Jeep Commander
Ratings
4 stars
Summary
Recommended. Jeep customers took against the recent soft-edged Cherokee and asked why it didn't have seven seats. The result is the Commander - seven seats and as hard-edged as a set-square.
Review
Take a Jeep Grand Cherokee, stretch it slightly, square off all the corners, insert an extra row of back seats and you have the Commander. In the UK, this outsize 4x4 is supposed to take on the excellent Land Rover Discovery but the new American recruit just isn't the all-round performer it might be. The boxy styling won't be to everybody's taste either. However, like most vehicles that originate from the States, it comes loaded with standard equipment, including lots of airbags, traction control and plush seats. There's also a long list of tempting optional extras to push up the price. Petrolheads will go weak at the knees when they get a fuel bill for the 5.7-litre version - the 3.0 turbodiesel will consequently take most European sales. The utilitarian image might lead you to expect serious off-road performance but it can't match key rivals when the going gets tough. It is also rather less spacious than the "big box on wheels" styling might lead you to expect. Because it is only 5 cm bigger than the five seat Grand Cherokee, the third row of seats seem a bit of an after-thought and take a lot of luggage space, but at least the middle and back rows of seats fold flat to give a large load area. On-road performance is much better than Jeeps of a few years ago, but it is still not up to the level of the new Discovery or Mercedes ML. If you want to turn heads then the Commander will get you noticed for a while but it will struggle to compete in a tough and congested corner of the UK market.
Ratings Breakdown
Styling
4 star
Radical and rugged, this American barnstormer really looks the part. It's a shade smaller than the Land Rover Discovery but even more dramatic.
Handling
3 star
Soft on the corners, the Commander needs to toughen up for the British market. It struggles against European rivals away from the tarmac.
Comfort
4 star
Super-smooth and very refined. There's body roll on the corners but it feels more like a limo than a 4x4.
Quality & Reliability
3 star
Not as impressive as European 4x4s but an air of refinement still wafts around the cabin. Some of the plastics feel rough to the touch.
Performance
4 star
Incredible power from the 5.7-litre 330bhp V8 but most buyers here will go for the more frugal 3.0 turbodiesel.
Roominess
3 star
Plenty of room up front, quite tight in the middle and 'children only' for the two seats in the rear. The Discovery does it better.
Running Costs
3 star
16mpg might put you off the V8, while the diesel is a definite improvement. Neither versions will be that cheap to run
Value for money
4 star
If size and image matters then the Commander has plenty to tempt you. Equipment levels are impressive as well.
