The timing couldn’t be better. The Jeep Meridian arrives at a time the 7-seater category is seeing fresh action across multiple segments and soon after the exit of the Ford Endeavour, which has opened a small but crucial gap for the Meridian to fill. But most importantly, the Meridian is Jeep’s second mainstream model in India. Until now, the Compass, launched way back in 2017, was the sole pillar of Jeep in India on whose shoulders hinged the fortunes of the company. Niche models like the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee are good for image but Jeep needed another volume model to gain critical mass in the fast evolving and growing Indian SUV market. So, will the Meridian click like the Compass did over 5 years ago and take some of the weight off its shoulders? That the Meridian is based on the Compass is a good starting point but how well can it do to compete against the swell of other three-row SUVs that have hit the market at multiple price points in the past few years?
Jeep Meridian: exterior
With the Meridian, Jeep hasn’t simply bolted on a longer tail section to make a three-row variant out of the Compass, but creditably has re-modelled the entire car with a substantially longer wheelbase and new body panels. The Meridian is 4,769mm long, which is a good 364mm longer than the Compass. A lot of that length comes from an extended wheelbase, which is a sizeable 2,782mm, or 146mm more than the Compass. In fact, the Meridian’s wheelbase is the longest in its class, a tad more than even the Fortuner. And it’s the long wheelbase, along with the relatively short front and rear overhangs (critical for a Jeep’s off-road capability), that give the Meridian superbly balanced proportions. In fact, the Meridian is more Grand Cherokee-like than a stretched Compass, and that’s down to the rich detailing all round.
A good helping of chrome running along the underside of the familiar seven-slot grille and the tops of the slim headlights nicely sets the Meridian apart as the Compass’s bigger brother. The two-tone roof with a blackened D-pillar and a chrome surround above the doors that nicely highlights the silhouette look very upmarket, too, as does the slim rear tail-light clusters that are neatly integrated with the chrome strip. The Meridian’s smart set of 18-inch alloys (up from the Compass’ 17 inchers) adds to the road presence. The Compass was a good looking car, and the Meridian looks even better. And looks in this segment is half the battle won.
Jeep Meridian: interior
The dashboard is pretty much the same as the Compass and that’s not necessarily a bad thing, because the Compass itself received a major upgrade to the interior in 2021. The quality of materials, the chunky door handles, piano black finishes, all exude an upmarket feel. However, a little bit more differentiation, other than two-tone, brown and black colour scheme (the Compass is all black) and the differently stitched seats, would have been welcome. Also, some of the plastics lower down in the cabin and the seat base feel a bit hard and shiny, which stand out against the brown seat trim
The all-digital dashboard is carried over from the Compass too, so you get a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with multiple displays, a 10.1-inch infotainment system that has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 360 degree camera that is crisp and sharp as ever, and one of the better interfaces around.
There’s wireless charging, driving modes, USB-C and USB-B ports and a panoramic sunroof which bags all the must have features, SUV owners want. In terms of practicality there’s enough space to store your stuff on long trips but the door pockets are a bit shallow to hold a 1-litre water bottle.
It’s when you move to the middle row that you can feel the change. Though legroom is similar to the Compass and width just a tad more, thanks to slimmer door pockets (no place for big bottles here either) the seats are a big improvement. For one, you sit much higher than in the Compass so automatically under thigh support improves which is further enhanced by the reprofiled seats which have a larger squab.
The high seating position and the large window makes it easier to look out and this enhanced visibility is always welcome on long drives as are the reclinable seat backs. However, unlike other seven-seaters, the middle row doesn’t slide which is a shame because this could have given some much needed extra legroom. Bear in mind, that the Meridian’s rear seat isn’t particular wide, a common complaint with the Compass and hence traveling three up can be restrictive.
The third row is quite disappointing when you consider the space on offer in other seven- seaters. Sure, the one-touch or one-pull lever that flips and tumbles forward both sections of the 60:40 rear seat base, makes it easy to access the last row but the low roof forces you to contort a fair bit to wiggle inside. The seats are placed on the floor and that pushes your knees up and against the middle row seat back. But the bigger problem is the overall space crunch in the third row. It’s not a place where adults can travel long distances in comfort and is best left for children or for luggage.
The Meridian makes a better case for itself with the seats folded away where the increased luggage capacity over the relatively tight boot of a Compass would be very welcome. Even with the third row seats in place, there’s enough space for a couple of soft bags. The Meridian makes a better case for itself as five seater with the rearmost seats folded down to offer 481 litre of luggage space. That said, even with the third row seats in place, there’s enough space for a couple of soft bags. A nice touch is the powered tailgate which has the button inside cabin and not tailgate itself, so you don’t have to reach up high to activate it.
Jeep Meridian: engine and performance
The Meridian comes with just one engine option, the same 2-litre 170hp diesel that powers
the Compass. But unlike the Compass, the Meridian doesn’t get a petrol motor and is unlikely to get one soon. What you do get are multiple transmission options; the 4x2 gets a 6-speed manual gearbox as well as the 9-speed auto whilst the top-the-line Limited 4x4 only comes with a nine speed auto and that’s the one we drove.
A remapped ECU and different engine calibration have substantially changed the power characteristics of the tried-and-trusted 2-litre diesel in the Meridian. The power delivery is more measured compared to the Compass which in comparison feels more responsive of the line. Jeep engineers say they have opted for a more linear power delivery in the Meridian for a smoother drive. The fuel-injection timing too is less abrupt which has marginally reduced noise levels.
The Meridian is a touch quieter than the Compass but when you rev the engine hard the characteristically gravelly, diesel drone is quite audible. If anything, the Meridian’s performance feels a bit blunted compared to the Compass, a result of the extra 110kg of weight and a softer engine calibration. In isolation though, the Meridian doesn’t feel underpowered in the least. The torquey 350Nm diesel gives you a nice tug from low speeds all the way to the 4,500rpm redline. But whilst the Meridian feels strong and has enough oomph it doesn’t feel particularly sporty and that’s down to the rather lazy 9-speed gearbox.
Like in the Compass, this nine-speeder is in no hurry to swap cogs and is slow to react during both downshifts. and upshifts. As a result, the Compass is not a very sporty or engaging SUV and feels happiest cruising all day long. The Compass is in fact, a brilliant highway car, the punchy diesel engine coupled to tall gearing makes long distance drives ever so effortless and the brilliant dynamics play more than a supporting role.
Jeep Meridian: ride and handling
The Compass is known for its ride and handling, but the Meridian takes it a notch up to an altogether different level. Stability on any surface is simply phenomenal and the way the Meridian flattens any road is astonishing. You really don’t have to worry about broken roads, flinch when you hit a pothole or are forced off a narrow road by an oncoming truck. The Meridian’s beefy independent suspension just soaks it up.
There is an underlying firmness to the ride which isn’t buttery soft but unlike the Compass which had a hard edge, the Meridian’s suspension set up has more compliance. Also, the Meridian feels has less vertical movement than the shorter wheelbase Compass and hence passengers too are more settled.
The confidence the Meridian gives you though corners is amazing too. There’s minimal body roll, the steering is accurate with lots of feel and the big Jeep resolutely holds its line. The brakes too are progressive and it’s the predictability of the Meridian, the fact that it won’t give behave erratically or throw up any surprises when the road surface suddenly changes that really wins your heart. There’s simply no other SUV in this category or even a segment above and below that rides and handles with such aplomb.
If the Meridian is a class act on road, then off-road it’s the star of the show. A superbly curated off-road track outside Chandigarh was a great opportunity to test the Meridian’s 4x4 capabilities. Whether it was crawling up steps, see-sawing over ‘axle breakers,’ scrabbling up and down steep slopes, wading through water troughs or raising an articulated wheel like a dog trying to mark its territory, the Meridian did it all without breaking into a sweat. I didn’t even need to select ‘4x4 low’ !
The Meridian is a Jeep first and an SUV next which means it has to have all the 4x4 hardware that lives up to the brand’s legacy. Not that owners will use it but it’s a bit of insurance in your back pocket, so it’s good to know what the Meridian is capable off.
Jeep Meridian: should you buy one?
The Meridian is a highly capable SUV whose blend of on-road and off-road dynamics is unmatched. This make it a brilliant car for long distances irrespective of how good or bad the road surface is. Performance is adequate but you do wish that with an increase in size and weight, came an increase in power and performance. There is no petrol option either which would preclude a section of buyers who have moved away from diesel.
The well-built and well-equipped cabin has the added versatility of a third row but the space on offer doesn’t make it practical for adults. The selling point of the Meridian is its Jeep DNA. It looks terrific and has a delightful tough feel. And if you want to play mountain goat, it easily can. What’s also impressive is how good a city slicker the Meridian is. It’s easy to punt around narrow roads and doesn’t feel cumbersome like the Fortuner.
The Meridian which has no direct competition given its unique set of talents, has the makings of a winner but has to be priced right, the way Compass was to taste the same initial success.
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