Seating
for seven, plus the capability to tow a 7,200-pound trailer.
This Jeep is a go-anywhere type of vehicle capable of towing
your trailer, being towed by a motorhome, or used solo while
travelling off the beaten track to visit out-of-the-way ghost
towns in the Rockies.
Another product that can stand up to the tough Rubicon Trail
reputation of many previous Jeeps, the Commander is at home
on all types of roads, from the four-lane Trans Canada Highway,
to Powderface Trail, a narrow gravel road that winds it way
through foothills and mountains.
It’s a design reminiscent of the original Jeep shape,
upgraded with a powered sun roof, dual skylights for the second
row, and a straighter windshield than the Grand Cherokee. Second-
and third-row passengers sit higher than those in front, offering
a clear view ahead while driving. Legroom in the third row is
perfect for the kids.
Rear seats don’t have to be removed to provide a flat
surface for storing cargo – they simply fold forward.
Head rests fold out of the way as seats are lowered into place.
Behind the third row is a storage bin in the floor where you
can stash the jack, along with other tools. An AM/FM/CD stereo
is standard along with cruise control, air-conditioning and
a tire pressure monitoring system.
Raising the roof over the second row of seats, about three inches
higher, provides additional headroom. (This is not apparent
from the outside of the vehicle, as the stepped roof is hidden
by the new roof rack.) The rack has three integrated tie-downs
on each side, and on the Commander Limited, assist handles extend
from the roof rack, down the rear of the vehicle to make it
easier to load and unload items from the roof while standing
on the rear bumper.
The Commander is available with a choice of three full-time,
four-wheel-drive systems and three engines. A 5.7L Hemi V8 with
two different transfer cases, two five-speed automatic transmissions,
standard independent front suspension, plus rack-and-pinion
steering.
Quadra-Trac I uses a single-speed NV140 transfer case with Brake
Traction Control System (BTCS) that detects wheel slippage and
transfers torque to the wheel that has the most grip. This transfer
case gives full-time, four-wheel-drive capability without low
range for those who don’t go off-roading.
Quadra-Trac II provides full-time, active, four-wheel-drive
with low range and BTCS that can transfer all available 375
lb-ft of torque to the axle with most traction. This NV245 transfer
case includes electronic shifting and a neutral for towing the
Commander behind a motorhome.
With a 3.7L V6 engine, (the same as in my Jeep Liberty) I found
it powerful enough for everyday travel on highways, plus backroad
excursions. With a 3.07 rear axle, the 3.7L can tow 3,500 pounds
of trailer. This engine produces 210 hp at 5,200 rpm and 235
lb-ft of torque, which is hushed by thicker walls in the composite
manifold, and structural improvements to the air box and resonator.
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The 4.7L SOHC V8 puts out 235 hp at 4,500 rpm and 305 lb-ft
of torque, giving a trailer rating of 6,500 pounds with a 3.73
rear axle ratio. This engine has been calibrated for better
fuel economy and power output. (It’s actually quieter
than the same V6 in my Liberty.)
A 5.7L Hemi with a Multi-displacement System provides the Commander
with the economy of a four-cylinder engine when cruising, and
the power of an eight when you need to pull up a stiff hill.
Electronic Throttle Control in the Hemi version empowers the
vehicle with more pep and instant response. Based on operating
conditions, it maintains a more consistent speed on rolling
grades, with the cruise control, than with the old mechanical
throttle system. This engine provides 330 hp and 375 lb-ft of
torque for trailer towing with a rating of 7,200 pounds –
equal to that of the Grand Cherokee.
The Electronic Stability Program we’ve tested in other
Chrysler vehicles gives a greater sense of control, with better
steering to keep you on the path you want, without sacrificing
the trail-rated, off-road strength Jeep is known for. This standard
feature works by using signals from sensors throughout the vehicle
to determine best brake and throttle adjustments, for directional
stability.
The 4.7L and 5.7L Hemi use the 545RFE five-speed automatic transmission
with a paddle shifter that allows the driver to manually choose
the gear by simply moving the shift lever left or right from
the drive position. The Commander is available in a Limited
Edition including a chrome grille, front fascia, body-side mouldings
and roof rail crossbars with premium fender flares. It has fog
lights, rain-sensitive windshield wipers, SmartBeam Intelligent
Headlamp System, Goodyear OWL all-season tire’s and 17-inch
cast aluminum wheels. Heated, leather, bucket seats with an
eight-way driver seat and four-way passenger seat bring easy
adjustment and comfort to a long haul when you’re switching
drivers.
Also standard on the Limited is Limited Slip Differential, Electronic
Roll Mitigation, ParkSense rear-park assist, advanced multistage
driver, front passenger air bags with an occupant classification
system, and side-curtain air bags that cover all three rows
of seats. An AM/FM/CD stereo radio is standard, with a Sirius
Satellite radio service as an option. Other options include
a six-CD stereo with a full-map GPS display and navigation radio,
plus a rear seat DVD to entertain passengers.
Chrysler Group vehicles equipped with Multi Displacement Systems
through the end of the 2007 model year will save more than 60
million gallons of fuel each year. The Commander’s base
price is $40,865 while the Jeep Commander Limited models equipped
with the 5.7-litre HEMI V-8 engine ring in at $51,055. (Page
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