India-bound Jeep 7-seater SUV, named Meridian

TusharK · 3rd July 2019, 12:40

Mod Note: Our Jeep Meridian Review has been taken live at this link. Please continue the discussion over on the new thread. Thanks!

According to a media report, Jeep is planning to launch a 7-seater SUV to compete with the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour and the likes in the Indian market. It could be launched around 2020-21.

India-bound Jeep 7-seater SUV, named Meridian-2017jeepcompass03.jpg

Reports suggest that the new model is likely to be based on the Compass and could be built at Fiat Chrysler Automobile's (FCA) Ranjangaon plant. The project has reportedly been approved already.

It has also been reported that Jeep has shelved the plan to launch the Renegade in India for the moment. It is said that the lifecycle change globally was not aligning with its launch in the Indian market. Therefore, instead of the Renegade, Jeep is reportedly planning to launch a mid-cycle refresh of the Compass along with its 7-seater version in the coming years.

Source: Economic Times

Link to Team-BHP News

kartavya · 3rd July 2019, 12:54

Shelving the Renegade also means that they will only be selling the Compass (not counting the Wrangler or Cherokee which I doubt anyone is buying) for another 2 years in India. I think it taking a huge risk since the Compass numbers will plummet with the Hector and Seltos launches.

noopster · 3rd July 2019, 13:01

Given the Compass' pricing, this can only be construed as a foolhardy move by FCA. Mahindra is barely making a dent in the 7-seat SUV market dominated by Toyota and Ford, and they understand the Indian market way better than Fiat does.

Dead on arrival.

fx45 · 3rd July 2019, 13:40

Looking at a bigger picture, this new 7-seat model will be based on the Compass which means most of the underpinnings and bodypanels will be shared. Secondly, it will be again exported to a long list of countries with RHD vehicles. So India sales may not be high, but the focus will be for global RHD markets as well.

FrodoOfTheShire · 3rd July 2019, 13:54

Is Jeep trying to keep itself as an aspirational brand by going up the segment and price bracket? Renegade would've been much more accessible to the masses price wise and might've brought better sales number than the Compass. But at the same time, the compact SUV space is getting more and more crowded, so positioning and pricing of the Renegade might've been trickier.

McLaren Roxx · 3rd July 2019, 14:49

Not a bad move, if you ask me.

In the 32 - 40 lakh price bracket, Fortuner & Endy are the only two brands/models a serious SUV-loving enthusiast would consider.
Plus at that level, it also has a lot to do with the image one wishes to carry after owning one. The Jeep brand in India still does extremely well in both the departments - image and making butch-SUVs.

Also, the Indian market is still not mature enough to accept a 40 lakh Mahindra, Tata or even a Hyundai. No matter how good a product they launch. That's the unfortunate truth.

Thus, having Jeep enter that segment would be perfect to stir up the pot, BUT only on one condition - they have to price it right. They simply cannot afford to do a Compass & expect it to sell.

14000rpm · 3rd July 2019, 15:02

3 Row SUV from Jeep has to be the China Exclusive Grand Commander. Nothing else in their current NA portfolio. There are 2 3-row SUV's in Jeep Design studio right now - 1 will be positioned between the new Grand Cherokee and the upcoming Wagoneer and other is the Wagoneer itself. Both would be in the premium segment.

Faster to market would have to be the Grand Commander in my opinion.

India-bound Jeep 7-seater SUV, named Meridian-autosalesstatisticschinajeep_grand_commandersuv.jpg

India-bound Jeep 7-seater SUV, named Meridian-2018jeepgrandcommander_100650564.jpg

India-bound Jeep 7-seater SUV, named Meridian-jeepgrandcommanderengine.jpg

PrasunBannerjee · 3rd July 2019, 17:00

Time and again I have wished that Jeep makes the Wrangler locally and puts it in competition to the Fortuner. Not only it will have its own USP, but all enthusiasts will go for it. The base Jeep Wrangler in US sells for a lower price than what Fortuner sells in India. They can pull it off easily. The catch is, only if they want.

Samba · 3rd July 2019, 19:37

Well this looks like a practical decision from Jeep.
The Compass AWD at 23 L on-road price made sense but the Trailhawak with an on-road price of nearly 30L wont fetch them numbers. People who will spend 30 L on an SUV have choices from the Isuzu Mu-x, Endeavour, Foruner, Alturus.
So a butch SUV in the 30-35 L territory should fetch them more customers than the Trailhawk.
Trailhawk will appeal more to enthusiasts than regular buyers and a company cant survive on that. Fiat knows this the best!

Postponing the launch of the Renegade is a bad decision. A 4WD Renegade with an on road price of around 15-16L would have been just perfect!

motorworks · 3rd July 2019, 22:17

If Jeep is going to base the 7 seater product on the Grand commander, I think it would be dead on arrival! For one, it looks like a stretched compass. It just does not have the stance and imposing looks of the Endy and nor the Fortuner. And both of these cars have a legacy in India. To move customers away from them you need to have a strong USP.
Really hope Jeep plans a new product ground up rather than trying to bring something based on the Grand commander.

GTO · 4th July 2019, 08:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by TusharK

Reports suggest that the new model is likely to be based on the Compass and could be built at Fiat Chrysler Automobile's (FCA) Ranjangaon plant.

I doubt it. The Compass is way too narrow for a 30-lakh SUV. One can lengthen a car easily, but it's damn difficult to widen it.

Quote:

It has also been reported that Jeep has shelved the plan to launch the Renegade in India for the moment. It is said that the lifecycle change globally was not aligning with its launch in the Indian market.

Why not bring the next-generation here then?

Quote:

Originally Posted by noopster

Mahindra is barely making a dent in the 7-seat SUV market dominated by Toyota and Ford

The Alturas is doing an average of ~300 cars / month which is better than what I expected of a 30-lakh Mahindra! No comparison to the Fortuner, but it's pretty decent when viewed independently.

Arjun Reddy · 4th July 2019, 09:22

Just a question on the diesel automatic gear box. Does Jeep only have the ZF8 for the 2 ltr engine with them or there are different options available?
Or can they tune the current one better? The Compass Trailhawk gearbox is a big disappointment. If this new model comes with the same gearbox and in a similar tune, it will be dead on arrival.

drmohitg · 4th July 2019, 09:27

Isn't the Compass Trailhawk already competing with the likes of Fortuner and Endeavour atleast in the price bracket.

I do not see too much hope for them with this 7 seater version. The way they priced the compass, it would also follow that this version would also be priced at a premium or would be limited in features. Also It was one thing launching the Compass in a segment that has no real player in it and a completely different ball game when it comes to the 7 seater segment where a highly competent car like the Ford Endeavour is finding the going tough against the Fortuner. And then there is the Alturas, Tiguan and Kodiaq lurking in the background too.

arunramaswamy · 4th July 2019, 09:39

I feel this is a smart move by Jeep. They have already created a customer base consisting of existing Compass owners who would be in the market for upgrade in the next couple of years. If at all they decide to stay with Jeep, what option do they have?

In a way Jeep already has a sizeable customer base. All they need to do is to ensure they are entering at an attractive price point with proper variants and features distribution.

fx45 · 4th July 2019, 10:20

The new seven seater for India is an all-new model based on Compass platform. The Grand Commander is based on the Cherokee platform and is one size larger and sits below the Grand Cherokee.

I am more interested in the sub-four-meter SUV that will come for India which according to my sources would confirm that even the next-gen Renegade wont make it here.

3rd July 2019, 12:40	#1
TusharK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Pune Posts: 7,458 Thanked: 66,057 Times	India-bound Jeep 7-seater SUV, named Meridian Mod Note: Our Jeep Meridian Review has been taken live at this link. Please continue the discussion over on the new thread. Thanks! According to a media report, Jeep is planning to launch a 7-seater SUV to compete with the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour and the likes in the Indian market. It could be launched around 2020-21. Reports suggest that the new model is likely to be based on the Compass and could be built at Fiat Chrysler Automobile's (FCA) Ranjangaon plant. The project has reportedly been approved already. It has also been reported that Jeep has shelved the plan to launch the Renegade in India for the moment. It is said that the lifecycle change globally was not aligning with its launch in the Indian market. Therefore, instead of the Renegade, Jeep is reportedly planning to launch a mid-cycle refresh of the Compass along with its 7-seater version in the coming years. Source: Economic Times Link to Team-BHP News Last edited by Aditya : 1st May 2022 at 11:06. Reason: Review link added
	(14) Thanks

3rd July 2019, 12:54	#2
kartavya BHPian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Ahmedabad Posts: 318 Thanked: 434 Times	re: India-bound Jeep 7-seater SUV, named Meridian Shelving the Renegade also means that they will only be selling the Compass (not counting the Wrangler or Cherokee which I doubt anyone is buying) for another 2 years in India. I think it taking a huge risk since the Compass numbers will plummet with the Hector and Seltos launches.
	(9) Thanks

3rd July 2019, 13:01	#3
noopster Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pune Posts: 9,269 Thanked: 13,247 Times View My Garage	re: India-bound Jeep 7-seater SUV, named Meridian Given the Compass' pricing, this can only be construed as a foolhardy move by FCA. Mahindra is barely making a dent in the 7-seat SUV market dominated by Toyota and Ford, and they understand the Indian market way better than Fiat does. Dead on arrival.
	(13) Thanks

3rd July 2019, 13:40	#4
fx45 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: mumbai Posts: 1,823 Thanked: 386 Times	re: India-bound Jeep 7-seater SUV, named Meridian Looking at a bigger picture, this new 7-seat model will be based on the Compass which means most of the underpinnings and bodypanels will be shared. Secondly, it will be again exported to a long list of countries with RHD vehicles. So India sales may not be high, but the focus will be for global RHD markets as well.
	(2) Thanks

3rd July 2019, 13:54	#5
FrodoOfTheShire BHPian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Bhubaneswar Posts: 458 Thanked: 1,402 Times View My Garage	re: India-bound Jeep 7-seater SUV, named Meridian Is Jeep trying to keep itself as an aspirational brand by going up the segment and price bracket? Renegade would've been much more accessible to the masses price wise and might've brought better sales number than the Compass. But at the same time, the compact SUV space is getting more and more crowded, so positioning and pricing of the Renegade might've been trickier.
	() Thanks

3rd July 2019, 14:49	#6
McLaren Roxx BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: MAA,COK,BOM,THN Posts: 309 Thanked: 1,188 Times	re: India-bound Jeep 7-seater SUV, named Meridian Not a bad move, if you ask me. In the 32 - 40 lakh price bracket, Fortuner & Endy are the only two brands/models a serious SUV-loving enthusiast would consider. Plus at that level, it also has a lot to do with the image one wishes to carry after owning one. The Jeep brand in India still does extremely well in both the departments - image and making butch-SUVs. Also, the Indian market is still not mature enough to accept a 40 lakh Mahindra, Tata or even a Hyundai. No matter how good a product they launch. That's the unfortunate truth. Thus, having Jeep enter that segment would be perfect to stir up the pot, BUT only on one condition - they have to price it right. They simply cannot afford to do a Compass & expect it to sell.
	(5) Thanks

3rd July 2019, 15:02	#7
14000rpm Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Helsinki Posts: 2,711 Thanked: 7,810 Times View My Garage	re: India-bound Jeep 7-seater SUV, named Meridian 3 Row SUV from Jeep has to be the China Exclusive Grand Commander. Nothing else in their current NA portfolio. There are 2 3-row SUV's in Jeep Design studio right now - 1 will be positioned between the new Grand Cherokee and the upcoming Wagoneer and other is the Wagoneer itself. Both would be in the premium segment. Faster to market would have to be the Grand Commander in my opinion.
	(20) Thanks

3rd July 2019, 17:00	#8
PrasunBannerjee BHPian Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Udaipur Posts: 463 Thanked: 1,849 Times	re: India-bound Jeep 7-seater SUV, named Meridian Time and again I have wished that Jeep makes the Wrangler locally and puts it in competition to the Fortuner. Not only it will have its own USP, but all enthusiasts will go for it. The base Jeep Wrangler in US sells for a lower price than what Fortuner sells in India. They can pull it off easily. The catch is, only if they want. Last edited by GTO : 4th July 2019 at 08:05. Reason: typo
	(2) Thanks

3rd July 2019, 19:37	#9
Samba Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Kolkata Posts: 2,310 Thanked: 29,737 Times View My Garage	re: India-bound Jeep 7-seater SUV, named Meridian Well this looks like a practical decision from Jeep. The Compass AWD at 23 L on-road price made sense but the Trailhawak with an on-road price of nearly 30L wont fetch them numbers. People who will spend 30 L on an SUV have choices from the Isuzu Mu-x, Endeavour, Foruner, Alturus. So a butch SUV in the 30-35 L territory should fetch them more customers than the Trailhawk. Trailhawk will appeal more to enthusiasts than regular buyers and a company cant survive on that. Fiat knows this the best! Postponing the launch of the Renegade is a bad decision. A 4WD Renegade with an on road price of around 15-16L would have been just perfect! Last edited by Samba : 3rd July 2019 at 19:38.
	(2) Thanks

3rd July 2019, 22:17	#10
motorworks Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,837 Thanked: 4,341 Times View My Garage	Rumour: Jeep planning Fortuner rivaling 7-seater SUV If Jeep is going to base the 7 seater product on the Grand commander, I think it would be dead on arrival! For one, it looks like a stretched compass. It just does not have the stance and imposing looks of the Endy and nor the Fortuner. And both of these cars have a legacy in India. To move customers away from them you need to have a strong USP. Really hope Jeep plans a new product ground up rather than trying to bring something based on the Grand commander.
	(2) Thanks

4th July 2019, 09:22	#12
Arjun Reddy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,530 Thanked: 2,901 Times	Just a question on the diesel automatic gear box. Does Jeep only have the ZF8 for the 2 ltr engine with them or there are different options available? Or can they tune the current one better? The Compass Trailhawk gearbox is a big disappointment. If this new model comes with the same gearbox and in a similar tune, it will be dead on arrival.
	() Thanks

4th July 2019, 09:27	#13
drmohitg Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Liverpool/Delhi Posts: 5,449 Thanked: 7,573 Times	re: India-bound Jeep 7-seater SUV, named Meridian Isn't the Compass Trailhawk already competing with the likes of Fortuner and Endeavour atleast in the price bracket. I do not see too much hope for them with this 7 seater version. The way they priced the compass, it would also follow that this version would also be priced at a premium or would be limited in features. Also It was one thing launching the Compass in a segment that has no real player in it and a completely different ball game when it comes to the 7 seater segment where a highly competent car like the Ford Endeavour is finding the going tough against the Fortuner. And then there is the Alturas, Tiguan and Kodiaq lurking in the background too.
	(2) Thanks

4th July 2019, 09:39	#14
arunramaswamy BHPian Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Chennai/Sydney Posts: 338 Thanked: 677 Times	I feel this is a smart move by Jeep. They have already created a customer base consisting of existing Compass owners who would be in the market for upgrade in the next couple of years. If at all they decide to stay with Jeep, what option do they have? In a way Jeep already has a sizeable customer base. All they need to do is to ensure they are entering at an attractive price point with proper variants and features distribution.
	(1) Thanks

4th July 2019, 10:20	#15
fx45 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: mumbai Posts: 1,823 Thanked: 386 Times	re: India-bound Jeep 7-seater SUV, named Meridian The new seven seater for India is an all-new model based on Compass platform. The Grand Commander is based on the Cherokee platform and is one size larger and sits below the Grand Cherokee. I am more interested in the sub-four-meter SUV that will come for India which according to my sources would confirm that even the next-gen Renegade wont make it here.
	() Thanks