IF a luxury seven-seat SUV is what you want, then high fuel bills are unlikely to influence your purchasing decision very much. After all, we’re talking here of vehicles with prices starting at around half-a-million rand… However, when the consumption figure is over 20 litres/100 km, then even the rich start to notice. Back in October 2006 we tested the Jeep Commander 5,7-litre Hemi V8, a big SUV that gargled down unleaded at the rate of 22,13 litres every 100 km! Pussyfooting around resulted in a slightly more acceptable figure of 16,7 but there can be no arguing about it – the Commander V8 is not a terribly economical vehicle. And these days, more than ever before, high fuel consumption hammers the wallet… But now there is a 3,0-litre turbodiesel version, one that offers impressive power (160 kW at 4 000 r/min) and even more torque (510 N.m from 1 600 to 2 400 r/min) than the V8 model. There is also a promise of vastly better fuel economy, verified by our test unit, which achieved a fuel index of 11,88 litres/100 km. Okay, so you lose some performance, but, surprisingly, not much. With a top speed of 186 km/h, and a 0-100 km/h time of 9,98 seconds, the Commander 3,0 CRD has nothing to be ashamed about. Naturally, overtaking acceleration from higher speeds is not comparable with the V8 model but, then again, if you’re looking for a V8 SUV, then you won’t even consider this turbodiesel alternative. Of far more importance is how the Commander CRD compares with a vehicle such as Audi’s trendy Q7 3,0 TDI. The answer is that it compares very well indeed, with virtually identical overtaking and sprinting performance. The Audi boasts only a higher top speed.
But viewed on its own, the Commander’s engine has other talents as well. We were particularly impressed with its low noise levels and good refinement. It is also an engine that combines well with the standard five-speed automatic transmission – throttle response is good, and it doesn’t often hunt. Overall, we’d say the powertrain is this particular Commander’s best attribute. Otherwise, the 3,0 CRD is unchanged compared with its petrol-powered siblings. Our test unit was the Limited model, which is priced at R519 900, making it the most expensive of the Commander range. It comes with everything but the proverbial kitchen sink. There’s a DVD player in the back, for example, along with skylights, and extra ventilation outlets (plus separate air-conditioning controls) for those seated in the rear. The three rows of seats are mounted “theatre” style, meaning each row is positioned slightly higher than the one in front, so that every passenger can have a good view out the windows. The downside of this for the driver is that with a full complement of passengers, his/ her rear-view mirror is filled with people. Entry and exit to the rearmost seats are made easy by a middle row that is split 40/20/40. The outer sections fold down easily, allowing people to access the rear two seats from either side of the vehicle. Based on the underpinnings of the Grand Cherokee, with an identical wheelbase but a slightly longer body, the Commander’s cabin is not quite as spacious as it looks from the outside. The result is that the two rearmost seats are – as is often the case with vehicles such as these – only really suitable for children, or adults for short distances. And with all seats taken, boot space is a miserly 72 dm3. But, those rear seats can be folded down, in which case there is space for a lot of luggage.
Generally speaking, the Commander’s cabin is a nice place to be. The light trim of our test unit contributed to a more upmarket ambience, and some of the unique detailing – such as the faux Allen bolt heads – even appeared less garish on second acquaintance. But there is an irritant, and it is one that applies to virtually all of the Chrysler group’s offerings – a poor driving position. Although the seat is electrically adjustable in every way, the steering wheel only offers height adjustment. And then there is the intrusive transmission tunnel that forces the driver’s left foot into an uncomfortably crooked position… A significant part of the Commander’s appeal does not only come from its rugged, macho and classically Jeep appearance, but also from what lies underneath. Seeing as it is based on the Grand Cherokee’s platform, it should theoretically offer similar – and therefore impressive – off-road driving capabilities. Key to the go-anywhere capability is the standard fitment of Jeep’s Quadra-Drive II four-wheel drive system, providing Commander with electronic limited slip differentials front and rear. Quadra-Drive II is claimed to offer torque transfer that is faster, and almost 100 per cent of the torque can be distributed to any of the four wheels. All this technology, combined with a reasonable ground clearance (lowest point is 213 mm under the front axle), and chunky Goodyear Wrangler tyres, results in what is arguably the best seven-seat luxury SUV for off-roading. The strong off-road performance does come at some cost to on-road dynamics, though. The suspension is fairly soft, which endows the Commander with a very relaxing cruising ride. But this does result in plenty of wallow around corners, and lots of dive under braking. That said, for what it is, and considering its most likely use, the Commander is a comfortable long-distance vehicle.
Test summary
The Jeep Commander 3,0 CRD Limited is not cheap. But its most important rivals are all considerably more expensive, and also don’t offer the same type of standard specification, which makes the Commander reasonably good value for money. We far prefer this turbodiesel engine variant to the 5,7-litre Hemi version tested before, not only because of its economy, but also because of the way its refinement, and the way it combines with the transmission, result in such a relaxing- to-drive vehicle. If you need a seven-seat vehicle with good off-road capability and lots of luxury inside the cabin, then you should take a serious look at this Jeep.
