Jeep Meridian

Positives:

• This 2.0-litre four cylinder turbo-diesel engine makes 186bhp/350Nm and its clatter is well-masked inside and the vibrations on the steering are minimal.

Although 168bhp may not sound much, it powers this 1.8-tonne vehicle easily; accelerating from zero to 100kmph in 10.8 seconds (claimed).

The nine-speed torque converter automatic gearbox works well with this engine, offering smooth gearshifts.

• Independent front and rear suspension and Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) flatten road imperfections with confidence and perfection.

• It is not challenging to drive despite being lengthy, even on reasonably curvy roads, due to the precise and effortless steering.

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• The 4x4 hardware exemplifies its capabilities, along with 203mm ground clearance, 18-inch wheels and competent approach, departure, and break-over angles.

Negatives:

• Not a quick automatic transmission as there's a slight delay in downshifting gears under heavy acceleration and using manual mode makes sense.

Jeep Meridian Key Specifications:

Positives:

• Its affordable five-seater base model has 670 litres of boot space and 60:40 folding rear seats to expand capacity.

• The 2025 model has a more feature-loaded top-end ‘Overland’ version, which is equipped with Level-2 ADAS functionalities.

• Its soft-touch materials, good quality plastic, and comfortable electrically-operated seats with ventilation enhance comfort levels.

• There's a 10.1-inch infotainment with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which is easy to navigate through and is well integrated into the dashboard for ease of use.

It also gets a 10.2-inch digital instrument panel with bright colour graphics, which looks premium.

The Alpine sound system sounds good, there's a wireless charging pad, along with Type-A and Type-C charging ports in the front.

Negatives:

• The base model does not get a sunroof and misses out on other features like ventilated front seats and wireless charging.

• The Meridian could have been equipped with rear window sunblinds for better passenger comfort.

• The charging port in the second row is limited to a Type-A only (no Type-C port) and there are no ports for third-row occupants.

• The third-row seats are best for children and can accommodate adults only for small journeys.

Positives:

• The top-end ‘Overland’ variant comes with an ADAS suite with 10 plus safety features like Lane Keep Assist and Collision Mitigation braking.

• All versions get six airbags, ABS with EBD, traction control, electronic stability control, hill start assist, and electronic roll mitigation.

• There is an electronic parking brake, all-passenger seatbelt alert, front driver and passenger detection system, 360-degree camera, and tyre pressure monitoring.

Negatives:

• Although the Jeep Meridian has not been tested by the NCAP safety authorities, it is based on the Compass which scored five stars in the NCAP crash test.