The American car brand Jeep has officially launched the 7-seater premium SUV, the Jeep Meridian in Nepal. The SUV was open for booking and is now officially available.
The Meridian is a class premium SUV loaded with features to the brim. The SUV was first launched in May of 2022. The Meridian is based on the Jeep Compass, another Jeep’s compact SUV which is a popular option in Nepal.
The Jeep Meridian is available in only one option in Nepal called the Limited (O) variant which is also the top model which has many premium features. The Jeep Meridian is going to compete against other SUVs such as the Toyota Fortuner, Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan. Let us see what the 7-seater SUV offers.
Specifications of Jeep Meridian
| Dimensions | 4,769mm x 1,859mm x 1,698mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,782mm |
| Ground Clearance | 215mm |
| Kerb Weight | 1,890 kg |
| Engine type | 2.0L Multijet Diesel Engine |
| Engine capacity | 1,956 cc |
| Maximum power | 170 hp @ 3750 rpm |
| Maximum torque | 350 Nm @ 1750-2000 rpm |
| Transmission type | 9 speed Automatic |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
| Drive Type | 4 X 4 |
| Top speed | 198 kmph |
| Fuel tank | 60 litres |
| Mileage | 15 km/l |
| Boot space | 170 litres (with third row up) 481 litres (with the third row down) 824 litres (with the second row and third row) |
| Seating capacity | 7 |
| Tyre size | Front: 235/55 R18 Rear: 235/55 R18 |
| Wheel | 18-inch alloy wheels |
| Brakes | Front: Disc Rear: Disc |
| ABS | Yes |
| Suspension | Front: McPherson Strut with Frequency Sective Damping; HES with anti-roll bar Rear: Multilink with Strut Suspension with FSD, HRS with anti-roll bar |
| Colours | Velvet Red Pearl White Brilliant Black Magnesio Grey Tecno Metallic Green |
| Price | Rs 18,090,000 |
Design
Exterior
The Jeep Meridian looks very similar in design to its younger sibling the Jeep Compass. The Meridian is a Jeep Compass with an extended wheelbase. The front of the SUV has the iconic 7-slot grille, which Jeep is known for in chrome accents. The hood is aerodynamic increasing performance. Under the main grille, there is another grille for airflow which also has premium finishing.
The headlights are on either side of the 7-slot grille. The LED projector headlights also have LED DRLs and have proper lighting. The headlights also have an auto function which switches on automatic in dark conditions. The fog lights are situated on the bottom side below the headlights.
Coming on the side, the Jeep Meridian has 18-inch allow wheels. The all-season tyres are a big plus point and along with the 4 X 4 drive type, the SUV can also be a great long tour and off-road car. There are also chrome accents on the side which add up to the premium feeling. The handlebars on the doors have keyless entry. When you have the key in the pocket and come near the SUV it senses it and opens the door.
The rear of the SUV also carries the chrome accents. The LED taillights are wrapped around the back and give a premium look. There is a rear camera along with four sensors for safety while reversing and parking. As for the spare tyre, it is kept in the bottom of the car as being a 7-seater there is less boot space.
Interior
The interior of the Jeep Meridian is premium with a soft touch leather finish in the dashboard. The power steering also has a leather finish which has buttons for controlling the front digital display on the left side and call controls on the right side.
The steering wheel has four-way adjustment which the driver can adjust according to their preference. The front digital instrument cluster is 10.2-inch in size and displays most of the information like speed, fuel indicator, temperature, tyre pressure, RPM, distance to empty, trip meter, warning message, calls and audio information.
The infotainment system on the Jeep Meridian is a 10.1-inch screen which supports both Apple Car Play and Android Auto. The infotainment system has many functions like AC, seat ventilation, navigation, music, smartphone connection and camera output.
Just below the infotainment system, there are the AC vents and buttons for safety. The Dual-zone automatic climate control regulates the airflow and temperature inside the cabin and also allows to creation of customised environments for all passengers.
The centre console of the Jeep Meridian has an automatic gearbox with different drive modes. It also has the function for the 4 X 4 modes, hold and drive mode selector. The centre console also has two cup holders and an armrest with storage space. There is also a wireless charger for charging your phone wirelessly and on the go.
The seats are premium with brown leather upholstery and advanced features. The 8-way power adjustment for the front seats, complete with a memory function for the driver’s seat makes comfort on both city drives and off-road rides.
Ventilated plush leather seats contribute to a comfortable journey in any weather. All three rows of seats feature a recline function, and the second row’s fold-and-tumble capability allows access to the third row. Additionally, the third-row seats can fold flat which increases the boot space.
The doors on the driver seat have buttons for window controls, mirror controls and speakers. Altogether there are 9 alpine speakers which also elevates the music experience inside the cabin. It also has a panoramic sun and moon roof.
Performance
The Jeep Meridian is powered by a 2.0L Multijet Diesel Engine with a capacity of 1,956 cc, delivering 170 horsepower at 3,750 rpm and a torque of 350 Nm between 1,750 and 2,000 rpm. It boasts a 9-speed automatic transmission and runs on diesel fuel. With a 4×4 drive type, the Jeep Meridian offers a top speed of 198 kmph, and its 60-litre fuel tank provides ample driving range. When it comes to fuel efficiency, you can expect a mileage of 15 kilometres per litre.
Tyres, Brakes and Suspension
The Jeep Meridian is supported by its 18-inch diamond cut dual tone alloy wheels and tyre size of 235/55 R18 for both the front and rear. The braking system features front and rear disc brakes with ABS. For suspension, the front has McPherson Strut with Frequency Sective Damping and HES with an anti-roll bar.
The rear suspension features Multilink with Strut Suspension with FSD and HRS with anti-roll bar. Frequency Selective Damping Suspension and all-season tyres on the SUV further increase the performance and comfort.
Safety and Features
Jeep has not compromised on the safety of the Jeep Meridian with over 60 safety features. It includes six airbags, which cover the front and sides of the SUV during a collision. Electronic stability control (ESC) keeps the Meridian stable on slippery roads or during sudden manoeuvres, and the anti-lock braking system (ABS) prevents the wheels from skidding when you hit the brakes.
Electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) balances braking power between the front and rear wheels, Brake assist (BA) offers extra stopping power, and hill hold control (HHC) stops the vehicle from rolling backwards on hills. Traction control and rollover mitigation helps with the stability of the SUV.
The Jeep Meridian also has a 360-degree parking camera that provides a proper view for easier parking and navigating in tight spaces. Blind-spot monitoring (BSM) alerts you to vehicles in your blind spots, while rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA) warns you of approaching vehicles when you’re reversing. Adaptive cruise control (ACC) automatically maintains a safe distance from the vehicle in front.
Some features of the Jeep Meridian are as follows;
- 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine
- 170 hp @ 3,750rpm
- 350Nm @ 1,750-2,500rpm
- 9-speed automatic transmission
- Dual-pane Panoramic Sunroof
- 8-way Power Adjustable Driver and Passenger Seats
- Ventilated Front seats
- Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) with Hydraulic Rebound Stoppers (HRS)
- Selec-Terrain 4×4 Terrain Management System
- Diamond Cut dual-tone 45.72 cm (R18) alloy wheels
- Powerlift gate with Anti-Pinch and Memory Function
- 360-degree camera
- UconnectTM with a 25.6 cm (10.1) Touchscreen Display
- On-board Navigation
- Easy Tumble 2nd & 3rd Row Seats
- 3rd Row AC Vents with dedicated Evaporator Unit
- Full LED Projector Headlamps with integrated DRLs
- Wireless Apple CarPlay™ & Android Auto™
- 6 airbags
- Electronic stability control
- Anti-lock braking system
- Electronic brakeforce distribution
- Brake assist
- Hill hold control
- Traction control
- Rollover mitigation
- Tire pressure monitoring system
- 360-degree parking camera
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Adaptive cruise control
The Jeep Meridian is available in five colour options; Velvet Red, Pearl White, Brilliant Black, Magnesio Grey and Tecno Metallic Green.
The Jeep Meridian is available in the top Limited (O) 4 X 4 option in Nepal which costs Rs 18,090,000.
