The Jeep Commander offers more capability over rugged terrain than
most drivers will ever need. It can haul up to seven people and
a lot of stuff just about anywhere it can fit. If you're
expecting an unrefined vehicle with sluggish performance,
however, you'll be surprised. It's surprisingly smooth and spry.
As suggested by its slab-sided styling, the Commander offers
utility and a roomy, airy cabin. The rear seats are
progressively stepped up, theater style, giving back-seat riders
a view of the road. This feeling of airiness is enhanced by a
pair of glass roof panels, though the third row is best reserved
for 10-year-olds.
Utility comes in the form of a perfectly flat cargo floor when
the rear two rows are folded down, providing 68.5 cubic feet of
cargo space. Those in the front seats enjoy a comfortable cabin,
much of which is shared with the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Belied by the utilitarian styling, however, is the Commander's
responsiveness and ride quality. It rides surprisingly well for
a tall, seven-passenger SUV. On the highway, the Commander is a
notably smooth and comfortable cruiser. It's reasonably quiet,
allowing easy conversation, a pleasant surprise given the
squared-off styling and all-terrain tires. The tall ride height
and off-road capability make the Commander handle poorly,
though. While not tippy, the Commander is prone to body lean in
turns and heavy braking, and isn't as nimble as the latest
crossover SUVs.
A choice of V6 and V8 engines is available. The mid-level
4.7-liter V8 is upgraded for 2008, gaining 70 horsepower for a
total of 305 while also gaining slightly in fuel economy
performance. With its responsive acceleration and 6,500-pound
towing capacity, the 4.7-liter V8 is a fine choice in the
Commander. The top-line 5.7-liter V8 Hemi makes the Commander
downright quick and is best for those who need to tow trailers
up to 7,400 pounds.
Two-wheel-drive models are available, though that seems a
curious choice because it loses the benefits of Jeep's highly
capable four-wheel-drive systems, one of the Commander's most
compelling features. Buyers who don't need off-road capability
might be better served by something else.
In addition to the upgraded 4.7-liter V8, Commander gets new
entertainment and off-road features for 2008, as well as an
available five-passenger version. The entertainment features
consist of Sirius Backseat TV with three child-oriented channels
and Jeep's MyGig, a 20-gigabyte hard drive that holds songs,
pictures, and navigation system map information. Hill-start
assist holds the brakes when the driver lets off them on a hill
to allow smooth launches. Hill-descent control uses the ABS to
control the rate of speed when driving down steep hills.
Commander is available with an optional trailer sway control
system that helps stabilize trailers during towing.
The 2008 Jeep Commander comes in three trim levels: Sport,
Limited, and Overland. All are available with 2WD or 4WD.
Commander Sport 2WD ($27,415) comes standard with a 3.7-liter
SOHC V6, rated at 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque.
The V6 is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. Standard
on Sport are cloth upholstery, air conditioning, AM/FM/CD stereo
with six speakers, power windows, power heated mirrors, front
bucket seats with lumbar adjustment, rear obstacle detection,
liftgate glass that opens by remote control, all-terrain tires
on 17-inch cast aluminum wheels, a full-size spare tire, and
cruise control with switches on the steering wheel. For 2008,
the tilting steering column adds a telescoping feature.
Commander Sport 4WD ($29,415) adds Quadra-Trac I, an automatic
full-time all-wheel-drive system enhanced by electronic traction
control.
A 4.7-liter SOHC V8 is available on Sport as part of an option
package. It is rated 305 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of
torque. This engine also comes with a five-speed automatic, but
a more heavy-duty unit with a split second gear that provides a
shorter ratio on kick-down than on up-shift.
Limited 2WD ($36,305) comes standard with the 4.7-liter V8 and
HD transmission, plus a wide array of comfort and convenience
features, including leather-trimmed first- and second-row seats,
leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate
control, Sirius satellite radio with one-year subscription,
Boston Acoustics speakers, power adjustable heated front seats,
power adjustable pedals, third-row heat and ventilation,
sunroof, remote starting, rain-sensitive wipers, automatic
headlights, universal garage door opener; and a security system.
For 2008, the Limited model adds a standard rear backup camera
and Jeep's MyGig Entertainment System, which has a 6.5-inch
touchscreen and a 20-gigabyte hard drive to hold music and
picture files. Limited can be distinguished by its chromed
grille and exterior chrome accents. Limited 4WD ($38,925) has
Quadra-Trac II, a full-time active four-wheel-drive system that
includes a two-speed transfer case (so you can select a lower
gear range for crawling through seriously rugged, muddy, or
sandy terrain; or neutral for towing); plus electronic traction
control.
Optional on Limited is the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 (again, as part of
a larger package), producing 330 horsepower and 375 pound-feet
of torque. The Hemi features the fuel-saving Multi-Displacement
System (MDS) technology, which shuts down four of the eight
cylinders under light-load conditions.
Optional with the Hemi is Quadra-Drive II ($795), Jeep's most
sophisticated 4WD system. Three limited-slip differentials (one
in each axle and one between the axles) are electronically
controlled, sending torque to the wheels, or single wheel, with
the best traction. The system also includes low-range gearing
and traction control.
The top-of-the-line Overland ($40,385) comes standard with the
Hemi and a trailer-tow group. It raises the interior plush
factor with suede-trimmed leather seats embroidered with the
Overland logo; leather-wrapped shift knob and grab handles;
Berber floor mats; and woodgrain trim on the center stack,
console, steering wheel (which is also leather-wrapped) and
front door panels. Overland also adds conveniences, such as a
power liftgate, UConnect hands-free cell phone link, and a cargo
net. For 2008, Overland trades a standard navigation system for
Jeep's MyGig Multi-Media Infotainment system, which adds voice
control and a navigation system with real-time traffic to the
MyGig Entertainment System. Outside, Overland is distinguished
by Platinum-look trim, a unique wire-lattice grille and 18-inch
wheels instead of 17s.
Overland 4WD ($43,850) comes with Quadra-Drive II.
Other Commander options include rear DVD entertainment system
and engine block heater. For 2008, the rear DVD entertainment
system is available with Sirius Backseat TV that includes three
child-oriented channels: Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and Cartoon
Network. An Off-Road Group for 4WD models adds skid plates and
tow hooks. A Class III towing package is available with the V6,
and a Class IV package with either V8. Additionally, many
Limited and even Overland convenience features are offered as
either options or part of option packages on lower-cost models.
Safety features that come standard include head-protecting
side-curtain air bags with a roll detection system to deploy in
case of rollover and/or side impact. Front air bags are the
multi-stage type that deploy in stages according to the severity
of an impact. Torso-protecting front side air bags are not
offered. Also standard are anti-lock brakes (ABS) with brake
assist, electronic stability control, a tire-pressure monitor
and rear obstacle detection. All-wheel-drive models have
traction control. Available are a rear backup camera, hill-start
assist, hill-descent control and trailer sway control.
