Say the word Jeep and one can say that images of the Wrangler is one of the first things that come to mind. After all, its shape is what literally defines not just the brand, but the word jeep itself.
Of course, there are other Jeep products too. There’s the Compass, the Grand Cherokee, and the Wagoneer, the other models in the current lineup. But over in India and Latin America, there is a unique model that could make sense here in the Philippines.
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It’s called the Jeep Meridian and the Commander, and it recently got a facelift for the 2025 model year in India. In essence, it’s a stretched Compass and is available with a seven-seat option. Sounds like something that will fit right in the country.
For 2025, the Meridian gets a new grille that now features a honeycomb design. New wheel options are available, and there are more chrome accents along the way. Okay, it’s not a dramatic facelift, but it’s enough to keep it fresh.
Inside, there are a couple of material changes to make it look and feel more upmarket. There’s copper-effect trims on the dashboard, along with suede finishes on the dash fascia. Most features have been carried over, but it’s not a bad thing given that it’s well specified.
There’s the Alpine 9-speaker audio system, the aforementioned three-row seating, and ventilated seats at the front. A full-length panoramic sunroof is also available for higher trim levels, and of course it has the latest in infotainment features. Advanced driver assist systems have been added for the 2025 model year as well.
So, it looks plush and has room for seven people inside. But what might appeal to more people is the engine. The Meridian is powered by a 2.0-liter turbodiesel that makes 167hp and 350Nm of torque. Curiously, a six-speed manual is still offered, but a nine-speed automatic is also available. It can be specified with either two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, but the latter we say is the way to go. This is a Jeep, after all.
If it were to be sold in the Philippines, how much could the Jeep Meridian go for? In India, prices start at 2,499,000 rupees, all the way to 3,649,000 rupees. Directly converted to local currency, that’s about P1,700,000 to P2,500,000. That puts it right in the middle of the compact crossover class and in the same league as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.
