Reviews

Review: Jeep Commander

This week I have been traveling for work. I have a Jeep Commander and let’s say that I’m less than impressed with the vehicle.

First, it rides like a Jeep. It’s fun if you’re in Wrangler, not so much in a 7 passenger monster truck. I can’t imagine this selling very well after riding or driving Yukons and Expeditions that simply blow this vehicle away in terms of ride comfort.

Second, this car’s MSRP starts north of $27,000. You think for that they could throw in automatic headlights, or at least headlights that turn themselves off when the car goes off. My 2001 Elantra, which I paid $13,000 in 2001, had automatic headlights. This is simply unacceptable and was a surprise when I pulled out of the garage and had to fumble to find the headlights. I certainly didn’t expect it in a “luxury” SUV.

Third, this car has the autostick feature that allows you to pretend you have a manual. My mom’s BMW had this feature and you had to move the stick over away from the “D” gear to activate it. Not in the Commander. A simple flick is all it takes to downshift the car and throw it into autostick mode. I’ve done it twice in the 20 miles that I’ve driven the car when reaching up to change the radio. And there does not appear to turn off the autostick mode without shifting into neutral and back down into drive. The first time I did it at 70 mph in the dark and suddenly the car shifted into 3rd gear. Not cool.

Finally, the key isn’t one. It’s the plasticky stick that you stick into a slot to start the car. See the picture. Is this really better? Again, fumbling in the dark for the slot is a lot less impressive than simply finding the key slot.

With vehicles designed like this I’m not surprised that Chrysler’s sales are down 18% and they are trying a gas gimmick to move vehicles. I’m not a fan of monster trucks, but most of the time I can at least see the reason that people want them. Not in this case. I’m wholly unimpressed with this vehicle (and I like the Wrangler). Maybe it’s because I haven’t driven a Chrysler since my parents’ Lebaron Convertible, but none of the controls seemed intuitive as the GM, Hyundai/Kia, or Hondas that I’ve driven lately.

Throw in the atrocious fuel economy and the only positives are seven person seating and a decent stereo, and you can get those easy enough without the other negatives.

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© 2008 Kirk Walsh.