Jeep Meridian Vs Rivals: Specification, Features, and Price comparison

Full-sized SUVs have always been a nuanced segment in the sense that the bigger they get, the more compelling the purchase. There’s something about their magnanimous size that draws us Indians, maybe it’s the power it offers, maybe it’s because it can effortlessly lug your entire family around, or maybe it’s the feeling of being the king that these cars give you when you sit inside and drive them due to how cars literally move to make way for you.

Jeep with its stellar SUV genetics have finally entered this segment with the Meridian, but in a heavily biased segment, the brand of “Jeep” isn’t enough to rack up sales number. So, how does the Jeep Meridian stack against its behemoth-sized competition, and is it good enough to dethrone the segment king Toyota Fortuner? Let’s find out: –

Engine and Transmission Specifications

• The Skoda Kodiaq is the only car in the segment to come with a petrol-only offering.
• Apart from the Kodiaq, the Toyota Fortuner also has a petrol engine on offer.
• The Fortuner sports the biggest engine in the segment, with its 2.8L diesel engine boasting a class-leading 500 Nm of torque.
• The MG Gloster only inches in terms of grunt, with the only offering in the segment with a twin-turbo setup which also boats the highest power rating of 215 bhp.
• Toyota Fortuner, MG Gloster, and Mahindra Alturas G4 are built on body-on-frame chassis, while the Skoda Kodiaq and jeep Meridian are built on a monocoque chassis. It essentially means that the Meridian and Kodiaq offer a more stable ride with minimal body roll. On the other hand, the Fortuner, Gloster, and Alturas excel in handling those pots and bumps and offer much more superior off-road capability.

Dimensions

• MG Gloster absolutely dominated the segment, offering the highest length, width, and wheelbase.
• The Alturas, however, is the tallest in the segment and also sports the highest ground clearance.
• Toyota Fortuner and Jeep Meridian are neck and neck in terms of size with the Fortuner just inching out ahead.
• Skoda Kodiaq is the smallest offering in the segment.

Also Read: Toyota Fortuner GR Sport Edition Launched In India

Safety and Security

• All cars offer ABS, EBD, ESC, Traction control, TPMS, and 6 airbags, while The Alturas and Kodiaq offer 9-airbags.
• MG Gloster is the only offering in the segment to get advanced driver-assist safety features like adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking system, road departure mitigation, and lane-keeping assist system. 
• Except for the Toyota Fortuner, all the cars in the segment offer a 360-degree parking camera.

Comfort and Convenience

• The MG Gloster is the most feature-packed offering in the segment, with massage seats, best in segment 12.28-inch infotainment screen, lane-watch camera, and ADAS features.
• For the luxury features in the Fortuner such as connected tech, ventilated seats, and a powered tailgate, you will only be able to get them in the top model which is the Legender which can go up to a whopping Rs 50 lakh on-road in certain states.
• The Jeep Meridian and the Skoda Kodiaq are almost similar in terms of features, but where Jeep offers a larger infotainment system, Skoda offers triple-zone climate control.
• Mahindra Alturas G4 although extremely well equipped, doesn’t offer any sort of connected car technology which honestly is quite disappointing for a car of this segment, considering the fact that even hatchbacks nowadays possess connected capabilities.
• Considering the Fortuner is the most expensive offering on this list, for Toyota to not even include a sunroof and only offer feel-good features in the top-of-the-line Legender is just pure sad to see.

Price

Author’s Take

While the Jeep Meridian is a stellar offering, we truly wish we could say that it is a segment disruptor. Apart from its trusted Jeep brand, the Meridian struggles to keep up with the likes of the MG Gloster and fails to deliver a unique taste to attract towards it the fad of the Fortuner.