Jeep has taken up a made-in-India strategy for its product portfolio in this market and is planning to roll out two such models in the country this year. They are the seven-seater Meridian and the Grand Cherokee. A third model, the Compass Trailhawk, will be reintroduced in India but it will not be manufactured in the country.

The company has, however, remained quiet about the long-awaited small SUV that could slot in under the Compass — this is one of the fastest growing segments in the market now — which it had earlier said was in the works.

The new Grand Cherokee is expected in showrooms in the second half of the year.

Nonetheless, it has finally officially announced the model for another segment of the market that seems to have warmed up quite nicely — the seven-seater SUV. Built on the Compass platform, this vehicle, too, has been a while coming. The Meridian, as it will be called, then, would be Jeep’s contender that will go head-to-head in the market with the Hyundai Alcazar, Kia Carens, Tata Safari, MG Hector, and so on.

This Meridian will offer 4x4 capability production is scheduled to start in May and the launch is expected later in the year.

The Jeep Meridian will be offered in three powertrains and two trims, the manufacturer has said. While two of them are likely to be the 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol and 2-litre diesel that are offered in the Compass, the third powertrain is likely to be bigger, but the details have not been announced.

The India-made Grand Cherokee, meanwhile, will come equipped with a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol powertrain, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. It will also have the Quadra-Trac I 4x4 system, Selec-Terrain™ traction system, and four driving modes —Auto, Sport, Mud/Sand, and Snow.