The right-hand-drive Jeep Meridian would be produced completely in India for both domestic and international markets.
The Meridian has been unveiled in India, with prices starting at Rs 29.90 lakh and rising to Rs 36.95 lakh for the top-spec 4×4 models. The Jeep Meridian is already taking reservations, and delivery will begin in the third week of June. The Meridian is built on the Compass chassis, but with the third row of seats.
Overview:
- A 2.0-liter diesel engine with 170 horsepower powers the Meridian.
- It costs Rs 6.26 lakh more than an identical Compass
- All-wheel drive system that is only available in automatic versions.
Price of Jeep Meridian Variants: (ex-showroom)
| Meridian Limited | 1956 cc, Manual, Diesel, 16.2 kmpl | Rs.29.90 Lakh* |
| Meridian Limited AT | 1956 cc, Automatic, Diesel, 15.7 kmpl | Rs.31.80 Lakh* |
| Meridian Limited Opt | 1956 cc, Manual, Diesel, 16.2 kmpl | Rs.32.40 Lakh* |
| Meridian Limited Opt AT | 1956 cc, Automatic, Diesel, 15.7 kmpl | Rs.34.30 Lakh* |
| Meridian Limited Opt AT 4×4 | 1956 cc, Automatic, Diesel, 15.7 kmpl | Rs.36.95 Lakh* |
Jeep Meridian Review
The Jeep Meridian has arrived! It’s a seven-seat SUV based on the Jeep Compass platform that will compete with the Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tiguan All-Space, and Toyota Fortuner. Here’s what we thought after a few hours behind the wheel of the Meridian.
Exterior:
The Meridian appears to be pretty appealing. Sure, it looks like the Compass from some angles, but generally, it looks more like the Jeep Cherokee. When viewed from the side, it appears to be quite large, and its dimensions back up this impression. It is larger and taller than the Skoda Kodiaq, and the high ground clearance and huge space between the tires and the wheel arches give it a tough appearance. The Meridian has a lot of presence thanks to its 18-inch dual-tone wheels and overall boxy size.
The trademark seven-slat grille and thin headlights give it a distinct Jeep appearance from the front. On the negative, the Meridian isn’t a particularly wide car, so it doesn’t appear to be significantly larger than the Compass when viewed from the front. The same can be said for the rear design, and when viewed from the front or back, it lacks the huge SUV vibe that cars like the Toyota Fortuner or the MG Gloster exude.
Interiors:
The interior of the Jeep Meridian looks a lot like the interior of the smaller Compass. As a result, the 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system takes center stage in the same beautiful dash layout. The quality, though, is the cabin’s strongest selling point. Soft-touch materials can be found everywhere, and all of the knobs and switches have a quality appearance and performance. The cabin’s dual-tone black and brown color scheme boost the atmosphere, and the Meridian’s cabin is among the best in this price bracket.
The Meridian’s narrowness reflects in the cabin. It doesn’t give you the feeling of a big SUV, whether you’re in the first or second row, where the cabin seems cramped and you don’t get the impression of room you’d expect from a car at this price point.
The powered front seats are spacious and feature a wide range of adjustability, making it simple to select the perfect seating position. The seat cushioning is robust, so they should be supportive and comfortable even on lengthy trips. The middle-row seats are also very comfortable, with excellent under-thigh support and an adjustable backrest that allows you to find a comfortable position. The knee room is good in the middle row, but the headroom is quite limited. Anyone taller than six feet will come into contact with the roof liner.
For an adult in the third row, knee room is limited, and the low seat forces you to sit with your knees up. It’s a shame the Meridian doesn’t have a movable middle seat to provide third-row occupants greater knee room. Surprisingly, even for tall individuals, headroom is impressive. So the Meridian’s third row is fine for short journeys.
The Meridian performs admirably in terms of usability. You’ll find plenty of storage and two USB charging connections upfront. The front door pockets, on the other hand, are not particularly large, and aside from a bottle holder, there isn’t much room for other trinkets. A foldable center armrest with two cup holders, two bottle holders, and seatback pockets is available to middle-row passengers. Unfortunately, it is only one USB charging port, and there are no niceties like a foldable tray or sunblinds.
Features:
Meridian’s feature set is fairly similar to that of Compass. As a result, you’ll get the same high-resolution 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It has a quick-touch reaction and features including wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 360-degree camera, connected car technology, and a 9-speaker Alpine sound system.
A panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging, perforated leather upholstery, front-seat ventilation, dual-zone climate control, a motorized tailgate, and a 10.2-inch digital drivers display are also included in the top Limited (O) edition.
The AWD automatic variant comes standard with 6 airbags, ESP, TPMS, and hill hold assist. However, at this price, the Meridian should have included ADAS as well.
Performance:
The Jeep Meridian shares the Compass’s 2.0-liter 170PS turbo diesel engine. A 6-speed manual and a 9-speed automatic transmission are available, with FWD or AWD choices available. We had the opportunity to test the top-of-the-line automatic AWD model.
The Meridian is pleasant to drive at low speeds, thanks to the engine’s power, and the automatic transmission shifts smoothly. The 9-speed automatic transmission isn’t the fastest or most alert gearbox on the market, but it’s quick enough for relaxed driving and low-speed overtakes. The Meridian’s light settings are very beneficial. The steering wheel is simple to turn, the controls are well-balanced, and the car feels compact to drive, with excellent forward visibility.
On the highway, the Meridian rides pleasantly with the engine only ticking over 1500rpm at 100kmph, due to the big ninth gear. However, overtaking at high speeds must be planned. Before the Meridian gains momentum, the gearbox pauses before downshifting.
However, the fineness of this motor did not impress us. Even at idle, you can tell there’s a diesel engine beneath the hood, and it gets pretty noisy when you work it hard.
Conclusion
Let’s start with the cons of the Jeep Meridian. Despite its size, the car isn’t particularly roomy, and the cabin lacks the huge SUV feel that you’d expect at this price point. The third row is also a little snug for adults, and getting in and out of the seat requires some flexibility due to the small door opening. At medium or high engine speeds, the diesel engine is also quite noisy.
There are numerous factors working in its favor as well. The Meridian’s interior quality is on par with the best in the market, and the Meridian is well-equipped in terms of features. The front two rows of seats are really comfortable, and the Jeep’s off-road prowess is impressive for a monocoque SUV. The Meridian’s suspension can easily flatten the worst of our road surfaces, which is the vehicle’s main selling point.
Overall, the Meridian excellently blends the traits of being a tough SUV while also being a pleasant SUV. The only remaining question is the cost.