Jeep unveils its 7 seater SUV Meridian in India, Check specification, launch dates

Jeep is all set to expand its portfolio in India, as it has unveiled the new Jeep Meridian. The Jeep Meridian will be the company’s first 7 seater SUV that is made in India. Around 80 percent of the SUV will be built locally. This 7 seater SUV will be launched in May 2022 and will offer 4×4 or 4×2 gearbox.

Speaking about the dimension of the car, the Jeep Meridian will be an extended wheelbase version of the Jeep Compass SUV in India. The three row SUV is already sold in the South American markets as the Commander. Jeep India announced that the Meridian SUV will be manufactured in Ranjaangaon facility.

The new Jeep Meridian will be powered by a 173hp 2-litre diesel engine that is used in the Compass and generates 350Nm of torque. The unit gets a 6-speed manual gearbox with 4×2. It also gets a 9-speed automatic gearbox with 4×2 or 4×4 options. The other engine will be a 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine which is present in the Jeep Compass and Meridian. It produces a power of 187hp and 270Nm of torque. The petrol engine is expected to come later.

According to Jeep, the name ‘Meridian’ was selected from a list of 70 different names including a few global Jeep names. The name Meridian has been chosen while keeping in mind about the relevance and importance of the model in the Indian scenario.

The interior features present in the Meridian SUV are unknown to us. However, the international model of the Jeep Meridian gets Harman Kardon 450W sound system with 10 speakers. The attractive features that are present in the vehicle include Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), Alexa in-vehicle functions, touchscreen infotainment system, dual-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, powered front seats etc. Some connectivity options on the device include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger and digital driver’s display.

On the exterior, the car borrows designs at the front and rear from the Cherokee. The roofline of the Meridian is taller than the Jeep Compass. This means that it will have more headroom as compared to the Compass. The passengers in the third row also get ample space for sitting in the Meridian.

In India, the Jeep Meridian will rival the MG Gloster, Skoda Kodiaq, Mahindra XUV 700 and Toyota Fortuner.

However, the Jeep Meridian will not be the only SUV that is scheduled for launch in 2022. The other two cars to be launched in India are Grand Cherokee and the Compass Trailhawk.

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