
Jeep Meridian Review: Pros and Cons You Should Know
In this episode of Drive Thru, we take the Jeep Meridian for an in-depth spin to see if this 7-seater SUV lives up to the Jeep legacy. From its bold styling and off-road credentials to cabin comfort and performance on Indian roads, we break down everything you need to know — the good and the not-so-good.
What we cover:
– Ride & handling in city and highway conditions
– Cabin space, features & third-row comfort
– Off-road capability & driving modes
– Engine performance & fuel efficiency
– Pricing & competition comparison
If you're considering the Jeep Meridian or just curious how it stacks up against rivals like the Fortuner, Gloster, or XUV700, this one's for you!

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Brands must move beyond Hindi and English, embrace India's full cultural spectrum: Tata Motors' Shubhranshu Singh
Mumbai: Moments after being named on the Forbes' list of the world's most influential CMOs at its annual event in Cannes last week, Shubhranshu Singh, chief marketing officer (CMO) of Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, spoke to Mint over the phone. Among a select group of global marketing leaders, Singh's inclusion reflects India's rising voice in international brand conversations. He is also the only Asia-Pacific representative on the board of the Effie LIONS Foundation, a not-for-profit entity formed after the merger of Cannes Lions and Effie Worldwide. In a wide-ranging conversation, Singh reflects on India's creative ascent, the trust-tech paradox, the unfinished task of multilingual storytelling, and why marketers must move beyond metrics to create meaning. Edited excerpts: Congratulations on being named one of Forbes' 50 Most Influential CMOs globally. How does it feel? It's a deeply humbling moment. This isn't just a personal achievement; it's recognition of India's growing stature in the global brand and marketing ecosystem. The list includes leaders from Apple, Meta, Google, Coca-Cola, AB InBev, Ikea, and LVMH. To be featured alongside them is an honour, but more importantly, it signals that Indian creativity is now being taken seriously at the highest levels. We're not just contributing volume or cost-efficiency, we're offering cultural imagination, emotional intelligence and strategic depth. Also read: China's shadow looms large as Tata Motors, JLR flag EV supply chain risk It's an apex platform formed after the merger of Cannes Lions and Effie Worldwide, a not-for-profit foundation focused on expanding marketing inclusion, education and capability building. It brings together the best minds from both effectiveness and creativity. I'm proud to represent both India and the broader Global South. The idea is to ensure that more marketers from underrepresented regions have access not only to recognition but also to resources, confidence and community. I want to create pipelines of access, not just for awards but for learning, confidence-building and capability development. India alone has nearly a billion content creators with smartphones. But we need to equip them with the tools, training and trust to scale. I'm hoping to work with institutions to offer microlearning modules, bootcamps and mentorship that build T-shaped marketers—deep in craft, broad in digital and data fluency. For me, Cannes 2025 boiled down to six Cs—Convergence, Content, Creative Intelligence, Creators, Commerce, and Cadence. These aren't just trends in advertising; they're redefining how brands operate in culture, media, and even diplomacy. I spoke at the CNN CMO roundtable alongside peers from AXA, Juniper Networks and Warner Bros. Discovery. The key thread was trust—how to build it in a fragmented, noisy world where everyone is a creator and everything is content. India's strength is undeniable. We are a mobile-first nation—850 million smartphone users, digital ad spends poised to hit $25 billion by 2025 and a deeply emotional storytelling culture. Short-form video, vernacular content and influencer discovery are becoming powerful tools. But what's broken is the fragmentation —too much content, not enough coherence. We suffer from a fatigue of sameness and an underserving of regional markets, which are costly and complex to serve. We're not just ready—we're already there. But we now need to show up intentionally and unapologetically. India has the advantage of digital leapfrogging—we're native to platforms like YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, Moj, Josh. And we've always done jugaad innovation—low budget, high emotion and often high impact. Now, the world is watching. We must stop seeing ourselves as a production hub. We are a creative powerhouse, and we must own that story. Also read: Tata Motors plans a premium push as competition intensifies in EV space That balance is crucial. You can't build a national brand today without understanding the diversity of languages, cultural codes and aspirations. Tier 2, 3 and rural consumers are not 'lesser" or 'slower"—they're simply different. They're value-conscious, but increasingly platform-savvy, content-aware and creatively expressive. Brands must move beyond Hindi+English and embrace the full cultural spectrum. India's story cannot be told in one language. Both. AI and automation are necessary, they give scale, speed and precision. But without human insight, creativity risks becoming commoditized. We need AI to assist, not replace, creativity. Technology should scale imagination, not flatten it. India's edge is its emotional bandwidth, we must protect that while embracing the new. Absolutely. A brand is not a campaign—it's what you do, not what you say. At Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, we're dealing with people's livelihoods—truckers, fleet owners, transporters. Trust, uptime and respect matter far more than flash. Branding, in that sense, is about living your purpose across the value chain—product, service, community. That mindset needs to become cultural, not just a function of the marketing department. Also read: Tata Motors' headcount, senior pay hikes squeezed as sales dip in FY25 First, they must marry data with storytelling. Don't build for platforms, build for people, on platforms. Learn performance tools, yes, but don't lose the poetry. Second, understand that resonance matters more than virality. Third, build consistency—brands are remembered through repetition with variation, not novelty for novelty's sake. And finally, seek global relevance without losing local sensitivity. Our time has come, but we must show up with both confidence and cultural awareness. Simple truths. Know your consumer's hopes, fears and contexts. Be distinctive, not just different. Build fame, fluency and feeling. The best marketing gives you goosebumps—not clicks. If it doesn't move you, it won't move the market.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Luxury carmakers pass on rate cut relief to buyers amid forex pain
1 2 3 Kolkata: The recent RBI interest rate cut has provided the much-needed relief to luxury car buyers, offsetting some of the price hikes that manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, JLR and Volvo have had to make in recent years. Speaking to TOI on the occasion of the introduction of the brand's first hyper-personalisation in India on Thursday, Mercedes Benz India (MBI) managing director and CEO Santosh Iyer said the company's non-banking financial arm had passed on the benefits from the RBI repo rate cut to customers, offering relief and helped maintain relatively stable EMIs despite rising vehicle prices. However, luxury carmakers, including MBI, are concerned over the exchange rate. "The euro-rupee equation has been particularly challenging, moving from Rs 85-88 to nearly Rs 98 to the euro and forced us to implement three price hikes this year," said Iyer, adding that both CKD parts, which comprise 91% of the vehicles sold, and CBUs that make up the rest have been impacted. Despite the headwinds, the luxury car market has shown resilience, growing by 7-8% in certain segments. Electric vehicles have been a bright spot, with luxury EV penetration increasing from 7% to 11%. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like California: These Walk In Tubs Are Cheap (See Prices) Walk In Tub Discounts Learn More Undo "Mercedes Benz has outpaced the luxury electric segment growth, recording a 73% increase compared to the industry's 66%," Iyer noted. Mercedes-Benz Research & Development India (MBRDI) managing director & CEO Manu Saale highlighted the facility's contribution to the company's evolution. "As the largest R&D centre for Mercedes outside Germany, we're integrating Indian expertise into global operations," Saale said. MBRDI, that played a key role in shaping the India-inspired Collector's Edition of the AMG G 63, is focusing on two primary areas: digital twin technology where physical processes are digitised throughout the automotive development chain to accelerate development timelines while reducing costs; and developing customer-facing digital features, including infotainment systems, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and electric vehicle charging solutions. Kolkata: The recent RBI interest rate cut has provided the much-needed relief to luxury car buyers, offsetting some of the price hikes that manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, JLR and Volvo have had to make in recent years. Speaking to TOI on the occasion of the introduction of the brand's first hyper-personalisation in India on Thursday, Mercedes Benz India (MBI) managing director and CEO Santosh Iyer said the company's non-banking financial arm had passed on the benefits from the RBI repo rate cut to customers, offering relief and helped maintain relatively stable EMIs despite rising vehicle prices. However, luxury carmakers, including MBI, are concerned over the exchange rate. "The euro-rupee equation has been particularly challenging, moving from Rs 85-88 to nearly Rs 98 to the euro and forced us to implement three price hikes this year," said Iyer, adding that both CKD parts, which comprise 91% of the vehicles sold, and CBUs that make up the rest have been impacted. Despite the headwinds, the luxury car market has shown resilience, growing by 7-8% in certain segments. Electric vehicles have been a bright spot, with luxury EV penetration increasing from 7% to 11%. "Mercedes Benz has outpaced the luxury electric segment growth, recording a 73% increase compared to the industry's 66%," Iyer noted. Mercedes-Benz Research & Development India (MBRDI) managing director & CEO Manu Saale highlighted the facility's contribution to the company's evolution. "As the largest R&D centre for Mercedes outside Germany, we're integrating Indian expertise into global operations," Saale said. MBRDI, that played a key role in shaping the India-inspired Collector's Edition of the AMG G 63, is focusing on two primary areas: digital twin technology where physical processes are digitised throughout the automotive development chain to accelerate development timelines while reducing costs; and developing customer-facing digital features, including infotainment systems, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and electric vehicle charging solutions.


Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Indian auto industry chart magnet supply chain plans
NEW DELHI: As Indian auto industry faces a magnet supply crunch, following restrictions placed by China, a group of companies, including some homegrown advanced material entities, have come forward to build in-house supply chains. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The companies have made presentations to govt, including the heavy industries ministry, and assured building of supplies within India to reduce dependence on China. "The companies include Midwest Advanced Materials, Entellus Industries, and public sector Indian Rare Earths (IREL)," sources have told TOI. The sources said that heavy industries secretary Kamran Rizvi has also taken presentations from companies as govt develops strategies for indigenous capabilities in magnet production. "Midwest Advanced Materials made a presentation about their plans to produce rare earth magnets in India with a capacity of 500 tonnes per annum. They forecast that by end of 2026, they will be able to produce custom-made rare earth magnets for the industry," one of the sources said. Entellus, a UK-headquartered company with primary operations in India, also made a presentation to govt, detailing their plans to produce rare earth magnets. "They have told officials that their plant is ready to produce the magnetic powder but will still take some time to produce industry-grade magnets," the source said. IREL, which was among the last to make its presentation, informed govt that once production begins, they will be able to match China's rates. "However, the company said that ore present in Indian geography is 100 times less than in China, the US, and Australia," the source said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Companies also told govt that magnet production in India was shut down over the past two decades due to proliferation of cheaper Chinese supplies. "The industry members requested govt to support companies in setting up magnet production by providing incentives and monetary benefits," the source said. Secretary Rizvi told the companies to make "realistic statements about magnet production" as potential customers in the auto sector will suffer due to incorrect assessments. The has also requested potential local producers to provide a firm timeline on supplies, if possible, emphasising that their production line depends on quick procurement. The situation for the auto industry has deteriorated over the past few months as no Indian auto component or vehicle company has managed to get approval from the Chinese govt for procuring rare earth magnets. Also, there has been "no clarity as yet" on any timeline for a confirmed meeting with representatives of Chinese govt, despite intervention of Indian officials. The applications for sourcing magnets have been filed mainly by parts manufacturers who provide fully-built sophisticated component assemblies such as speedometers, electric motors, e-axles, electric water pumps, automatic transmission kits, speakers, sensors, and ignition coils (used in engines). The request for a meeting with Chinese representatives is being pursued not just by industry bodies of component makers (Auto Component Manufacturers Association) and vehicle manufacturers (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers), but also facilitated by officials in ministries.