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Jeep Commander

After our initial SUV evaluation, we received a rather unexpected number of emails requesting more. Presumably, that was because you, the reader, after perusing the reviews, realized that they were completely unbiased, or as close to being unbiased as one can get. So, we decided to acquire a number of vehicles for detailed evaluation. Here, we will be reviewing the 2006 Jeep Commander. This is a brand new vehicle making its debut in 2006.

The Jeep Commander is a brand new vehicle that was introduced this year. The Jeep representative informed us that the model we got was specifically made for evaluations and demo purposes. To be a little bit more specific, it wasn’t a demo model, but a truck specifically designed by Chrysler/Jeep for purposes of serving as a demo vehicle. Consequently, the vehicle was fully loaded. Here are the options it came with: 4.7 Liter V8, 4x4, leather interior, roof rack, three row seating, heated driver and passenger seats, power driver and passenger seats, dual zone climate control, DVD package with a remote and infra-red head sets, navigation package, Mp3 capable 6 disk front loading CD player, auto dimming rear view mirror, automatic lights (with automatic dimming – sensors detect approaching/being passed traffic, turn this option off), automatic wipers, Sirius satellite radio, UConnect (Blue Tooth cell phone hands free system), anti-slip stabilization control, performance computer, sun/moon roof, additional two moon roofs for rear seat passengers, anti theft system, rear backup camera, parking assist with visual and audible signals, adjustable accelerator and break pedals, adjustable steering wheel, rear hitch, and towing boost control. Whew... That’s a lot of options and a lot of electronics inside this vehicle. Where to start?

Well, let’s just go to the bottom line first. This vehicle is very, very nice. This vehicle is as real of an SUV as it gets, but it does not drive like a truck. It does not have the truck-like characteristics of pitching and yawing, and is a heck of a lot more nimble as one would not suspect by looking at its exterior appearance. Also, this thing is quick. Although, we were told that essentially the Commander and the Cherokee were the same vehicles with different bodies, we disagree. They drive completely differently. The Commander is much more tuned to perform at lower speeds and takes off every quickly. It stops well and maneuvers very well. Initially, as you take this vehicle through the paces, you are consistently surprised by how well it handles, not only for its size, but in general. Eventually, you get used to it, and learn to expect it to perform.

The adjustable pedals are very useful for shorter and female drivers. In conjunction with the seats, it’s possible to attain optimum seating position for your physical build. The seating is very comfortable and the overall ride is superb. This vehicle has a unique ride. It doesn’t drive like a car, nor a truck, but somewhere in between with a certain interesting mix of characteristics leaning toward the feeling of control. The vehicle is very quite on the inside with minimal exterior and tire noise coming in. In part this is due to the side panel glass that’s installed. This glass is similar to the windshield rather than conventional glass found in other cars and trucks. The rear glass is tinted to keep down the temperature inside the vehicle while its exposed to the sun.

The fuel consumption of this vehicle is right on target to the figures posted on its sticker. Overall, its about average. It is inconsequential, how fast or slow you take this vehicle around town. You will get, pretty much, the same mileage.

Parking this puppy could be accomplished rather easily, with the model we had. Using the mirrors, the backup camera and the parking assist lights and audible beeps, which accelerate in frequency, as you approach an object, you could fit in this thing almost anywhere.

As for the toys, the navigation system is pretty good, but there are better ones out there. Specifically, it is just impossible to program this Mopar Nav system for some addresses even though these are known by the system. At a certain point, this system makes a determination that you are done with the entry of the address and completes it for you. However, that is not always the case. The manual tells you to try to enter it in a different order, i.e., avenues first versus streets, but that may not work either. We would have liked to see an algorithm that converts user input to whatever known address, or in cases of ambiguity, ask the user for a resolution and offer them the option of various addresses in various forms. In some cases, as it turns out, it only works by getting close to your destination, then scrolling and pointing with the joy-stick to the correct address on the map. Then, and only then, the Nav chooses it and will plot the final rout, but not from the keyboard and user input. The Nav system allows you to move the joy-stick, and correspondingly move your virtual location while scrolling the map. Very useful for finding gas stations, through streets, etc. Just look around, see the symbol of a gas station, then click, and the Nav system will plot a course and guide you there. The guidance is visual and audio directed to the driver side front speaker. Pointing the joy-stick and navigating in this fashion can be accomplished while the vehicle is moving. Keyboard entry of destinations is not allowed while the vehicle is in motion.

Th Nav console is shared with an AM/FM radio, SAT radio and the CD changer. The CD changer can be loaded with up to six CD’s or six CD-R or CD-RW’s. Formats up to 850 Megs are supported. DVD’s are not. Only MP3's are supported. Multiple folders are supported, so you can shove your MP3's into categories or by artist, like we did, and then you can display all the folder names, then change to the artist, then to the album, then select any MP3 using the joy-stick. The whole thing is really cool. You can have up 99 folders and 254 MP3's on a disc. We managed to squeeze an entire music collection and more onto 6 discs. So when you’re traveling, you can not only have your music with you, you can literally have your entire music collection with you. When was the last time you saw track 218 displayed on the console of your stereo? As far as speakers though, they’re only average and they’ve got to go, to complete the optimum satisfaction of an even wanna be audiofile. There is a pseudo equalizer included in the audio system, but the speakers just lack the clarity and the punch required to be considered above average, or to have that “I am completely satisfied” feeling on long trips. They are, after all, however, acceptable.

You could burn you collection onto a DVD and then stick it into the DVD entertainment system mounted just behind the center console. That’s 4.7 Gigs of music!!! Capish? The VES console is mounted strategically for the rear seat passengers. The VES, Vehicle Entertainment System, not only plays DVD’s, projected onto an LCD screen which lowers from the ceiling behind the front seat, but also will play MP3's or audio CD’s. Output can be directed to the internal speakers of the vehicle or to infra-red wireless headphones which can be worn only by rear seat occupants. The rear passenger armed with the remote control can easily start a war, or at least, a skirmish, over the control of what entertainment media the occupants of the vehicle are being subjected to, as they can not only control their own console, but can even infringe upon what is being listened to by the driver and front seat passenger.

Our demo vehicle produced a whistling noise which we though was mirror related. This noise was intermittent and the wind conditions had to be just right for it to appear. We thought that the condition was similar to the Mitsubishi Monteros’ mirror problems. In the past, we’ve had two of these Monteros, in different configurations, with identical problems. The Mitsubishi representative informed us that the problem was mirror related and this condition was not caught in the wind tunnels and was a result of a cross wind. However, once we reported the noise problem to Jeep, we were informed that the problem was unknown, at this time, since the vehicle was so new, and that we were going to be notified as soon as more data became available. And indeed, we were. And, we were informed that this was a luggage rack issue. The issue of the noise was corrected and gone with the wind.

Overall, this vehicle is a fantastic SUV. The Blue Tooth hands free system, UConnect, is completely out of this world and works great. It’s Star Trek time. When was the last time you carried on a conversation with your vehicle? Best of all, is that its all integrated and elegantly fits into a nicely put together package. If you’re considering a Hummer, a Land Rover, or any other SUV, based on a truck, or cross-over, do take a very serious look at the Commander. We see the Commander as the answer vehicle to the above mentioned competitors. What is very interesting is how utilitarian the Commander really is. It is a fantastic soccer-mom mobile, a great, great tow-the-boat mobile, and an excellent move-cousin-Lou mobile, with off road capability. Chrysler/Jeep will undoubtedly do very well with the Commander.

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