New Delhi: Jeep's India innings till now have mainly entered around the Compass but the next big chapter for them is the Meridian. It is a 7-seater three-row SUV designed to be a premium alternative to some of the other SUVs at this price point. It's also way more than a Compass with 7 seats as the exterior design shares very little with it as you will see! Sure, the square wheel arches are there but that's a traditional Jeep design detail anyways.
Elsewhere, the Jeep Meridian is all-new with a new 7 seven-slot grille along with wide headlamps joined together. It looks tough when viewed head-on and crucially is different to a Compass. From the side, you can see the long 4769 mm length while the 18-inch alloy wheels look big enough for the body too. We think from the rear, the design is similar to the bigger Jeep SUVs sold in the US market. Chrome has been used well while wide tail-lamps increase the sense of width along with a dual-tone roof. It looks attractive, the Meridian and has enough presence to justify being a proper 'big' SUV.
ALSO READ: BMW i4 Electric Sedan Unveiled In India — Know Range & Launch Date
The interiors have the same tough feel as a Compass and unlike the exterior, the interior is more similar to the Compass but that's not a bad thing is it? It's well loaded and feels premium. The soft leather inserts to the dash are luxurious while the door pads/quilted leather seats look/feel nice. These are perforated leather seats that are cooled as well. There is a digital instrument cluster along with a 10.1-inch touchscreen.
The touchscreen has a fast enough interface and good touch response. The clarity and the 360-degree camera are also. More features include an auto hand brake, a massive two-pane panoramic sunroof, wireless charging, wireless smartphone connectivity, multi-zone climate control, powered liftgate, tyre pressure monitoring system, 6 airbags etc.
The big question is, is it spacious? Yes but just about. The long-wheelbase means legroom is good for the second row though I wished for more adjustability. However, headroom is decent while thigh support/width is actually better than some other 7-seater SUVs at this price. The sunroof does eat into the headroom a bit though. The third row, on the other hand, has easy access with one-touch tumble operation but it isn't very spacious and not exactly habitable being suitable for children only. That said, they fold flat and liberate a huge amount of storage space.
We had a quick drive of the Meridian 4x4 variant and while you can choose between a 6-speed manual and a 9-speed automatic, the engine option, for now, remains the 2.0l diesel with 170 bhp and 350Nm. The figures remind you of the Compass but this is a very good engine plus the 9-speed automatic is quick enough in terms of gear shifts despite no paddle shifters.
The engine is powerful if a bit noisy under hard acceleration but the strong torque is helpful in making it easy to drive at big speeds. Out in the city, we liked the fact that the Meridian is much easier to drive when compared to rivals. It feels smaller and sportier along with being easy to live with. The steering is also not too heavy but just right with the correct amount of feel for offroading or highway use at high speeds.
Where the Meridian scores are also its brilliant ride and handling. It is a fun SUV to drive yet feels tough with a suspension suitable for our roads (or no roads). We took it for some mild off-roading and it's very impressive with the usual Selec Terrain system for the 4x4 along with all-season tyres providing ample grip under tough conditions while electronics help you guide through tricky off-road locations easily. Overall, the Jeep meridian is way more than just a Compass with 7 seats and it is easily seen with its performance along with the personality of the vehicle. It looks tough, is well built, and is feature-packed while how it drives is what impresses us the most. If priced well, the Meridian has the ability to become a popular choice as a big 7-seater SUV that is also fun to drive.
What we like - Looks, features, capability, quality
What we do not like - cramped third row, not more powerful than Compass
Car loan Information:
Calculate Car Loan EMI