The V6 version of the Commander that placed 14th
here was praised for its interior space, reasonable pricing, and decent ride
and handling, but criticized for its lack of power. The 4.7-liter V8 reverses
the power complaints in exchange for taking $1,300 off the vehicle’s value
quotient. While the V8 is definitely a recommended option for Commander
buyers, it is still not enough to make it into a class leader (the much better
5.7-liter V8 is too expensive for this group’s price range, but it comes
closer), especially considering the higher price.
The Commander rides comfortably, but like the
Grand Cherokee, is prone to excessive float at highway speeds. Despite its
height, there is no evident side-to-side rocking even on broken pavement at
high speeds. The slow and vague though accurate steering is shared with the
Grand Cherokee, but the Commander has much more body roll in cornering. The
4.7-liter V8 is a much-needed improvement over the standard V6, but still
doesn’t provide exceptional acceleration in a vehicle as heavy as this one. It
is at least much quieter than the V6, but still strains audibly under hard
acceleration. Wind and road noise are well-isolated. The Commander’s fuel
economy is among the worst in this group.
Inside, the Commander’s seats are much better
than the Grand Cherokee’s, and there is much more space. The front seats are
high, nicely-angled, supportive, and quite comfortable overall despite a
somewhat flat cushion. The flat, hard rear seats are raised a few inches
higher than the front seats, and offer excellent room and leg support, and the
seatbacks can recline. The third row, raised a few inches even over the second
row, is mounted on the floor and equipped with a tiny, hard cushion, but does
have sufficient head and leg room even for adults to sit, if not comfortably.
The dash design is similar to the Grand Cherokee’s, but the interior is of
higher quality. The gauges are clear, and the instruments are generally simple
to use. Drivers sit high and comfortably, and the large windows help
visibility in all directions. The rearmost roof pillars could be narrower for
even better visibility, however. Large, well-shaped door openings and the high
roof facilitate entry/exit, and the third-row’s fairly large footwell (made so
by the diminutive seat) eases access there. Cargo space is disappointing,
barely an improvement over the Grand Cherokee despite notably increases in
exterior dimensions (particularly height), and the 6 cubic feet of space
behind the third row is unusable even for groceries.
Neither the IIHS nor NHTSA have crash-tested the
Commander.
The Commander comes reasonably well-equipped at
$30,995, barely within the group’s price range. It comes at this price
identically-equipped to the V6 version’s, with standard side airbags that
protect the torsos of the front-seat occupants, and the heads of the occupants
of all three rows, traction and stability control, and a reverse-sensing
system. Also included at that price are a 6-disc CD player, a UConnect
hands-free cellular phone linkup, satellite radio, and power-adjustable
pedals. Such options as heated leather seats and a sunroof are unavailable
within the price range for this group, the former being available only as part
of a $4,100 in the Base trim, and the latter only being available on the
more-expensive Limited version.
Overall, the Commander loses
its biggest flaw when the standard V6 is replaced by the 4.7-liter V8, but it
loses its reasonable pricing. Its reasonable ride and handling and roomy and
comfortable interior put it this far, but it’s not going any further here
without a price cut.
