The rugged Jeep Commander is an all-new model featuring three rows of seating to accommodate the driver and up to six passengers in style.
But unlike some 7-seaters, the Commander stays true to its Jeep heritage and has real four-wheel-drive capability, enabling it to leave the tar seal and venture off-road to locations most other vehicles could never reach.
Based on the platform and engineering of the award-winning Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Commander is a bigger vehicle, with the lengthened cabin providing additional space for the extra twin seats that fold out from the cargo floor.
All passengers have an excellent view from inside the Commander because the seats are positioned theatre-style: the second row is higher than the first and the third row is higher than the second. Additional head room is created by literally raising the roof. It is almost 7cm higher, beginning over the second row, producing a stepped effect. The second row seats split 40-20-40; the third row, 50-50. The middle and rear rows fold forward to create a flat load floor and behind the third row is a storage bin, located in the load floor for maximum versatility.
The Jeep Commander is as distinctive, as it is versatile, with a classic shape that harks back to famous Jeep models of the past, notably the XJ model Cherokee of the 1990s, the Wagoneer of the 1970s and the Willys station wagon of the 1950s. The square design of the Commander’s predecessors has been brought into the 21st century with highlight features, including the prominent rear grab handles that flow into the roof rails.
The 2006 Commander is immediately recognisable as an authentic Jeep because of its classic Jeep design elements — seven-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel openings, round headlamps and flat surfaces. The result is a rugged, constructed appearance that says “Jeep”.
“The Commander succeeds because it blends the Jeep brand’s unrivalled heritage with 21st Century technology and does it in a way that makes people very comfortable with the result,” says Brett Aspden, General Manager of Chrysler Group New Zealand
“It also offers something we have never had in a Jeep until now – seating for seven people.”
The Jeep Commander goes on sale in New Zealand in just one luxurious model specification, powered by a choice of 5.7-litre V8 petrol engine or the economical 3-litre V6 CRD common rail diesel engine for $79,900.
The V8 is the same HEMI engine used in the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Chrysler 300C, featuring the critically acclaimed MDS multi cylinder displacement system. MDS de-activates four of the cylinders when cruising to improve fuel economy by up to 20% and it does so without the occupants noticing any difference in engine sound or performance.
The V6 CRD is also used in the Grand Cherokee and will soon feature in the Chrysler 300C. It has been described as one of the most advanced diesel engines in the world.
Both engines drive through smooth 5-speed automatic transmissions that offer the option of sequential, tiptronic-style manual shifts.
The Quadra-Drive II four-wheel-drive system is also the same as that used in the Grand Cherokee, which has won awards for Jeep around the world for its incredible performance off-road. The system runs permanently in four-wheel-drive, feeding power to the wheel or wheels that have the most traction through newly developed electronic axles. For tough off-roading, the Commander’s system has a low-range option to multiply the drive.
Interestingly, the longer body has little effect on the Commander’s off-road prowess, since it has only grown another 3.5cm over the Grand Cherokee’s length.
On the road, the Jeep Commander is sure-footed, smooth and very safe. The independent front suspension and rack and pinion steering offers greater control and more precision to the driver, as well as improved ride and comfort.
The Commander is also fitted with an electronic stability control programme (ESP) as standard, which incorporates traction control and ABS anti lock braking to make driving much safer. ESP senses if the vehicle is in danger of skidding off the road and makes appropriate brake and throttle adjustments to help bring it back into line.
Safety is further enhanced by a full complement of airbags to protect the occupants, including front and side curtain airbags. Inside the spacious cabin, the rugged exterior styling of the Jeep Commander is echoed by the bold dashboard, displaying 16 Allen head bolts that are both functional and impressive. A precise four-dial instruments cluster with LED illumination features black gauges with white graphic and red pointers.
All seats are upholstered in leather and the front two are electrically operated and heated for maximum comfort.
The luxury equipment package also includes, climate air conditioning with dual-zone automatic temperature control, individual heater and ventilation controls for the third seat row, leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio controls, six CD changer audio system with Boston Acoustics speakers, security alarm; tyre pressure monitor with display, automatic rain-sensing windscreen wipers, cruise control and rear park assist.
Among the options are two side-by-side skylights located in the roof above the second row of seats and a power sunroof above the front passengers.
