One of the first casualties of the economic downturn and fuel price blowout for Jeep looks like being the Commander. While there is a 2009 model on offer, it seems like it may be the last of the Commander breed, with rapidly declining sales over the last two years and Chrysler set to launch a major SUV pruning exercise. The Commander was the first Jeep to get three rows of seats, and is basically a stretched Grand Cherokee, so in its place perhaps we will get a 7-seater Cherokee?
There are three powertrains available for the Jeep Commander. The base Sports model has a 210-hp 3.7-liter V6 engine with 235lb-ft of torque which seriously struggles for acceleration at times given the massive weight of the Commander. For the Sports model there is the option to upgrade to the Limited’s engine which features a 4.7-liter V8 with 305hp and 334lb-ft of torque. Standard on the Overland but optional on the Limited is the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 which generates 357hp and 389lb-ft of torque. This engine has gained Chrysler’s Multi Displacement System which has resulted in 27 extra horsepower and a significant improvement in acceleration power. All models use 5-speed automatic transmission and both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive is available on most models. The four-wheel drive comes in three levels of ruggedness; the Quadra-Trac I which can be found on the Sport, Quadra-Trac II on the Limited, and Quadra-Trac III on the Overland and being the most rugged. All are active full-time systems.
Other performance features include standard Hill Descent Control for steep hill situations, and Hill Start Assist to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards on a slope. Towing is rated to an impressive 7400lb, but the Sport would struggle at even half of this, so if you need to tow your boat, you are better off with the Overland. The shape is not exactly aerodynamic, and means the Commander is subject to a reasonable amount of floating, body lean in corners and crosswind instability, but it drives comfortably and quietly and manages to even out most bumps. The Sport and Limited models have 17inch wheels standard and the Overland has 18inch wheels.
Fuel economy is not the highlight of the Commander, although the V8s can run on E85 ethanol based fuels. The fuel consumption for the V6 averages around 15mpg and for the V8 on 87 or 89 octane gas it is more like 12mpg, lower than the average for a large SUV.
2009 Jeep Commander Interior and Features
The Commander seats up to seven passengers with a third row of seating that folds flat into the floor when not in use. If it is massive space you need, the second row of seating also folds flat into the floor and leaves enough cargo room for a whole fridge to fit in the back.Each row of seating is a little higher than the one in front, giving the impression of being at the movies, and great visibility even for the back row yet maintaining plenty of head room. Leg room is not a strong point of the Commander, leaving very little for the second row and even less for the third row. With the third row up the rear cargo space is minimal, but there are lots of of storage areas throughout the cabin.
There are plenty of different options in terms of comfort – from cloth seats to full leather and even perforated leather for breathability. Power seats with driver seat memory are standard in all three trims, plus there is the option of metal-look accents, wood veneer and wood trim and dual-zone climate control. Go for the rear entertainment package and you get a flip down TV monitor with DVD and Satellite Television to keep the kids quiet in the back, and for the front a voice-activated navigation system is available with touch screen and 30GB hard drive. Add to that the other nifty gadgets like the uConnect multimedia system, universal garage door opener, rain-sensitive windscreen wipers and power sunroof with rear seat skylights and the Commander easily becomes a luxury SUV.
2009 Jeep Commander Safety
The 2009 Jeep Commander features the full range of safety features, and as a result scored the perfect five stars in government crash testing for front driver and passenger impact situations. Features include standard electronic stability, anti-lock brakes and traction control, multi-stage front airbags plus side curtain airbags in all rows, plus standard rear parking assist and automatic headlights.
Safety features:
- Front and side airbags
- Electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes and traction control
- Rear parking assist
- LATCH (lower anchors and tethers for children)
Overall the 2009 Jeep Commander is a great SUV born into the wrong time. Rising fuel prices and the economic downturn have led to seriously declining sales for such large and thirsty vehicles and has unfortunately left the Commander with a grim outlook for the future.