Jeep Commander (2006-) Review

Overview

• Next: Reliability and Quality

This is the Jeep that the brand's fans asked for: a "proper" off-roader, capable of going more or less anywhere, able to carry seven and without any unnecessary fancy bits, thank-you. The Cherokee and Grand Cherokee have been pitched further upmarket with the years - even though the Grand is priced similarly to Commander - and is aimed more at the lifestyle school-run market, gaining more and more mod cons, luxury fixtures and fittings and complex electronic gadgets, so the Commander is, therefore, the antidote - and Chrysler Jeep's attempts to win back the Cherokee faithful who have not been convinced by the latest offerings.

Not that the Commander is structurally dissimilar to the Grand Cherokee, however: underneath that boxy, right-angled exterior are the same basic underpinnings, including the Quadra-Drive II four-wheel drive system, with selectable low-range gears and front and rear locking differentials. It's 50mm longer and 80mm taller, though, allowing for a third row of seats and more headroom, and its general character is very different, thanks to the retro styling and detailing. It looks more like the Jeep Wagoneer (1961-78, the precursor to the Cherokee/Grand Cherokee) than its sister model.

Engines for the range in the UK are the 3.0-litre V6 diesel, sourced from Mercedes-Benz, and a version of the 5.7-litre HEMI V8 petrol unit, as in the Chrysler 300C and Grand Cherokee SRT-8. Both come with automatic transmission as standard. Specification levels are Predator (diesel only) and all-inclusive Limited, and the Commander is competitively priced against similarly-sized rivals; prices are from £27,490, with Limited versions from £31,035.