New Jeep 7-Seater SUV Interior Teased, Gets Same Dashboard As The Compass

It is expected to be offered with choice of petrol and diesel engines, and 4WD as well

• The SUV features a plush brown interior with leather and suede upholstery.

• It has the same 10.25-inch digital driver’s display and 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system as the Compass.

• Teased in a 7-seater configuration but 6-seater layout is also expected to be offered.

• It will make its global debut in 2021 and is slated to be launched here in 2022 as a locally built model.

• Since it won’t be called the Commander in India like in Brazil, most recent speculations suggest it could be called the Meridian.

• New Jeep three-row SUV will rival the likes of the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour.

The upcoming seven-seater Jeep SUV for India will be making its global debut soon and the carmaker has been releasing a series of teasers for it. The latest teaser gives us a glimpse of the interior, which was seen with a plush upholstery and a familiar dashboard that looks a lot like that of the Compass.

Jeep has confirmed that the new SUV will be named the Commander in Brazil, which is also shown in the start-up animation for the 10.25-inch digital driver’s display. It is also seen to be equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a panoramic sunroof. The digital displays are the same as the ones found in the facelifted Compass. Other premium features expected on the Commander include power-adjustable and ventilated front seats, a powered tailgate and various advanced driver assistance systems (such as blind spot monitoring and autonomous emergency braking).

The brown upholstery featured a mix of leather and suede which certainly makes the cabin look more premium than that of the Compass. It was teased in a seven-seater layout with the middle row that split-folds 60:40, and a six-seater configuration will likely be offered as well with captain seats in the middle row. The front central armrest, also finished in leather, is inscribed with “1941 Jeep” as a nod to the birth-year of the original Willys Jeep.

Jeep hasn’t given us a clear look at the central console of the commander but we can tell it's the same as the one you’ll find in the Compass automatic. It has an electronic parking brake, silver toggle for the various terrain modes and buttons for the SUV’s 4WD system below the drive selector.

Previous teasers for the Jeep Commander revealed that its grille design is similar to the one seen on the Grand Cherokee while the taillamps are styled similar to those seen on the Grand Wagoneer. These details are key to make sure that the Commander’s exterior design is distinguishable from that of the Compass.

Jeep’s new three-row SUV is expected to be offered with the choice of both 2-litre diesel and turbo-petrol engines in India. The turbo-petrol engine could be sourced from the Wrangler Unlimited where it makes 268PS and 400Nm while the diesel could be shared with the Compass, albeit in a higher state of tune. The diesel motor could be offered with the choice of a 6-speed manual or a 9-speed automatic while the petrol option might be limited to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

When Jeep launches this new model in India in 2022, locally built at its Ranjangaon facility, it will have a different name. Earlier reports suggested it could be badged as the Patriot but a new trademark application hints at the seven-seater SUV being dubbed the Meridian.

The local production of this Jeep SUV along with shared components with the Compass could allow for a competitively pricing range of Rs 35 lakh to Rs 40 lakh (ex-showroom). It will be a rival to the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, MG Gloster, Mahindra Alturas G4, and Skoda Kodiaq.