The Drive Report: Jeep Meridian Overland

Jeep Meridian

The seven-seater SUV space, despite appearances, isn’t as crowded as the luxury SUV one. Once you cross the Fortuner price mark, there’s quite a chasm between the sub-Rs 40-lakh seven-seater SUVs and the top-end European luxury SUVs. This works in favour of the likes of the Jeep Meridian, whose latest iteration, the Meridian Overland, brings Jeep’s trademark off-roading prowess and blends it with an air of, for the lack of a better word, premiumness that aims to elevate it from the ranks of its direct competitors—the Citroen C5 Aircross, MG Gloster and the Skoda Kodiaq. In terms of capability and luxury, the Meridian Overland steadfastly stands guard at the price barrier that separates it from the more expensive and more coveted Toyota Fortuner. As a diesel monocoque vehicle that offers a blend of traditional SUV comfort and contemporary monocoque dynamism, it’s a good time to be a Jeep Meridian right now. It helps that its closest rival, the popular and butter-smooth Skoda Kodiaq, faces an uncertain future in India, making far more room for this Compass-based seven-seater. Still, it can’t coast on positioning alone. So how exactly does the Meridian Overland make its case?

It’s a Jeep

And with that name comes a standard assortment of design features that set the Meridian Overland apart from its busier-looking counterparts. In profile, the Overland is the same as the existing iterations of the Meridian, save for a few flourishes that add a layer of premiumness to the design. A chrome grille replaces the glossy black one, and new 19-inch five-spoke alloys help make it look beefier and robust, although the gap between the wheels and the wheel wells does tone down its muscularity and otherwise wholesome proportions a bit. There’s generous use of chrome on the bumper as well, much like before, as if to really drive the point home that this is the far more mature and accommodating sibling of the Jeep Compass. Personally, I prefer the relative austerity of the Compass’ front end. Still, symmetry has always been a friend to the Meridian, despite the extended rear overhang, it manages to look regal on the road without attempting to domineer it like a Fortuner would.

That’s pretty much where the visual upgrades end. There’s a nice little shark fin antenna, but the Overland hasn’t tried to go overboard when it comes to differentiating itself from its standard iterations, and that’s a tad disappointing.

Properly plush

The Compass’ interiors are by no means drab, but the Meridian dials up the luxury quotient several notches. Yes, the interior is largely unchanged but it’s a good reminder of how a dashboard partially covered in brown suede leather can help an SUV stand out even among rivals that cost twice as much. The suede lining is the first thing that greets you and, thankfully, finds its way on to the door panels as well, enveloping you in what feels like a traditional cockpit, reminiscent of old hunting lodges and Old Spice commercials. It is complemented by copper-coloured highlights that, when paired with tan leather seats, help create a stark black-and-brown dual-tone effect. The 10.1-inch touchscreen, digital instrument cluster and climate control functions remain unchanged.

Performance

The same gruff, slightly agricultural thoroughbred of a 2.0-litre Multijet II turbo-diesel powers this SUV. With 168bhp to spare, it’s not the most sprightly performer but instead of being in a rush to rise through revs, it has a reassuringly steady linearity to it that makes it a very comfortable tourer. The engine has a gruff note to it, no doubt, but the cabin’s impressive insulation curbs its aural notes to a great extent. Available in top-end form with a 9-speed AT, the Meridian feels surprisingly smooth. In the city, its well-calibrated seating position and comfy ventilated seats make for easy, relaxed driving. In fact, I found that rough-hewn engine note helped further drown out the cacophonous, sensory assault that awaits you at every crowded traffic intersection.

The Meridian can be had in both 4x2 and 4x4 versions, with the former proving more popular as a general principle since very few people take their SUVs off-road. But this is, after all, a Jeep, and proper off-roading comes with the territory. As such it’s not simply equipped with a standard AWD system when it comes to the 4X4—it comes equipped with locking diffs, a low range transfer case—the works. By engaging Jeep’s proprietary Selec-Terrain system you can switch to 4-low, which, in the automatic, sticks to the first gear. There’s an almost ladder-frame-like solidity to it, although you’re thankful for it being a monocoque on city roads, where the Meridian, like most modern SUVs, will primarily reside. Handling and driving dynamism are surprisingly on point for a vehicle of such proportions. Sure, it’s not meant for hard cornering, but passengers are fairly insulated from body roll and road bumps thanks to the selective damping provided via the Meridian’s versatile and supple suspension setup. In terms of sheer driving dynamism, the Meridian is no match for the likes of the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Kodiaq. But its fortress-like insulation, old-world charm and torquey diesel suggest that the Meridian is a very different kind of animal. One that’s more suited to both off-roading and long-haul highway runs. As far as sheer grand touring capabilities go, the Meridian is the clear winner.

Verdict

At Rs 39.46 lakh ex-showroom, you get a very wholesome SUV that’s greater than the sum of its parts. The Meridian Overland may not do any particular thing exceptionally well, but in the ever-shrinking pool of diesel, seven-seater SUVs, it is, arguably, the finest example of its breed. A truly pedigreed brand, offering top-level comfort, great city driving dynamics, excellent highway driving capabilities that arguably outgun those of its competitors and, of course, some serious off-roading chops with trademark Jeep Compass entry and departure angles. A truly capable holidaymaker, the Jeep Meridian Overland, designed for bumpy roads, has a fairly smooth one ahead of it.