The SUV segment has flourished in India during the past decade. Jeep entered the space with its bread-and-butter entry-level Compass and cemented its position in the market. However, the American brand waited for the right time to launch its 7 seater premium Meridian SUV.
The Meridian targets families searching for more space, comfort, and flexibility while at the same time wanting to own a premium branded SUV at a reasonable price range. With all the action going on in the SUV segment and the plethora of options in hand, is Jeep Meridian the right choice for your family's off-roading adventures? Let's find out in this Jeep Meridian buying guide.
What's the point of an SUV if it isn't beefy looking? The Jeep Meridian rightly addresses this aspect with its muscular bonnet, large seven-slate signature grille with chrome outlining, and aggressive LED projector headlamps at the front. The car offers a delightful feel with its huge 18-inch alloys, LED taillamps and faux-skid plate at the rear, retaining the Jeep DNA. The car has a considerable length of 4769mm, which adds to its formidable stance.
7 seater SUVs have been very popular in India since it has several inherent advantages of additional space and comfort and is best suitable for big families. With a long wheelbase of 2782mm, the Meridian offers a lot of space for the passengers inside. The car features bench-styled seats in the second row with decent headroom and legroom. The under-thigh support is also splendid for longer journeys.
The third row gives easy access via one-touch tumble, however, the space there is best for kids. Though the boot space of 170 litres is not enough, tumbling down the third and both second and third-row seats can increase the capacity to 481 litres and 824 litres, respectively.
A powerful engine defines an SUV like Jeep Meridian. The behemoth is propelled by a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel motor, generating 170PS and 350Nm torque, synced with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 9-speed automatic gearbox. The punchy diesel engine makes the car a fine city machine, and a brilliant road runner on the highways.
This is the area where Jeep Meridian shines and lives up to every adventurer's expectations. Whether you are crawling through mud and sandy sections, going over large breakers, groping around the steep slopes or wading through troughs of water, the Meridian does that all without breaking a sweat.
The SUV ticks all the points in the ride and handling department, taking the worst of terrains with ease. The car offers driving modes including Sand/Mud, Snow and Auto, which perfectly works as the default setting for most drivers.
Interiors are one of the unique selling points of Jeep Meridian. The company has used soft-touch materials on the dashboard, buttons and gears, which gives a pleasant experience. The cabin is decorated in a dual-tone theme with perforated coffee-brown leather strips and sturdy brushed-metal highlights, lifting the ambience to another level.
The Jeep Meridian is endowed with oodles of comfort and convenience aspects. Some of the most interesting Jeep Meridian features are:
10.1-inch Uconnect touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
9-speaker Alpine audio system
8-way power-adjustable driver's seat with memory
10.1-inch digital instrument cluster
Dual-zone climate control
Third-row cooling with controls
Automatic headlights
Rain sensing wipers
Push button start
Wireless Charging
Powered tailgate
Panoramic sunroof
Ventilated Seats
Safety is an integral part of an SUV and Jeep Meridian features almost all the essential aspects you would want in a vehicle like this. Here are the top safety features of Jeep Meridian.
Six airbags
Traction Control
Hill Start and Descent Control
Electronic Parking Brake
Electronic Roll-over Mitigation
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
360-degree Camera
Jeep Meridian is a highly localized product and specially crafted for the Indian market. With a sturdy build, premium interiors, a performance-packed engine, and 4x4 capability, it has everything you need in a mid-range premium SUV.
At a price range of Rs. 30.10 - 37.15 lakh (ex-showroom), it is a brilliant package suitable for urban, off-roading and long-distance highway cruising. And since it's a multi-purpose car, it needs a versatile platform like Park+ that addresses everything a car owner needs today.
With the Park+ app in your hand, you can say goodbye to all your troubles related to your car be it car washing, car parking, traffic challan, insurance, FASTag and trading your vehicle. From corporates to parking owners, societies and malls, all have become a part of 8 million+ family. Visit the official website and see the impressive solutions offered by Park+.
Overall, if you're looking for a capable SUV that can handle both on-road and off-road adventures, the Jeep Meridian may be a good choice. However, it's important to do your own research, compare it to other SUVs in its class, and consider your personal needs and budget before making a purchase.