Jeep Meridian long term review, 19,500km report

The Guinness World Records title that we set recently with the Mercedes EQS 450 SUV would not be possible without the unsung heroes working tirelessly behind the scenes. Back at the base, there was the team that planned ahead to ensure we had comfortable accommodations after long days on the road. There was the photo and video crew that braved extreme weather to capture incredible memories. And then, the support car, which had to shadow the record car, run like clockwork, and keep the crew comfortable - tasks the Jeep Meridian, for the most part, excelled at.

Our journey began in Mumbai, with the plan being to transport both cars by road to Jodhpur to rendezvous with the rest of the crew. The Mumbai-to-Ahmedabad jaunt is now relatively stress-free, comprising well-marked highways, and the Meridian simply ate it all up. It settles into a cruise at triple-digit speeds nicely, while the suspension absorbs undulations without feeling floaty. It also feels stable through the long sweepers. The adaptive cruise control works well to spot traffic ahead and slow down, but it is a tad conservative when accelerating again, so using it on a long drive like this, you feel like you’re losing time, though you aren’t really.

Rajasthan, too, posed no challenge for the Jeep until I got to Jodhpur Airport. Awaiting us were five men, their luggage and camera equipment – almost all of which the Meridian’s 481-litre boot swallowed up, but a few had to be put into the EQS. It’s worth noting that with the boot packed tightly, the powered tailgate closing button – that is inside the boot rather than on the tailgate – can become obstructed. This location also isn’t obvious to hotel staff, who frequently try to shut it by hand.

Door pockets barely hold 1-litre bottles, something you need on long journeys.

From here began our long journey from Jaisalmer to Khardung La via Jaipur, Chandigarh, Jammu, Kargil and Leh. The Jaisalmer heat was unbearable, but the Meridian’s AC was efficient at keeping the cabin cool, even with the windows being frequently opened for photography. The ventilated front seats are also very effective, but having to access them via the touchscreen is a bit of an annoyance. Speaking of which, there are a few more annoyances around the cabin, like door pockets that barely hold 1-litre bottles and not enough USB ports, both needed on a long trip like this.

A falling rock at Zoji La punched a hole in the sunroof.

Despite the heat giving way to incessant rain through Chandigarh, the journey went off without incident, until we got to the treacherous Zoji La pass. A small rock tumbled down the mountain and smashed a hole in the rear pane of the sunroof. Thankfully, the shade was closed, which meant neither the rock nor the shards of glass entered the cabin. With the sunroof taped up, we continued through the snowy conditions towards Leh. Even through inclement weather, the Jeep’s 4x4 stayed in auto mode, never once feeling out of its depth – giving us a sense of security in the cabin. If there is one weak link, it is the automatic transmission. Nine speeds often feel like three too many, and the gearbox is often unable to make up its mind on which gear works best.

The capless filler neck is too narrow for some diesel nozzles you might encounter in remote areas.

We discovered another quirk at a remote fuel pump in Ladakh. The Meridian’s capless fuel filler neck is too small to fit certain older pump nozzles, requiring some good old-fashioned jugaad. These foibles aside, the Meridian served us well when we needed it the most. It covered 7,794km in the last month alone and has the scars to show for it, but it ran with no issues whatsoever. It’ll be missed while it’s away getting a new sunroof, and I hope it’s back in time for some more adventures.