First Look: 2006 Jeep Commander
Jeep--your roots are showing
By Editors of Motor Trend
Photography by the Manufacturer
The Commander is truly the box the Grand Cherokee came in--they share platforms, down to the same 109.5-inch wheelbase. Jeep found room for the third row by squaring its shoulders and making its greenhouse more upright.
6 Things You Need To Know
1. Commander has a body-color grille; Commander Limited gets chrome. Clamshell hood is aluminum.
2. It comes with a choice of three four-wheel-drive systems, like the Grand Cherokee: the base Quadra-Trac I, the all-weather Quadra-Trac II or Quadra-Drive II, with three limited-slip differentials.
3. Theater seating in leather or cloth, with the 40/20/40-split second row taller than the first, and the 50/50-split third taller than the second.
4. Engine offerings are a 210-horsepower, 3.7-liter SOHC V-6; 4.7-liter SOHC V-8; and the 330-horsepower, 5.7-liter Hemi V-8. Two different five-speed automatics are offered, depending on engine choice.
5. Shades of the Vista Cruiser! The optional Command-View Skylights offers a full sunroof for the front seats and two smaller glass panels with shades over the outboard midrow seats. The screen for the optional DVD player is located between the skylights.
6. Second and third rows fold flat. There's an L-shaped storage bin under the load floor, behind the third row, with a removable/ reversible panel.