Jeep has decided to quickly gather the market share and capitalise on the void created by Ford Endeavour in India. This post compares it with another strong product in the market, Tata Safari.
Tata Safari is a strong product in the premium mid-size SUV segment and the arrival of the Jeep Meridian offers the customers a more off-road oriented alternative and this comparison is warranted. Safari popularised the 7-seat mid-size SUVs in recent years in which players like Mahindra XUV700 and MG Hector Plus are present. Meridian is, essentially, a more premium version of the 7-seat mid-size SUV space along with products like Toyota Fortuner, Isuzu MU-X and MG Gloster.
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Jeep Meridian vs Tata Safari Price Comparison
| Jeep Meridian | Price (ex-showroom) |
| Meridian Limited | Rs 29.90 Lakh |
| Meridian Limited AT | Rs 31.80 Lakh |
| Meridian Limited Opt | Rs 32.40 Lakh |
| Meridian Limited Opt AT | Rs 34.30 Lakh |
| Meridian Limited Opt AT 4×4 | Rs 36.95 Lakh |
Jeep has priced its Meridian quite aggressively with the base model starting at below Rs 30 lakh, ex-showroom and the top trim retailing at a shade below Rs 37 lakh, ex-showroom.
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| Tata Safari | Price (ex-showroom) |
| Safari XE | Rs 15.25 Lakh |
| Safari XM | Rs 16.70 Lakh |
| Safari XMA AT | Rs 18.00 Lakh |
| Safari XT | Rs 18.20 Lakh |
| Safari XT Plus | Rs 19.00 Lakh |
| Safari XT Plus Dark Edition | Rs 19.25 Lakh |
| Safari XZ | Rs 19.95 Lakh |
| Safari XTA Plus | Rs 20.30 Lakh |
| Safari XTA Plus Dark Edition | Rs 20.55 Lakh |
| Safari XZ Plus | Rs 20.95 Lakh |
| Safari XZ Plus 6-Seat | Rs 21.05 Lakh |
| Safari XZ Plus Kaziranga Edition | Rs 21.20 Lakh |
| Safari XZ Plus Adventure Edition | Rs 21.20 Lakh |
| Safari XZA AT | Rs 21.25 Lakh |
| Safari XZA Plus AT Dark Edition | Rs 22.55 Lakh |
| Safari XZ Plus 6-Seat Kaziranga Edition | Rs 21.30 Lakh |
| Safari XZA Plus Gold AT | Rs 23.36 Lakh |
| Safari XZA Plus Gold 6-Seat AT | Rs 23.46 Lakh |
As seen from the table above, the Tata Safari has a plethora of variants to choose from.
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Jeep Meridian vs Tata Safari Specifications
| Specs | 2022 Jeep Meridian | Tata Safari |
| Engine | 2.0L Turbo Diesel | 2.0L Turbo Diesel |
| Power | 170 hp | 170 hp |
| Torque | 350 Nm | 350 Nm |
| Transmission | 9 speed automatic/6 speed manual | 6-speed manual/ 6-speed automatic |
Both these SUVs come with the same powertrain. This is what makes them so comparable. However, the main difference is that the Safari doesn’t offer a 4×4 drivetrain and the Meridian does.
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Jeep Meridian vs Tata Safari Design Comparison
The Jeep Meridian is based on a unibody architecture and comes with a spacious cabin that can accommodate up to seven passengers. It features a theatre-style “stadium” seating and a panoramic sunroof. On the outside, the three-row SUV features a distinct seven-slot grille, chrome inserts for the front bumper, roof rails, 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, trapezoidal wheel arches, and silver-coloured faux skid plates. The Jeep Meridian also gets a new set of front and rear bumpers. It features wrap-around LED taillights, fog lights, LED headlamps with integrated LED DRLs, and an integrated spoiler with a high-mounted stop lamp. There are also horizontally placed reflectors on the rear bumper.
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On the inside, the SUV gets a dual-tone brown and black upholstery, a 10.1-inch free-standing touchscreen infotainment system, a nine-speaker Alpine-sourced music system, a fully-digital instrument console, electrically-adjustable driver seat, electrically powered tailgate, ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and wireless charging. Overall, the three-row SUV looks quite bold and stylish. It retains the authentic Jeep DNA of adventure and capability. The highlights include Front and Rear Independent Suspension and Composed Driving Dynamics. It also features reclinable second and third-row seats (up to 32 degrees).
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On the other hand, the Safari has a bold front end with prominent sleek LED DRLs on the bonnet, a broad grille with chrome elements, a massive bumper, the headlamps are positioned on either side of the bumper, there is a sturdy skid plate which, along with the upright bonnet lends it a muscular stance. The side profile of the Safari represents a tall boy silhouette with roof rails, side steps for easier ingress and egress, and large stylish alloy wheels. At the rear, the swooping LED taillamps are connected by a gloss black glass panel which makes the tail quite appealing and desirable.
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On the inside, the cabin of the Safari feels premium with a textured dashboard with wooden inlays, soft-touch material and metal inserts, there is a free-standing touchscreen infotainment system, digital driver’s instrument cluster, automatic climate control, electric sunroof, connected car tech features, smartphone connectivity, and the overall black and beige colour theme elevates its premium quotient. All in all, its cabin is where you would want to be.
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Verdict
Both these SUVs come with their distinct characteristics. While the Meridian is certainly a premium product, it is more geared towards ensuring that the owner is able to tread through any sort of terrain. However, those capabilities come at a price. If you have no budget constraints and are looking for a 7-seat SUV for occasional off-roading, Jeep Meridian makes for a great choice. On the other hand, if you are looking for a more urban SUV with a premium cabin and within a budget (compared to Meridian), Safari is your best bet.
