Jeep has announced that its 7-seater Meridian SUV will be available for pre-bookings on May 3. However, the deliveries for the new SUV will begin around the third week of June. However, the prices of the Jeep Meridian are yet to be revealed. Being a derivative of the Jeep Compass, it is expected to have the same 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine but in a different state of tune.
Jeep Meridian will begin production next month at the company’s Ranjangaon plant in Maharashtra. When launched in June, the Meridian will be in direct competition to the Toyota Fortuner, Skoda Kodiaq, MG Gloster, and the Mahindra Alturas.
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Under the hood, the Jeep Meridian will get the same 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine as the Jeep Compass. It is capable of producing 168hp and 350Nm of torque. Buyers will have the option to select either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 9-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. Drivetrains include front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive options. It is said to be capable of touching 198kmph.
Inside, the Jeep Meridian will be loaded with a host of goodies like LED headlamps with daytime running lights, independent front and rear suspension, leather upholstery, multi-zone temperature control, 360-degrees camera, air purifier, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10-inch infotainment system, panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, one-touch tumble and fold operation for the second row of seats, and an electric tailgate.
On the outside, the Jeep Meridian resembles the Compass to a great extent. However, the look beyond the C-Pillar is changed drastically as it gets a third row of seats,which the Compass lacks. It gets a dual-tone paint scheme with a floating roof design. Its 18-inch alloy wheels can also be configured in an all-black colour scheme. At the back, the Meridian gets a split tail lamp design that is joined together with a thick chrome strip.
[Featured Image Credit: Jeep India]
Satvik Khare