Jeep Meridian: The summer heat shimmers off the hood as we point the Jeep Meridian toward a rutted trail branching off the highway.

Most three-row SUVs would inspire hesitation at this juncture—family haulers aren’t typically designed for uncharted territory. But there’s something about sitting behind that seven-slot grille that emboldens you.

This confidence isn’t misplaced, as I’ll discover repeatedly during a week with Jeep’s first three-row offering for the Indian market.

The Meridian occupies an interesting position in India’s increasingly crowded SUV landscape. Neither as common as mainstream players like the Toyota Fortuner nor as extravagant as luxury entrants like the Mercedes-Benz GLC, the Meridian carves out its own niche—

one that emphasizes authentic off-road credentials without sacrificing on-road manners or premium touches. It’s a delicate balancing act, and one that few manufacturers attempt, let alone achieve.

Jeep Meridian: Lineage and Design: Familiar Yet Distinctive

From fifty paces, you might mistake the Meridian for its smaller sibling, the Compass. The family resemblance is undeniable—the seven-slot grille, squared-off wheel arches, and the general front fascia treatment all speak to shared DNA. Get closer, though, and the differences emerge.

The Meridian stretches 364mm longer and stands 48mm taller than the Compass, with a 158mm longer wheelbase. These aren’t just numerical increases but fundamental proportional changes that give the Meridian its own visual identity.

The front end features slimmer LED headlamps and a more upright grille than the Compass, lending the Meridian a more commanding presence. Chrome detailing along the window line and lower doors adds a premium touch without crossing into gaudy territory—a line many competitors struggle to walk.

The 18-inch alloy wheels fill the arches nicely, though some might wish for 19-inch options on a vehicle of this size and positioning.

It’s from the rear three-quarter view that the Meridian truly distinguishes itself from the Compass. The extended rear overhang accommodates the third row, while slim, horizontal LED taillamps connected by a chrome strip emphasize the vehicle’s width. Small details, like the shark-fin antenna and the subtle roof spoiler, contribute to a design that looks premium without trying too hard.

In the metal, the Meridian carries itself with quiet confidence. There’s something refreshingly honest about its design—no exaggerated lines or overstyled elements, just clean, purposeful surfacing that should age gracefully.

Color options include Galaxy Blue, Magnesio Grey, Brilliant Black, Velvet Red, and Pearl White, with the blue particularly flattering to the vehicle’s contours.

Interior: Space and Sophistication

Climb aboard the Meridian and you’re greeted by an interior that successfully balances utility with luxury. The dashboard layout echoes the Compass but introduces more premium materials and a greater sense of horizontal width.

Soft-touch surfaces cover most touchpoints, while open-pore wood trim (genuine, not printed plastic) adds warmth to what could otherwise be a somber cabin.

The front seats deserve special mention—they’re among the best in class, with excellent bolstering and support for long drives. Power adjustment with memory function for the driver and manual adjustment for the passenger ensure most body types can find a comfortable position.

The commanding seating position provides excellent visibility forward, though the thick D-pillars create notable blind spots when reversing.

Second-row accommodation impresses with generous legroom (especially with the front seats adjusted for average-height occupants) and good headroom despite the panoramic sunroof.

The seats themselves offer proper thigh support—a detail often neglected in Indian-market vehicles—and can recline and slide to balance space between rows. Three adults can fit across this row, though the center position’s raised cushion and intrusive transmission tunnel make it best suited for shorter journeys.

The third row represents the most significant compromise, as is typical for vehicles not designed from the ground up as three-row SUVs. Access requires some contortion despite the one-touch tumble mechanism for the second row, and once seated, adults will find their knees higher than ideal.

That said, the space is usable for teenagers or adults on short trips, which can’t be said for all seven-seaters in this category. Thoughtfully placed air vents and USB ports make the third row more habitable than it might otherwise be.

Cargo capacity varies dramatically depending on seating configuration. With all seven seats up, space is limited to a couple of soft bags.

Fold the third row, and you’ll find a generous 481 liters—enough for a family’s weekend luggage. With both rear rows folded, the resulting 1,760 liters could accommodate furniture or adventure gear with ease.

Powertrain: Diesel Dominance

Unlike many competitors that offer both petrol and diesel options, Jeep has taken a focused approach with the Meridian, offering just one engine: a 2.0-liter MultiJet II turbodiesel producing 170 PS at 3,750 rpm and 350 Nm of torque between 1,750-2,500 rpm.

This engine, familiar from the Compass, proves well-suited to the Meridian’s mass and mission, though some might question the absence of a petrol alternative in an increasingly anti-diesel market environment.

Transmission options include a six-speed manual and a nine-speed automatic, with the latter proving far more popular among buyers. Front-wheel drive comes standard, with four-wheel drive available only with the automatic transmission in higher trims.

This tiered approach to the drivetrain makes practical sense, as many buyers in this segment rarely venture off tarmac despite purchasing vehicles with off-road imagery.

On the road, the diesel engine delivers adequate rather than exhilarating performance. Initial response from a standstill suffers from noticeable turbo lag, but once past 1,800 rpm, the Meridian pulls with convincing strength.

The nine-speed automatic generally makes good decisions, though it occasionally hunts between eighth and ninth gears on gentle highway inclines. Manual intervention via the tiptronic function resolves this behavior but requires driver attention.

Fuel efficiency, always a consideration in the Indian market, proves respectable if not remarkable. Jeep claims 14.9 km/l for the front-wheel-drive automatic and 14.2 km/l for the four-wheel-drive variant.

In mixed real-world driving, we saw figures closer to 12-13 km/l for the 4×4 model—acceptable given the vehicle’s size and capabilities.

NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) control deserves praise. The diesel clatter that penetrates the Compass cabin has been largely tamed in the Meridian through additional sound insulation and structural improvements.

At highway speeds, wind and road noise remain well controlled, allowing conversation between all three rows without raised voices.

On-Road Dynamics: The Surprise Factor

Perhaps the most pleasant surprise the Meridian delivers is its on-road behavior. Body-on-frame SUVs in this size class typically trade ride comfort and handling precision for off-road ability and towing capacity.

The Meridian, with its monocoque construction (shared with but significantly modified from the Compass), offers no such compromise.

The fully independent suspension—MacPherson struts up front and multi-link at the rear—delivers a ride quality that borders on plush without feeling floaty.

Small road imperfections are absorbed without fuss, while larger obstacles like speed breakers are dispatched with controlled compliance. Only the sharpest of impacts make their presence felt in the cabin, typically through acoustic rather than physical feedback.

More impressive still is the handling. The Meridian changes direction with a certainty that belies its size and height. Steering feedback won’t rival a sports sedan, but the weighting strikes a good balance between low-speed maneuverability and high-speed stability.

Body roll exists but remains well controlled, inspiring confidence even when pushing the vehicle harder than most owners ever will.

Frequency Selective Damping technology contributes significantly to this dual nature, automatically adjusting damping force based on road conditions and driving style.

The system allows softer response during normal driving for comfort while firming up during more dynamic inputs to maintain body control.

Braking performance comes from all-disc setups with good pedal feel and progressive response. Emergency stops produce minimal drama, with the standard electronic stability control intervening smoothly when needed.

Off-Road Capability: True to the Badge

The Jeep badge creates expectations that many crossovers wearing it globally fail to meet. The Meridian, fortunately, isn’t among them.

While not as singularly focused as the Wrangler, it delivers genuine capability that extends well beyond the occasional gravel road or monsoon-flooded street.

Four-wheel-drive variants feature Jeep’s Active Drive system with Selec-Terrain, offering Auto, Snow, Sand/Mud, and Sport modes that adjust throttle response, transmission behavior, traction control, and torque distribution.

Unlike some electronic systems that amount to little more than marketing, these modes produce tangible differences in vehicle behavior across varied surfaces.

Ground clearance of 203mm proves adequate for most obstacles owners will realistically encounter, while approach and departure angles of 21.5 and 23.6 degrees respectively allow for moderately challenging terrain.

The lack of a proper low-range transfer case means the Meridian won’t match dedicated off-roaders like the Wrangler, but it’ll venture places that would strand most three-row crossovers.

During our testing, the Meridian confidently traversed rocky inclines, moderately deep water crossings, and loose surfaces that had other SUVs in our convoy struggling for traction.

The intelligent four-wheel-drive system sends power where needed without requiring driver intervention, making off-road driving more accessible to those without specialized skills or experience.

Technology and Features: Modern Expectations Met

The Meridian’s technology package centers around a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Uconnect 5. The interface proves intuitive with crisp graphics and responsive behavior, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto alongside native navigation.

The 9-speaker Alpine audio system delivers impressive sound quality with good staging and decent bass response, though audiophiles might still want more.

The 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster offers multiple configuration options and clean, legible graphics. Information presentation strikes a good balance between comprehensive and cluttered—a challenge many digital displays fail to navigate successfully.

Convenience features include a panoramic sunroof, powered tailgate, wireless phone charging, dual-zone climate control with vents for all three rows, and keyless entry with push-button start.

The ventilated front seats prove particularly valuable during Indian summers, though the ventilation effect could be stronger.

Driver assistance systems encompass adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system with remarkably clear resolution.

These features work largely as advertised, though the lane keeping assist occasionally struggles with India’s inconsistently marked roads.

Value Proposition and Market Position

Priced between ₹29.90 lakh and ₹36.95 lakh (ex-showroom), the Meridian positions itself as a premium offering within the mainstream three-row SUV segment.

This pricing places it above the MG Gloster and Skoda Kodiaq but below luxury offerings like the BMW X3.

Its closest conceptual competitor might be the Toyota Fortuner, which has dominated this space for years. The Fortuner counters with stronger brand equity, proven reliability, and slightly better third-row space, but the Meridian responds with superior on-road dynamics, a more premium interior, and better technology integration.

For buyers, the decision largely comes down to priorities. Those seeking ultimate reliability and resale value will likely still gravitate toward the Fortuner.

Buyers prioritizing driving experience, interior quality, and technology will find the Meridian more compelling, provided they can accept the somewhat limited third-row accommodation.

Jeep Meridian: Character in a Conformist Market

In an increasingly homogenized SUV market, the Jeep Meridian offers something increasingly rare: genuine character.

It doesn’t try to be all things to all people, instead focusing on delivering a distinctive blend of on-road comfort, authentic off-road capability, and premium appointments.

Its compromises—limited engine options, tight third-row space—are counterbalanced by strengths that matter to discerning buyers: thoughtful design, engaging driving dynamics, and an authentic connection to Jeep’s storied heritage.

While it won’t outsell more mainstream competitors, it offers an intriguing alternative for those willing to look beyond the obvious choices.

The Meridian successfully translates Jeep’s brand promise into a format practical for Indian families without diluting what makes a Jeep special in the first place. In a market segment where pragmatism typically trumps personality, that’s an achievement worth recognizing—and for the right buyer, worth experiencing.