Jeep has been working on a three-row derivative of the Compass lately. The SUV will be first launched in the South American market as ‘Jeep Commander’. Talking about the Indian market, it will be called Meridian here and is likely to be launched in early-2022. Ahead of the global debut, Jeep Brazil has teased the interior images of Jeep Meridian.
As per the images, we could get a fair idea of what the SUV will look like. The dashboard and other interior bits of the three-row SUV looks similar to the Compass facelift. A closer look reveals that the Meridian(Commander) gets suede trim on the dashboard instead of leather. Moving on, the seats are seen wrapped in a more premium, brown leather and suede upholstery with cross-stitching pattern. In addition to this, the upcoming SUV gets rose gold accents on the lower centre console. We could also see ‘Jeep 1941’ embossed on the front armrest. The important highlight of the cabin is the second and third-row of seats. We can expect the third row passengers to get access to features like blower speed adjustment and charging ports. The teaser image gives us a sneak peek that the Meridian will get a bench-type seat in the middle row. Jeep might also offer captain seats in some of the variants.
The India-bound Jeep Meridian(Commander) might carry forward most of the features from the Compass. However, from the teaser images, we are able to get a glimpse of the 10.25-inch digital driver display and 10.1-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system. The SUV might get features like cruise control, steering-mounted audio controls, ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, and dual-zone climate control. In terms of safety features, the SUV will be equipped with multiple airbags, front and rear parking sensors, ABS with EBD, ESC, and electric parking brake. The ADAS features like adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, and lane departure warning might also be on offer.
Performance-wise, the India-spec Jeep Meridian is likely to come with the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder Multijet diesel engine that powers the Compass. As of now, the power and torque figures are yet not confirmed. But we can expect it to produce around 200 bhp which is a bit more than what Compass generates (170 bhp). The engine is likely to be linked to a 9-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. Besides these, the upcoming Meridian might be offered with a 48V mild-hybrid tech with a BSG (belt-driven starter generator) to keep emissions and fuel economy in check.
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Jeep Commander, as known in the global market, will first go on sale in South America. It will be powered by a 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine. This engine also powers the Compass in some international markets.