Jeep Meridian 4x2 Road Trip Review: The Best Diesel Midsize Luxury SUV?
The Meridian is available in both 4x2 and 4x4 variants with the 2.0l diesel with 170bhp/350Nm alongside a standard 9-speed auto.
While elsewhere things are getting crowded in the compact SUV space, the big 7-seater luxury SUV segment has shrunk with Ford Endeavour getting out along with the Fortuner moving north with its pricing. That left a big space for a luxury SUV that is rugged along with having a diesel engine. Big SUVs sip diesel and with the Meridian, it slips into a segment with hardly any rivals. We tested the 4x4 Meridian sometime back and liked it but the more affordable 4x2 was our companion for a road trip to Varanasi from Delhi. It's roughly 900km and a solid 12-13 hour drive which presented an ample opportunity for the Meridian to stretch its legs.
The Meridian is available in both 4x2 and 4x4 variants with the 2.0l diesel with 170bhp/350Nm alongside a standard 9-speed auto. The Compass gets a petrol option which the Meridian does not. I think a bigger SUV like a Meridian needs a torquey diesel and hence, this engine suits it fine. The drive was long but showed what the tough Meridian is capable off with its ride quality being a particular highlight. Some of the bad roads just seemed to not exist on our drive with the suspension ironing out those bits easily. It feels tough, safe and sturdy while the diesel has enough torque to pull cleanly. It feels quick enough with passengers and luggage while the engine is quieter than rivals. I would have wanted more power as more is never enough!
The Meridian is built for the job that we took it for and that's swallowing big distances with no break needed for the driver as it just feels effortless. The suspension made the drive much easier and while the gearbox takes its own sweet time for shifts- it's well suited to a relaxed highway-friendly big SUV.
Compared to the Fortuner/Alturas, the Meridian feels nimble and is not bouncy along with being more refined. It feels tough like an old-school SUV but does not drive like one. Jeep has given the automatic with the 4x2 and that makes sense since not everyone wants to go off-road while this 4x2 is capable enough for whatever that you might encounter.
Other bits? The mileage was around 10-11kmpl for the trip and the Meridian had plenty of toys to keep us busy including a nice audio system, powered seats, dua-zone climate control and a massive panoramic sunroof. Space is also better than other old-school rivals with comfortable 2nd row seats with good legroom. The third row is not exactly suitable for long trips and we used it to put more luggage in.
After the trip, I certainly fell for the Meridian with its looks, quality and suspension. It feels expensive and plush but packs in enough toughness to match ladder-frame rivals. I would have wanted more power but the bit I like is that, it is so much more usable and comfortable over other diesel 7-seater SUVs and way more versatile than some of the petrol SUVs right now at this price. The price also undercuts the Fortuner in a big way while the 4x2 also is more valuable if you do not need 4x4 or do many hill trips. At this price, the Meridian is excellent value since it does offer you talents no other SUV can match.
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