms, citing low sales and cost concerns.
Both Stellantis and Tata Motors share a long-standing partnership, co-owning the Ranjangaon plant, which currently manufactures the 2.0-litre Multijet diesel engine used in the Compass, Meridian, Harrier and Safari. The new 1.5 T-GDi engine is expected to be produced at the same facility. Interestingly, Tata Motors recently secured licensing rights from Stellantis for independent development of the Multijet diesel engine for future applications.
If finalised, this collaboration could mean that the Jeep Compass and Meridian might share all powertrains with Tata’s Harrier and Safari – a unique synergy between the two automakers that could streamline production and reduce costs.
