Jeep Commander

Jeep Commander at a glance

The Commander is listed with the other models in our Jeep catalogue. It was designed in 2002 by Don Renkert and is easy to spot by its flat glass, exposed bolt heads on the bodywork and the roof rack that hides a step in the roofline. That step raises the second and third rows above the front seats, so rear passengers sit higher and see over the people in front.

Generations: one Commander, and a later namesake

The XK Commander had a single generation with no major facelift. Its export twin for diesel markets carried the code XH. Production ended after the 2010 model year, and the car was not directly replaced: Chrysler named the 2011 Dodge Durango as its successor in the USA, while Wikipedia's infobox also lists the later Grand Cherokee L as the three-row Jeep that took its place.

The second row is a different car that only shares the name. Jeep revived the Commander badge in Brazil in August 2021 for a three-row SUV based on the Compass and its Small Wide platform, about 365 mm longer and with a 158 mm longer wheelbase. It is built in Goiana, Brazil, and in Pune, India, where it is sold as the Meridian; Japan has received it from India since October 2022. Brazil gets a 1.3-litre turbo petrol with 136 kW (185 PS) and 270 Nm, front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic, or a 2.0 Multijet II diesel with 125 kW (170 PS), 380 Nm, a nine-speed automatic and four-wheel drive. Its boot holds 661 litres with five seats in use, 233 litres behind the third row and 1,760 litres with both rear rows folded. This later model has not been sold in the EU. China also had a separate Grand Commander from 2018, based on the Cherokee (KL).

Engines, transmissions and 4x4 systems

The German market was quoted slightly different petrol figures. ADAC lists the 4.7 V8 at 170 kW (231 PS) and 410 Nm, and the 5.7 V8 at 240 kW (326 PS) and 500 Nm, alongside the 3.0 CRD at 160 kW (218 PS) and 510 Nm.

Every Commander used a five-speed automatic, either the W5A580 or the 545RFE. Base cars in the USA had rear-wheel drive. The four-wheel-drive systems came in three steps:

• Quadra-Trac I: full-time 4x4 without a low range, paired with the 3.7 V6.
• Quadra-Trac II: full-time 4x4 with a low range and a neutral position for flat towing, used with the V8s.
• Quadra-Drive II: adds electronic limited-slip differentials front and rear, plus skid plates for the fuel tank, front suspension and transfer case.

The front suspension uses short and long arms, the rear a five-link live axle. Ground clearance is 211 mm and the approach, departure and breakover angles are 34, 27 and 20 degrees, so the Commander is a genuine off-roader by mid-size SUV standards. The European diesel was approved to tow 3,500 kg braked.

Dimensions, seating and boot

Base and Sport models seated five, with a third row optional; the Limited had seven seats as standard. With seven seats in place, the 212-litre boot is small for a car of this length, which is the price of fitting a third row into a body shorter than 4.8 m. At 1.9 m wide without mirrors, it is worth checking your parking space with our garage fit tool before buying.

Fuel economy and running costs

The Commander is a thirsty car. On the old NEDC cycle the 3.0 CRD was rated at 10.8 l/100 km combined (13.5 urban, 9.2 extra-urban) and 284 g/km of CO2, and it met the Euro 4 standard. The petrol V8s were rated at 14.8 l/100 km for the 4.7 and 15.9 l/100 km for the 5.7. With a 77-litre tank, the diesel covers roughly 700 km between fill-ups on the official figure. Our fuel cost calculator turns these numbers into a yearly bill for your own mileage.

Trims and equipment

In Germany, ADAC lists base, Sport, Limited and Overland versions, from EUR 40,090 for the 4.7 V8 (2006) and EUR 42,090 for the 3.0 CRD (2006) up to EUR 60,290 for the 3.0 CRD Overland and EUR 66,290 for the 5.7 Overland (2008). Options included Command View glass roof panels, a rear DVD screen with reversing camera, xenon headlights, hill descent control and a power tailgate.

Safety

Electronic stability control, traction control, roll mitigation, rear parking sensors, front dual-stage airbags, side curtain airbags, tyre pressure monitoring and a full-size spare wheel were standard. We found no Euro NCAP test of the Commander in the sources we used, so there is no European star rating to quote; our safety section covers models that Euro NCAP has rated.

Reliability and reception

We have no verified fault statistics for the Commander, and we do not repeat forum claims. What is on record is the reception. Car and Driver preferred the Commander to the Ford Explorer in a comparison test in November 2005, but Chrysler's later chief executive Sergio Marchionne criticised the car in strong terms. The market agreed with him: US sales fell from 88,497 cars in 2006 to 63,027 in 2007, 27,694 in 2008, 12,655 in 2009 and 8,115 in 2010. Over its life, about 217,000 Commanders were sold in the USA and about 2,000 in Mexico.

The diesel is the Mercedes-Benz OM642 V6. Ask for a complete service history, check the four-wheel-drive system and the automatic gearbox, and have the car inspected before you buy.

Rivals

The closest alternative is the Grand Cherokee (WK), which shares the platform, the engines and the 4x4 hardware but has two rows of seats. The comparison tool puts the Commander side by side with other seven-seat SUVs.