Toyota Fortuner vs Jeep Meridian: what owners and experts say

Off-road capability

Fortuner: Strongly positiveMeridian: Generally positive

Fortuner: “All things considered, it's the Toyota with the stronger low-end run and manually-controlled 4x4 that is the more effortless on the rough stuff -- here are some snapshots to tell you why the Fortuner came out ahead [off-roading].”

Meridian: “अगर हमें चलने में देखना है ... की ऑफ रोड में चल रहा है ... तो सबसे बेस्ट यही है (if we're talking about how it does off-road, this is the best [option] for that)”

Handling

Meridian: Strongly positiveFortuner: Generally negative

Meridian: “Steering's nice and light and easy, so it feels pretty maneuverable — you don't feel the size of the car, it doesn't feel too large. As you build up the pace it gives you a nice secure feel too... body roll is well contained.”

Fortuner: “Of course it rolls in corners -- you can feel it leaning over, which sort of robs you of some of that confidence. But that's only to be expected on a body-on-frame SUV like this.”

Boot space

Meridian: Strongly positiveFortuner: Generally negative

Meridian: “With the third row up there is a reasonable amount of boot space — you can get at least two strollers in, and you can even put one in vertically. It does fit with the seats pushed all the way back.”

Fortuner: “there's definitely the better third row in the Legender, but when it comes to the boots, it's slightly on the back foot.”

Ride comfort

Meridian: Strongly positiveFortuner: Mixed reviews

Meridian: “it's comfortable at low speeds, it's comfortable at high speeds. It's not overly soft, it's not overly firm...the effect it has inside the cabin is minuscule. It doesn't bother you too much at all.”

Fortuner: “The body-on-frame setup and the big wheels mean the ride is always busy -- there's always a small amount of movement even when the road surface isn't too bad, and that means you aren't as comfortable as you could have been.”

Fit & finish

Meridian: Strongly positiveFortuner: Mixed reviews

Meridian: “फीचर्स टच एंड फिनिश चीजों की बहुत बढ़िया है आगे डैशबोर्ड पूरा लेदर रेट है और बाकी उसमें हर जगह सॉफ्ट टच है”

Which is better, the Fortuner or the Meridian?

Owners and experts rate the Fortuner better for off-road capability, while the Meridian comes out ahead on handling, boot space and ride comfort. Go for the Fortuner if off-road capability matter most to you. Pick the Meridian if you care more about handling and boot space.

Which is cheaper, the Fortuner or the Meridian?

The Fortuner starts at ₹34.76 lakh and the Meridian at ₹23.33 lakh ex-showroom, so the Meridian is about ₹11.43 lakh cheaper to start with.

How did CarDhoondo compare the Fortuner and Meridian?

We went through 23 owner and expert video reviews of the two cars, tagged every statement by topic, such as mileage or rear seat space, and scored how positive it was. Nobody paid for this comparison and it is not sponsored.