Jeep Meridian Journey
I’ve been putting the Jeep Meridian through its paces as the support vehicle for a massive Guinness World Record attempt alongside the Mercedes‑Benz EQS 450 SUV and I’m here to tell you, the Meridian was a rock star. From shadowing the main car across India to hauling camera gear and luggage, it ran like clockwork and kept everyone comfy even over 19,500 km.
Our journey kicked off in Mumbai, heading toward Jodhpur. The highways between Mumbai and Ahmedabad? Smooth sailing. The Meridian settles into a high‑speed cruise effortlessly, the suspension smoothly absorbing bumps and it feels rock‑steady on sweeping curves. That long‑wheelbase monocoque chassis really shows off its strengths on open roads.
When we arrived in Jodhpur, we loaded the rear seats with crew, luggage, camera gear and it all fit. With the third row folded down, the boot capacity hits 481 litres plenty of space for everything we needed and live the kind of travel that would’ve been impossible in a cramped SUV.
Jeep Meridian Rajasthan to Leh
As we moved on to Rajasthan and finally to Leh via Kargil, Jaisalmer, Chandigarh and Jammu, the AC never had to break a sweat. Even in intense heat and frequent times with the windows down, the cabin stayed cool. Little touches like the ventilated seats helped but accessing them via the touchscreen did get old. Also, something to note: the door‑pocket bottle holders only fit 1‑litre bottles, and there weren’t enough USB ports for long days on the road.
About half‑way through our journey, we had a minor mishap: a small rock shattered the rear glass pane of the sunroof while crossing Zoji La. Luckily, the shade was down, so no glass entered the cabin and after taping it up, we pushed through in snow and fog. The 4×4 stayed in auto mode the entire way and despite the conditions, never felt out of its depth.
Jeep Meridian Capabilities
That brings me to comfort and drive experience: the Meridian excels at high‑speed cruising, but the engine isn’t whisper‑quiet. It droned along at speed unless you blasted the Alpine audio system yet I must say, the surround sound and clarity made long drives enjoyable. From other Autocar reports I’ve read, the Meridian’s ride quality owes much to its independent suspension with Frequency Selective Damping and hydraulic stops it’s firm but never harsh, and absorbs bad surfaces like a champ.
The one drawback? The 9-speed automatic transmission sometimes jerks as it tries to figure out the ideal gear. With so many ratios, it often feels like the gearbox is overthinking and that can make acceleration feel hesitant.
Fuel stops in remote areas taught me another quirk: the Meridian has a capless diesel filler neck that proved too narrow for some older pump nozzles near Ladakh. At one station I had to rig around it just to get fuel in.
Over the 7,794 km I logged in just one month, the only real issue was the sunroof pane needing replacement. Otherwise, no faults, no breakdowns, no maintenance hiccups. The odometer hit 19,529 km, and the car felt solid along the entire journey.
Jeep Meridian Final Thoughts
Highway comfort
Stellar ride quality, top‑notch stability and plenty of space even when packed.
Interior quirks
Limited USB ports, small bottle holders, and some touchscreen inconveniences.
Engine and gearbox
Diesel engine is reliable and torquey for long runs, but not hushed; the 9‑speed auto occasionally hunts for ratios.
Practical annoyances
Sunroof vulnerability and capless fuel filler fitment issues in remote stations.
In short, if you need a high‑mileage long‑distance SUV with roomy cargo space, solid highway manners and confidence-inspiring 4×4 capability, the Meridian delivers despite a few minor foibles.
