Jeep Meridian long term review | 700km report

Test started: July 2026/16,389km Current ODO reading: 17,053kmMileage this month: 664km Efficiency: 13.9kmpl

What a treat this month turned out to be! To begin with, Jeep sent us the iconic Jeep Duck. The tradition began in 2020 when Allison Parliament from Canada wanted to spread a little cheer during the stressful days of the pandemic. She placed a rubber duck with a note on a stranger’s Jeep, and the owner loved the thoughtful gesture. The story was shared online, quickly went viral, and today ‘ducking’ has become a global Jeep tradition. Receiving our own Jeep Duck from Jeep India couldn’t have come at a better time. With the monsoons setting in, we immediately pointed the Jeep Meridian towards the trails. Away from the stress of everyday life, it was pure bliss. Slush, mud and everything that nature could throw at us were no match for the Meridian. Traction was never an issue, and at no point did it feel like this 4WD was going to get stuck. To put its practicality to the test, I also drove the Meridian on a quick trip to Dehradun. Out on the highway, it felt effortless to cruise, with the diesel engine making light work over long distances. Even more impressive was the fuel efficiency, which hovered around 14kmpl—an excellent figure for a large, four-wheel-drive SUV. The boot, too, proved to be immensely practical, easily swallowing luggage for four people with room to spare. In short, our Meridian has been spreading joy and I guess it’s safe to say that I, too, have officially been ducked!

There is little to doubt that I am a proper petrolhead. Grew up collecting scale models and still does so. The passion became a proffession decades back and from then on there has been no looking back. For a living I test vehicles using sophisticated data logging equipment and then crunch data to tell you the results and my verdict. I am also on the jury of the Indian Car of the Year and the Indian Motorcycle of the Year awards.

When not at work (which is rarely) I love tending and restoring old motorcycles and scooters which are all a part of my personal collection. And did I tell you that being fiercly Bengali I do not mind riding or driving hundreds of kilometers to get to my favorite curry!

Designated Associate Editor, Rahul is constantly hounded for information on cars and bikes and on most days, is on the verge of pulling his hair out.