Overview & Reviews

The name Commander calls to mind images of daring swashbucklers on fearless adventures at the far corners of the earth. As such, Jeep's latest SUV is aptly named; it possesses every inch of the go-anywhere bravado implicit in its moniker. With three rows of seating and room for up to seven passengers, the Commander is the most spacious SUV Jeep has ever produced.

Although not quite as capable off-road as the smaller Jeeps, among SUVs in its size class the Commander is a superb trail-buster, able to tackle rock-strewn paths and steep mountain tracks without breaking a sweat. Less thrilling, however, are the Jeep Commander's lackluster interior materials, cramped third row, so-so cargo capacity and poor fuel mileage with the larger engines.

Current Jeep Commander

The three-row Jeep Commander is available in two trims: Sport and Limited. The Sport comes standard with power accessories, a power driver seat, air-conditioning and a CD stereo. The Limited trim honeys the mix with heated leather seats, automatic dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable pedals, a power tailgate, satellite radio and a power sunroof with twin skylights in the second row. Buyers can also snag options like a navigation system and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system.

The base Jeep Commander Sport gets its pep from a standard 3.7-liter V6 capable of 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque, a barely adequate engine in the 4,800-pound Commander. The Limited model has more punch thanks to a 5.7-liter V8 (optional on Sport), which cranks out 357 hp and 389 lb-ft of torque. Those who choose the base model may equip it with a full-time all-wheel-drive system. Jeep also offers two sophisticated four-wheel-drive systems for those planning to take their Commanders on off-road trails, including Quadra-Drive II, which features Hill Start and Descent Assist technology. All models come with a five-speed automatic transmission.

Slide inside the Commander's cabin and you'll find yourself enveloped in comfortable seats. An upscale two-tone decor makes for an attractive interior, but there's too much hard plastic for an SUV in this price range. (The Limited is a bit nicer.) There aren't any midsize SUVs that offer truly spacious third-row seating; still, even by these low standards, legroom in the Commander's third row falls short and is suitable only for children. Cargo capacity is unspectacular as well, largely because of the packaging issues created by the Jeep's solid-axle rear suspension and generous ground clearance. The SUV offers 7.5 cubic feet with all three rows in use, 36.4 with the third row stowed and 68.9 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. These numbers would be OK for a compact SUV, but they're minuscule for a midsize sport-ute.

In reviews, we've praised the Jeep Commander for its off-road capabilities and powerful available V8. Opinions about ride quality are mixed; some have found the Jeep to provide a tranquil ride but others, expecting a more secure feel, deem it wallowy. Handling on pavement is competent for a nearly 5,000-pound vehicle, but not the least bit sporting. The base V6 doesn't hustle the Commander with much authority. The 5.7-liter V8 is both powerful and relatively fuel-efficient.

Used Jeep Commander Models

The Jeep Commander debuted in the 2006 model year. The Limited came with a 4.7-liter V8 prior to 2010; it generated 235 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque until 2008, when it was bumped up to 305 hp and 334 lb-ft. The 5.7-liter V8 made 330 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque till '09, when it went up to 357 hp and 389 lb-ft.

For '07, the luxurious Overland trim debuted; it was equipped similarly to the Limited but with special interior and exterior trim. For '08, the Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist electronic driving aids arrived for Commanders with Quadra-Drive II. The Commander Limited and Overland's interior materials quality were improved for '09. For '10, the Overland trim disappeared, and the 4.7-liter V8 was discontinued, leaving the powerful 5.7-liter V8 as standard on the Limited models, along with a power liftgate.

Reliability was spotty on early-build 2006 models, so consumers looking for used Jeep Commanders would be wise to seek out later-build models or else hold off on a purchase until there's a bit more to choose from on the used market.

User Reviews:

• 

  Just picked it up - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By dlflyboy - July 24 - 7:46 pm

  I just picked up my loaded Jeep Commander. So, far I love this truck. Love the styling and features. This is my second Jeep. The first one was great. I hope this one is as well.

• 

  Love it - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By vsmustang02 - July 17 - 11:16 pm

  So i just bought a 06 Commander used. Its the 3.7L. I love it, except for the gas mileage. My co-worker has the 4.7L and gets better gas mileage. I think part of the reason is because it takes a lot less effort for the V8 to move the vehicle then it does he V6. If i could buy again I would get the V8. Otherwise, I love it

• 

  Absolutely the worst vehicle ever! - 2008 Jeep Commander
  By Atlanta Guy - July 13 - 3:30 am

  Purchased my Limited 4x4 w/HEMI in 2/08. Just turned 3,900 miles (>6 months later). Remember that, as its a clue. Since purchase my brakes have gone out (entirely, while driving) and they replaced the Master Cylinder. The vehicle has totally died (engine and electrical) on numerous occasions (It is in the shop now getting its 3rd ignition system replacement). Beyond that, there have been numerous other electrical problems with the MyGig system and Navigation. To date the car has been at the dealer for 37 days (and counting) since I picked it up brand new a little over 6 months ago. Currently my attorney has written a demand letter to Chrysler for repurchase. Its a piece of junk!

• 

  Slowest thing on the road - 2007 Jeep Commander
  By notbrian - June 11 - 10:57 pm

  I traded in our Trailblazer SS for a base model 07 V6 Commander 4x4 for the woman. I picked it up for under $11k with 77k miles and its in really good condition, not a spec of rust under it - and thats rare for Ohio. Anyways, coming from a 400hp monster to this thing, I start dosing off a bit when putting the hammer down. Ive driven vietnam-era military vehicles faster than this slug. The interior and build quality seems a lot nicer than Chevys, and the woman is happy, so I guess Im happy. Its been pretty reliable so far, but Im one to keep up with maintenance. A little bit of that goes a long way, so people should maybe think about that before typing up a page of complaints.

• 

  Love my Commander, except for a glitch! - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Anna - June 3 - 5:46 pm

  Ive owned my 2006 Commander for about 1 1/2 years and I love the ride. It was a big step up from my Mitsu Diamante. I needed something bigger for the growing family. The ride is so smooth. My girls love to go for a ride every night and fall asleep. The glitch is that recently Ive been driving and the truck turns of by itself for no apparent reason, itll turn back on when you restart it.

• 

  No More Jeeps for me - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By miss - June 3 - 2:43 am

  I have an 06 Jeep Commander. What a headache. I take it into Victorville Motors all the time. They are horrible. I have brought my vehicle in for brake problems since the beginning. Every time they tell me "can not duplicate". I brought the vehicle in for the same problem they recalled for. I had to pay to have them inspect and they told me my breaks were fine. Now the rotors are bad. I only have 29,000 miles on the Jeep. They want to charge me $400.00 to fix it. I will never buy from Victorville motors, ca ever again or buy a Jeep for that matter. I have owned almost every car made, this is by far the worst!

• 

  Down and Out with Jeep - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Raquel - June 1 - 3:03 pm

  Purchased this SUV brand new for our growing family. Within weeks the windshield started whistling during highway driving. Vehicle stalled while driving on the highway and turning corners. Talk about scary ! Dealership replaced windshield to fix the whistle, however they could not figure out the problem with the engine stalling. Reported this issue to NTSB. Stylish however unreliable so I traded it in for a Toyota SUV. Buyer Beware.

• 

  Love to Hate it - 2007 Jeep Commander
  By Michael - May 18 - 4:35 am

  I like the heavy duty heft of my jeep, gas mileage is as expected for a heavy Jeep with a V8 Hemi. I love the way it looks and the 4X4 works great. It rides nice, it is quite and the stereo sounds great. The sun roof does leak but I live in SoCal. My only regret are all of the electrical problems I have had. Stalling on the freeway while I am driving, intermittent starting issues. and the high cost of replacement parts. I am torn if I want to sell it or hold on and hope the last 7 trips to the Jeep dealer resolved all issues.

• 

  Jeep Commander - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Blaise Oates - May 10 - 5:33 pm

  Great suv even if you dont like off roading

• 

  Awesome, Dude! - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By flyfishrjs - May 4 - 8:40 am

  I LOVE MY JEEP! This is the second Jeep Ive owned, and I am absolutely in love. The gas mileage stinks, but no surprise there. This is a great sized vehicle - bigger than a Grand Cherokee, but smaller than a Tahoe. Great for fishing, hunting, skiing, and getting around town. My black lab loves it too!