As announced by Carlos Tavares himself, CEO of Stellantis, during his presentation of expansion programs in India, Jeep has launched in that market - with enormous potential - the new Meridian three-row seat model which, according to the specialized press local, will eventually "revolutionize the 7-seater off-road segment, now dominated by Toyota Fortuner, MG Gloster and Mahindra Alturas".
See photos
Meridian, derived from the Jeep Compass which is already a hit in India
Manufactured at the Jeep India plant in Ranjangaon, Meridian is expected to emulate the success achieved by the Compass, launched in 2017, also thanks to a long list of features that are highly appreciated by local customers.
This is the case of the safety and driver assistance systems (6 airbags, 360-degree camera, tire pressure monitoring, ESC electronic stability control, traction control and hill start assistance) and passenger compartment comfort.
4,769 mm long and 1,698 mm high.
Jeep Meridian has a wheelbase of 2,782 mm, extended compared to the Compass model from which it derives, precisely to accommodate the third row of seats.
The ground clearance, calibrated for Indian roads and even demanding off-road, is 203 mm.
The new Jeep Meridian sports a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster, complemented by an independent 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
Also standard is the automatic multi-zone climate control and high-level finishes for the dashboard and cockpit.
Under the bonnet a well-known engine in Turin: the 2.0-liter turbodiesel Multijet II with 170 HP and 350 Nm of maximum torque that can be combined with a nine-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual gearbox.
The Meridian SUV is offered in India with both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive and provides the three driving modes Auto, Sand / Mud and Snow.
It can accelerate from zero to 100 km / h in 10.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 198 km / h.
