The long awaited Jeep Meridian 3-row SUV will finally go on sale in June 2022. The company has already announced that the series production of the Meridian will commence in May, 2022. The new SUV will be positioned above the Compass in Jeep India’s line-up. The SUV is basically the re-badged Commander SUV; however, it gets some India-centric changes.
Bookings & Launch Details
Jeep has officially announced that the bookings for the new Meridian will commence in the first week of May 2022. Deliveries for the new Jeep Meridian is scheduled to be commenced in the third week of June 2022.
Compass platform
The new Jeep Meridian is built on the Jeep’s Small Wide 4×4 platform that underpins the Compass and the global Renegade. Jeep engineers have modified the platform to accommodate a longer wheelbase and a bigger 3-row SUV. The company has high strength steel to make it stronger and more rigid.
Dimensions
In terms of proportions, the new Jeep Meridian is 4,769mm long, 1,859mm wide and 1,682mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,782mm. The wheelbase has been increased by 146mm to accommodate a longer body. Compared to the Compass, the new Meridian is 364mm longer, 41mm wider and 42mm taller.
Specifications
Powering the Meridian is a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine that powers the Compass. This engine is claimed to produce 170bhp of power and 350Nm of torque. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual and a 9-speed torque convertor automatic. Jeep claims to have calibrated the engine for the longer and heavier Meridian SUV.
Off-road features
The Jeep Meridian also comes with significant off-road features. The AWD variant has a 21.5-degree approach, 23.1-degree breakover and 23.6-degree departure angles. The vehicle comes with independent suspension with frequency selective dampers, AWD drive modes, 4-Low mode, hill-descent control, 16-inch water wading capacity and a 20.426 crawl ratio.
Interior – Dashboard layout and features similar to Compass
Not just platform and engine, the new Jeep Meridian shares the cabin and features with the Compass SUV. The dashboard layout is same, but the Meridian has different colour scheme. The SUV gets a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone connectivity, nine speakers sound system, a panoramic sunroof, a 7-inch semi-digital instrument console, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, push button start and many more.
One touch tumble second-row seat
It comes with a fixed second row seat; however, the Meridian offers reclining feature. It gets one touch tumble second-row seat, which makes easy to access third-row seat.
Competition
The new Jeep Meridian do not have a direct rival in the market. The company aims to position it as an alternative to the likes of Toyota Fortuner and Skoda Kodiaq. The Meridian is based on a monocoque platform with independent suspensions and 4WD option, while Fortuner is based on ladder-on-frame chassis.
Safety Features
– 6 airbags as standard
– Traction Control
– Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
– Hill Start & Descent Control
– 360 degree camera
– Emergency Parking Brake
– Vehicle Stability Management
– Vehicle Yaw & Pitch Control
– Rollover Mitigation
– Hydraulic Brake Assist
– Brake Disc Wiping
– Auto Hold
– Auto-engage for electric parking brake when the engine turns off or driver’s door opens
Powered tailgate and Front seats
The long-awaited Jeep Meridian also gets some convenience features such as powered tailgate and electrically adjustable driver and co-driver seat.
