FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobile) has filed a trademark application, Meridian in India. It is expected that the name will be used for the upcoming 7-seater SUV based on the Jeep Compass. The 7-seater SUV has been caught testing several times in India. Internally called as Project H6, the new 7-seater Compass is expected to be introduced in the end of 2021 or early 2022.
The 7-seater SUV will be called the Jeep Commander in Brazil; however, the India-spec model is most likely to carry a different nameplate. Jeep and Mahindra have been fighting on two different products – the Mahindra Roxor in the United States and Thar sales in Australia. For people not in the know, Mahindra had introduced the Commander MUV in the 1990s and this is the same reason behind Jeep not using the name for the upcoming SUV.
The Jeep Meridian could be the name for the 7-seater SUV, which is based on the Small Wide 4×4 platform. This platform also underpins the Compass and the Renegade; however, FCA engineers have modified the architecture to accommodate a longer wheelbase and bigger body.
The 7-seater SUV will come with a more powerful diesel engine with a mild hybrid system. It will be powered by a twin-turbocharged version of the 2.0L turbocharged diesel engine, which is rumoured to produce around 200bhp and over 400Nm of torque. It will have 48V mild-hybrid system with a BSG Belt driven started generator system. This mild hybrid tech will help Jeep keep its emissions and fuel economy in check. Adding to it, the new model will be compliant with the upcoming stringent CAFE II emission norms and the BS6 Phase 2 emission norms in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
The Meridian SUV will be offered in 6-and 7-seat options. The 6-seater will have captain seats in the second row, while the 7-seater model will get bench type seat for the second row. The seats will be flexible, to be folded down to create extra luggage space. The SUV will share styling cues from the bigger Jeep SUVs including the Cherokee. The Meridian will also get a modern infotainment system with advanced connectivity options, a digital instrument console, panoramic sunroof, powered driver seat, automatic AC, etc.
The new Jeep Meridian SUV will arrive in our market by mid-2022. Likely to be priced around Rs 28 lakh to Rs 35 lakh, the 7-seater Compass will be positioned against the Skoda Kodiaq, VW Tiguan AllSpace and the Toyota Fortuner.
