The Jeep Meridian has been quietly
building a loyal following in India
since its 2022 launch. The 2026
update brings sliding second row
seats on higher variants a new
Track Edition and continued
refinement of one of India’s most
underrated premium SUVs. Starting
at ₹23.33 lakh it is significantly
more affordable than the Toyota
Fortuner while offering a genuinely
different ownership experience.
Here is our complete review.
What Makes The Meridian Different
The Jeep Meridian is fundamentally
different from its main rival the
Toyota Fortuner in one critical way —
it uses a monocoque unibody platform
instead of a body on frame ladder
frame chassis. This gives the
Meridian significantly better on
road ride quality handling refinement
and fuel efficiency than the Fortuner
while sacrificing some of the raw
off road capability that the Fortuner’s
body on frame construction provides.
Design — Unmistakably Jeep
The Meridian’s design is an
evolution of the Compass with the
iconic 7 slot grille sharper LED
headlamps muscular wheel arches
and the commanding proportions that
Jeep SUVs are known for. The 2026
Track Edition adds blacked out
exterior elements distinctive badging
and a more aggressive appearance
for buyers wanting maximum visual
impact.
Available in 5 colour options
including Brilliant Black Pearl
White Magnesio Grey Techno
Metallic Green and Velvet Red
it offers reasonable personalisation
for a premium full size SUV.
Engine — Diesel Only
The Meridian is powered by a
single 2.0 litre Multijet II
turbo diesel engine producing
170bhp and 350Nm of torque.
Available with a 6 speed manual
or 9 speed automatic gearbox
and either front wheel drive or
4 wheel drive depending on variant.
The diesel engine is well suited
to the Meridian’s character —
strong torque for confident
overtaking and good highway
cruising efficiency.
ARAI claimed fuel efficiency
is 16 kmpl — better than
the Fortuner’s diesel which
delivers 14.33 kmpl. Real
world owners report 12 to
14 kmpl in mixed driving
making it more economical
to run than most rivals in
its segment.
Highway Manners — The Meridian’s Superpower
Where the Meridian truly excels
is on Indian highways. At triple
digit speeds it feels rock solid
and planted — completely different
from the Fortuner’s slightly bouncy
highway character. The suspension
absorbs undulations without
unsettling the car and long drives
are genuinely fatigue free. The
9 speed automatic in the upper
crust keeps the engine ticking
over at just 1500rpm at 100kmph —
remarkably relaxed cruising.
Owners who regularly drive
between cities specifically
praise the Meridian’s ability
to cover large distances without
passenger fatigue — a quality
the Fortuner cannot match on
smooth highways.
2026 Update — Sliding Second Row
The most useful 2026 update is
the sliding second row seats on
the Limited O and Overland variants.
Passengers can now adjust the
second row position to give more
legroom to third row passengers
or create extra boot space when
needed. This significantly improves
the Meridian’s practicality as a
true 7 seat vehicle making it
genuinely more usable than before
for families on longer journeys.
Interior Quality
The Meridian’s interior is
genuinely premium with a 10.1
inch Uconnect touchscreen a
10.25 inch digital instrument
cluster ventilated front seats
panoramic sunroof and 9 speaker
Alpine sound system. The material
quality and overall finish feel
distinctly European — a Jeep
product built on Fiat Chrysler’s
Italian platform feels different
from Korean and Japanese rivals
in a way that is hard to quantify
but easy to feel.
Safety
6 airbags standard across all
variants Level 2 ADAS on higher
variants 360 degree camera hill
start and descent assist and
electronic stability control
make it adequately equipped for
safety. The monocoque platform
provides better passive safety
characteristics than the Fortuner’s
body on frame construction in
a frontal collision.
Honest Limitations
The third row is genuinely
tight for adults on longer
journeys — better suited for
children. The exterior design
while distinctive does not look
dramatically different from the
smaller Compass which can
disappoint buyers wanting more
visual differentiation for
the extra money. Jeep’s service
network in India is significantly
smaller than Toyota’s — a genuine
concern for buyers outside major
metros.
Price and Variants
The Meridian starts at ₹23.33
lakh for the base Longitude
5 seat diesel manual. The
7 seat variants start at
₹25.49 lakh. The Track Edition
at ₹35.95 lakh and the 4×4
Track Edition at ₹37.82 lakh
are the range toppers for
buyers wanting maximum capability
and exclusivity.
Meridian vs Toyota Fortuner
The Fortuner wins on off road
capability resale value and
Toyota’s legendary long term
reliability and service network.
The Meridian wins on highway
ride quality refinement fuel
efficiency interior premium
feel and starting price —
₹11 lakh less than the entry
Fortuner.
For urban and highway buyers
who rarely go off road the
Meridian offers genuinely
better value than the Fortuner.
For buyers who need off road
capability or want the strongest
possible resale value the
Fortuner remains unbeatable.
Verdict
The Jeep Meridian is India’s
most underrated premium full
size SUV. Its Italian engineering
outstanding highway manners
premium interior and competitive
pricing from ₹23.33 lakh make
it a compelling alternative to
the Fortuner for buyers who
spend most time on highways
rather than off road. The 2026
sliding second row update and
Track Edition add genuine value
to an already strong package.
