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2006 Jeep Commander 4x4 Road & Trail Test

The Real SUV

TThere are 3,537,438 square miles in United States. Subtract a significant percentage covered in water, and youre still left with a hell of a lot of dirt. Ive made a hobby out of seeing as much of it as I can, and as a result Ive gained a healthy respect for any vehicle thats capable of taking me as far into the bush as I care to go; but show me a car thats as capable on the road as it is off, and only then am I truly impressed.

After all, a capable off-road machine is easy to come by; theyre as close as your nearest motorcycle dealer. A quick walk through the dirt bike section will render a plethora of two-wheeled machines thatd embarrass even the most hard core of factory off-road 4-wheelers, the Hummer H1 for instance, and theyll do it for a fraction of the price. Of course, any dirt bike worth its wheels is a truly retarded machine, in a two-cycle kind of

Jeeps first three-row SUV, the Commander looks to the long-defunct Willys-Overland station wagon for inspiration. (Photo: Dan Fritter, American Auto Press)

way (and yes, any good dirt bike simply has to be a two stroke); their 2-stroke motors require pre-mixing the oil and gas, they smoke like chimneys when theyre cold and sound like the Lawnmower From Hell all the time, and you can forget about the need to give your friends a ride. Suffice it to say that while theyre great at tooling around in the backcountry, they really show their limitations when the dirt ends and the pavement begins. So, while Ill always turn to my trusty Yamaha as the weapon of choice for those really nasty trails, theres

As Americas original go-anywhere brand, the Commander has some big boots to fill.??? (Photo: Dan Fritter, American Auto Press)

simply no getting around the fact that when its just a simple trip out to the lake, or camping with the family, nothing beats a four-wheeled, four-stroke (East German Trabants need not apply) vehicle.
Enter the Jeep Commander. As the quintessential 4x4s largest model, the three-row SUV is perfect for going out with more than a few friends. Inspired by the legendary Willys-Overland station wagon, another seven-seater from Jeeps past, the Commander is legendary brands take on the most family-oriented of SUVs. Looking rather similar to the 1990 through 1997 Cherokee, the big box of an SUV sports some very traditional Jeep styling

The seven-slot grill, the high marker lights, even the curve of the hood where is meets the fender; all reek of Jeep. (Photo: Dan Fritter, American Auto Press)

cues, with the classic seven-slot grille being flanked by the traditional Jeep headlight/marker light setup. It positions the marker lights on the same plane as the round headlights (themselves enclosed in semi-rectangular housings), and the result is a very recognizable front end.

Trapezoidal wheel arches benefit from Wrangler-like fender flares; smooth on my base tester, theyre replaced by faux bolt-on pocket flares on the more upscale Limited model. Likewise, spending the almost $10,000 it takes to get the Limited also earns you an array of chrome trim pieces, replacing my more business-like testers black door protector strips and roof rack with the shiny stuff.

A stepped roof gives ample headroom for the stadium style seating, while the body colored grill and black trim make the base model look suitably tough. (Photo: Dan Fritter, American Auto Press)

Additionally, the Limited displaces the base models body colored grille and lower valance with chrome pieces while the back end gets admittedly useful grab handles, albeit chrome trimmed. Rounding out the more upscale look, the Limited also includes the obligatory body-colored door handles.

But, given the Commander already resembles a brick on wheels, I found myself favoring the no-nonsense look imparted to my base model by the black trim pieces, grey-centered wheels and Dark Khaki paint job; it just looked that much more prepared to tackle the great outdoors than the shiny Limited version. That said, I wouldnt mind seeing Jeep add the Limiteds pocket flares and rear grab handles (although they could do without

A khaki interior with useful storage areas and a rugged looking, allen-head bolt wearing dash all make the base model look far more off-road-ready than the flashy Limited. (Photo: Dan Fritter, American Auto Press)

the chrome) as options on the base model, for trying to balance on the back bumper to reach the roof rack is pretty darn hard.
Inside, Jeeps first three-row sport utility distinguishes itself with a very practical interior. Continuing the rugged theme, the dashboard is divided into panels, each appearing to be secured by a set of metal allen bolts. The look works here, and is further enhanced by the base models textured mini-diamond plate center console trim. A useful map pocket on the passengers side is handy for everything from road maps to campground brochures, and definitely a welcome addition in this vehicle. Sliding into the drivers seat is easy enough, with the Commanders ride height being low enough as not to necessitate any jumping, swinging, or clambering to get inside.

Middle row seat room is pretty decent, with the soft backs of the front seats further preventing any discomfort. (Photo: Dan Fritter, American Auto Press)

The khaki fabric seats in my tester were soft and comfy, and the adjustable lumbar support was a pleasant surprise to find on the base model. A quick jaunt up a forestry service road to a secluded beach confirmed that the soft seats were excellent at absorbing what bumps the suspension did not, and the lightly bolstered sides did an absolutely fantastic job of giving just enough lateral support on the freeway while still letting my body move independently on bumpier backroads without pummeling the ribcage every time the Jeep swayed left or right. The driving position is also very comfortable and appropriately high, giving good visibility over the hood. An adjustable steering wheel makes getting comfortable behind the wheel easy, but the pedal box is somewhat small, and the dead pedal is far too narrow, only supporting half of my left size 11 clodhopper. Otherwise, the relationship of the wheel,

I suspect the raised rear seating is the result of a stepped floorpan, since the rear seat passengers are more or less sitting on the floor. (Photo: Dan Fritter, American Auto Press)

pedals, and dashboard meant that even with the drivers seat moved somewhat forward to clear a particularly tall middle-row passengers knees, my 61" frame wasnt terribly uncomfortable; although my knee did hit the keychain on the freeway, turning the engine off at 60 miles per hour.

Speaking of seat room, the Commander has what is best described as a "decent" amount behind the front row. Middle row passengers have what could be considered a normal amount of room, with soft front seatbacks preventing any seriously uncomfortable situations even for those in excess of six feet tall. The only gripe would be the center middle row seat (which is almost legroom-less thanks to the center console), and the rear seats. Using what Jeep is calling theater seating, the middle seat is somewhat higher than the first, and the third row is even higher. It sounds like a logical plan, given the roof steps up accordingly, but I suspect the raised seating positions

Storage room is non-existent with the rear seats up, even though the Commander isnt exactly a small SUV. (Photo: Dan Fritter, American Auto Press)

are a reaction to a floorpan that steps upwards towards the back in order to the clear the huge gas tank and protruding rear suspension. As a result, the seats get higher and higher, but the floor gains even more elevation, leaving the rear seats quite literally sitting on the floor. After loading the vehicle up with seven friends ranging from 53" Australians (who marveled at the sheer size of the SUV, being used to the car-meets-truck "utes" in their homeland) to 62" football players, my suspicion was confirmed when all you could see of the taller guys stuffed in the back (when friends come to visit from the other side of the world, you dont stuff them in the back) were their knees. The only positive spin on the third row compared to throwing them in the box of a four-door pickup is that the seatbelts kept everything legal. Will they ever forgive me? I doubt it.

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