My oldest daughter is about to graduate HS and go off to College. Looking to get her an inexpensive (cheap)but still reliable vehicle. She will be 2-3 hours away, so I really don't want to have to go up there and fix it or tow it back to fix with any regularity. She is jonesing for a Jeep. What say ye?
Massive on the outside. Tiny on the inside. Other than that, I have no direct experience. I'm sure all the usual Daimler-Chrysler genetics apply.
Friends had one. It replaced a Durango that was totaled in a deer collision. They liked the Durango way better, but I don't seem to recall them having any issues with the Commander.
Prior Thoughts
A large vehicle just for college commute. If she is studying geology, agriculture, etc then maybe makes sense. Otherwise a Jeep Liberty would maybe fit better. They were not loved but were actually rather well done vehicles.
College towns are one of the last places where I'd want a giant SUV. At least the ones that I've been around. Tight parking spaces, lots of careless other drivers, really poor fuel economy, if it's a walkable campus there maybe long periods of sitting in one spot getting door dinged to death, etc. From a father's perspective, there are a lot of shenanigans that can happen with a big 7 passenger SUV too.
No.
Typical Chrysler build quality.
And I like them...
The biggest Jeep of the time though it is styled to look like the much smaller, old XJ Cherokee.
Mechanically it is a Grand Cherokee frame with a larger body dropped onto it.
I looked at one briefly to replace a car in the short term and my 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee long term, and went with a 2007 Ford Explorer instead. Big outside, tiny inside (but tall headroom) is exactly right. It wouldn't fit a standard large plastic dog crate behind the second row (I was shopping for room for 5 passengers plus the dog). The crate fit with ease behind the Explorer second row. Unless you already own one or can steal one, I'd think there are lots of better options. If she wants jeep, a Grand Cherokee could be a good option.
I had a 2006 Jeep Commander Limited with the 4.7L V8 (no Hemi) and the best AWD system they had at the time - I think it was called Advance Trac II. I loved that thing. Towed boats and snowmobiles. Took road trips from Iowa to Michagan. With BFG All Terrain T/A tires you could not get it stuck.
I did not have any mechanical issues with it. The gas tank is small, and they get bad gas mileage.
It and the Hummer H3 are the two are the most capable USA built "big" SUV's if you want to go off roading. I would buy another one without hesitation.
edit: And they have a third row of seats which comes in handy.
They have three engines, a 3.7, a 4.7, and a 5.7. Unfortunately, you cannot get all three of them under the hood at the same time, but that's kinda what it needs.
What sort of mpg do they pull? A noticeable difference than the already mentioned Liberty?
I got avg 13mpg
I think it's a great vehicle for a tiny little subset of people who want something exactly like it. I think it's the best non-Wrangler jeep of the period.
Lots of downsides, but welcome to 3-row SUVs.
As per my usual of positing how much better things would have been if Chrysler had done XYZ differently, i'll add that the Commander scaled up onto the contemporary Durango/Aspen frame would have been amazing. Those vehicles got the size part right-er but were way down on visual character. The Commander had strong visual character in and out but had nothing else compelling to suggest it over a grand cherokee or durango at the time.
She can have a car her freshman year of college?
A buddy at work had a Commander with a Hemi. I don't know much about the car, but he ended up with a cool Call of Duty name out of it.
yupididit wrote: She can have a car her freshman year of college?
Yes I found this rule at some campuses and was stunned as my University had no such thing. Then many years on I find that my University now has that rule. Some say it is based on the statistics of vehicle related crime/injury for freshmen.
The gas tank is small, and they get bad gas mileage. </blockquote This
A huge SUV that is no fun to drive, prone to rolling over and gets crappy fuel mileage. It's the American Dream.
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