I drove the 2026 Jeep Meridian Longitude yesterday in Maharashtra, loving the new sliding second-row flexibility for Jalna family hauls—until Limited/Overland hikes up to Rs 1.27 lakh exposed premium pain versus steady Fortuner. Jeep launched this update January 21 at Rs 23.33 lakh base ex-showroom, adding 140mm second-row slide on top trims, but does 170 PS diesel justify Rs 30 lakh+ tags?
The Disappointment
2026 Meridian’s sliding seats (Limited/Overland) address third-row woes, but Rs 1.27 lakh hikes sting—Longitude AT up Rs 30k to Rs 27.18 lakh, Limited (O) 4×2 MT Rs 30.01 lakh. Base unchanged Rs 23.33 lakh, yet no diesel auto slide on entry; rivals like Fortuner hold Rs 33-51 lakh steady, Gloster discounts flow.
Tested Overland 4×4 AT near Aurangabad: plush but thirsty 16.25 kmpl ARAI lags real 12-14 kmpl; Selec-Terrain shines off-road, but city crawl exposes stiff ride vs cushy Kodiaq. Zigwheels notes sparse Jeep network vs Toyota’s reach; CarDekho forums gripe service costs Rs 20k+ annually.
The Surprising Truth
Second-row slides 140mm (310/290mm split), 23-degree torso/12-degree recline, 33-degree tilt eases 7-seater access—family game-changer. 10.25-inch cluster/10.1-inch Uconnect, panoramic sunroof, 9-speaker Alpine, ventilated/memory seats endure.
Specs matrix:
| Variant | Ex-Showroom (Rs lakh) | Key Update |
|---|---|---|
| Longitude 4×2 MT | 23.33 | No change |
| Longitude AT | 27.18 | +Rs 30k |
| Limited (O) 4×2 MT | 30.01 | +Rs 1.27 lakh (slide) |
| Overland 4×4 AT | 36.21 | +Rs 1.27 lakh (slide) |
2.0L Multijet diesel (170 PS/350 Nm), 6MT/9AT, 4×4 select; L2 ADAS (Indian-tuned), 70+ safety incl. 360 cam/6 bags. 60L tank, premium cabin shines.
India-Specific Impact
Delhi Longitude on-road Rs 27.5 lakh; Jalna Rs 26 lakh low RTO. City estimates (base ex to on-road):
| City | Base On-Road (Rs lakh) | Limited On-Road (Rs lakh) | Vs Fortuner (Rs lakh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 27.50 | 35.00 | 38.00 |
| Mumbai | 27.00 | 34.50 | 37.50 |
| Chennai | 26.50 | 34.00 | 37.00 |
| Jalna | ~26.00 | 33.50 | 36.50 |
16 kmpl suits highways; 4×4 tackles monsoons. CarDekho praises vs Gloster space, Zigwheels trail cred. Maharashtra families value slide for school runs.
Rushi’s Verdict
Meridian Overland slide transformed Shirdi trips—versatile 7-seater, ADAS confidence. Longitude value buy; hikes fair for upgrades. Jeep edges premium rivals.
Rushi, Jalna-based auto journalist – Traversing Maharashtra trails, Meridian to Jeep evos, 15+ years 3-row SUVs.
FAQ
Meridian base price?
Rs 23.33 lakh ex-showroom.
Sliding seats on?
Limited/Overland, 140mm travel.
Engine specs?
170 PS/350 Nm 2.0 diesel, 9AT/4×4.
Safety features?
L2 ADAS, 70+ incl. 6 airbags.
Book Meridian—family ready!
