Jeep Meridian bookings will open in May; launch in June

The Jeep Meridian will be a diesel-only offering, at least at the time of launch.

Jeep’s three-row SUV has been a long time coming, and now we have some new details about it. Jeep will start accepting bookings for the Meridian (it’s called the Commander in Brazil) from May onwards, with the SUV set to go on sale in June.

We have already known for a while that the Meridian will have quite a bit in common with the Compass. It is based on the D-segment platform, and while it was earlier claimed that it would get a more powerful diesel engine, the motor underneath the bonnet is still a 2.0-litre diesel engine, churning out 168bhp and 350Nm. The transmission options will be the same as the Compass as well – a 6-speed manual and a 9-speed automatic. However, Jeep will offer the automatic transmission without the AWD system on the Meridian, unlike in the Compass.

In terms of features, the Meridian will be fully loaded. The interior will be a cornucopia of premium materials. The touchscreen and driver instrument panel has been borrowed from the Compass. There will be full wireless smartphone connectivity, along with ventilated seats, a panoramic sunroof, an Alpine sound system, a powered tailgate, and wireless charging. The safety kit will consist of 6 airbags (standard on all variants), parking sensors (both front and rear), a 360-degree camera, traction control, and electronic stability control (ESC).

With Jeep choosing not to offer a more powerful iteration of the 2.0-litre diesel engine, the Meridian could be priced quite aggressively. It will rival the Toyota Fortuner, MG Gloster, and Skoda Kodiaq, and its prices could start at as low as Rs 30 – 32 lakh (ex-showroom).