Jeep has been working on a new 7-seater SUV for the Indian market for quite some time now, Jeep says that they have tested the SUV for more than 5,000 km. It will be called Meridian and will sit above the Compass. The manufacturer has released a camouflaged image and a teaser video of the upcoming SUV. Jeep will be launching the Meridian in the mid of 2022.
Jeep says that Meridian is made in India and 70 different names were studied before they settled on the Meridian nameplate. The name is inspired by the which passes through the length of India connecting some of the most beautiful states and cultures.
Roland Bouchara, CEO & Managing Director, Stellantis India, said on the occasion, “Jeep is an iconic brand, globally recognized for its capable SUVs. The Jeep brand’s journey in India has been legendary and we hope to build on this, with another equally legendary SUV – the Jeep Meridian. Developed specifically for the Indian customer, we have delivered a sophisticated and capable SUV ready to harness a unique segment opportunity. Our product offensive for 2022 and beyond will continue to illustrate our commitment to India as we work towards strengthening our market presence. The Jeep Meridian will further push the brand’s attractiveness and transform the product portfolio for the Indian market.”
In the teaser video, we can see Jeep Meridian going through various different places, all of which have different climatic conditions. They drove the SUV through Ladakh, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, New Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Such testing is important to ensure that the vehicle can function in all types of weather conditions and the customer does not have to face any issue when the SUV is finally delivered to him.
In the global market, Jeep is calling the new SUV, Commander. The same name is not being used in India because Mahindra used to sell a SUV called Commander in the Indian market. So, Jeep wants to make sure that nobody mistakes the Meridian for a Mahindra vehicle.
The front of the SUV does look like the Compass but there are several little updates made. There is a new set of LED projector headlamps that comes with LED Daytime Running Lamps, they are sleeker unit than the ones we saw on the Compass.
It would continue to come with a 7-slat grille that we have seen on every Jeep vehicle. The overall design is quite squared-off and the bonnet is flat that gives a butch front look to the SUV. The differences would start from the B-pillar, there will be a larger rear door that will help the rear occupants in getting in and out more easily. The rear tailgate is all-new and comes with a new set of LED tail lamps.
As of now, we do not know what engines will Jeep offer in the Indian market. There is a high probability that it will come with the same 2.0-litre diesel engine that produces 170 PS of max power but the torque output will be bumped up from 350 Nm to 380 Nm. The power will be transferred to all four wheels via a 9-speed automatic transmission. There are rumours that the engine would also come with mild-hybrid technology.
Keyword: Jeep announces Meridian 7-seater SUV officially [Video]