210,000 miles ago I ordered my beloved xj from Toronto. It came with a Dana 44 rear, fuel injection, 5 speed tranny and tire carrier. Despite adding a 4-1/2" lift, 410 gears, arb's, and 31" rubber, it still gets 20-21 mpg at 75 mph if there's no wind....tachs 2700rpm at 80mph and does the 4+ trails in Moab just fine; brings me home to take me to work the next day or to Vegas, the ocean, or Canada whenever my wife and I so desire.

I'll sell it in about another 400,000 miles or when I pass on my estate, or when Chrysler improves on that AMC design...whichever happens first.

It looks like it should be badged Isuzu!!
I have no problems with boxy but the front grill is horrible.
I would not even call this retro. As an owner of an original Grand Wagoneer - this thing has no taste, no class.
What have the folks as DC been smokin' - probably the same stuff when they designed the Durango.

I can't believe nobody has noticed this truck is a mildly redesigned Cherokee. "All new" my a**. Yeah, they've done some engineering to fit V8's, but you take the raised roof off and it isn't reminicent of the Cherokee, IT IS the Cherokee! This is not a bad thing, Jeep made a huge mistake killing it in the first place. My point is, why the three card monty game to bring it back?

HOW DID THEY GO FROM THE GREAT LOOKING 2000 COMMANDER CONCEPT TO THIS ABHORRATION?

THIS LOOKS TERRIBLE. ARE YOU PEOPLE CHRYSLER PLANTS? I LOVE JEEP (I HAVE OWNED 6!) AND I CAN'T GET PAST THE SHEET METAL TO EVEN CONSIDER BUYING THIS!

ITS EMBARRASSING TO SEE THE JEEP BADGE ON THAT THING.

Don't get me wrong WTJ. I'm not pushing Land Rover over Jeep nor Jeep over Land Rover. True...Jeep started it all. That is worth mentioning but it is not where you start but where you end up. If the Jeep is better...I would get the Jeep. If Land Rover was..then I would get the Land Rover. I will take ability and quality over name any day of the week. Now...lets see who hangs on to the top rung. I wouldn't bet either way. Competition is good....it should keep both Land Rover and Jeep on their toes!

Actually, I just checked the specs from the 2001 Cherokee, the cargo volume is 66.0 cubic feet with the rear seat down.

http://www.xjjeeps.com/manuals/2001_specifications.pdf

If you do your research the Mercedes G-Wagon is being redesigned to a very rounded, "modern", non-boxy style. The Commander picks up on the classic box styling that has been going on in the Jeep lineup from 1946 - 2001.

Video reveal at bottom of list:

http://www.dcxmediaservices.com/videoptrs/wms/dctv/DCTV/Mar05/

Thanks Dan for the link:
http://www.beijing-jeep.com/images/bj2003_001.jpg

This is the best looking Jeep I've seen ever. If DC wants classic, why don't they offer this in the states? I curse the day I sold my xj.

Commander? Shouldn't even be compared with the old cherokee.

Everyone's comment about this being some boat is not correct. This is only 2" longer than a GC and is basically a GC. I don't consider a GC a barge. A GC is a mid-size SUV in the SUV world. You have much bigger from Chevy and Ford. I don't hear everyone complaining about full size trucks. A crew cab Ford or Dodge sucks a lot more gas than this Commander. The automakers keep building more and more big trucks and how many single guys are driving them around that don't need anymore than a guy driving around a 7 seat SUV without kids.
A Commander with a V6 will get ok gas mileage. It will get great gas mileage compared to a Expedition.
I will say again, if gas mileage is your primary concern, you shouldn't be driving a Jeep.
I think Toyota has something you might be interested in.

autoblog.com has the real pics of the commander at the show.

First Glance.....Fugly!

Second Glance.....Fugly!


Now, I'm a hardcore jeep person. But WTF? So, I decided to take a third glance with this in mind....

1. People LOVED the original Cherokee (keep that in mind)
2. Hard core Jeepers have complained about not having something to compete with the Hummers and Suburbans for years.
3. Hard core Jeepers tend to really bash the sleek design of the new Grand Cherokees and Liberties in favor of the more utilitarian designs.
-----

Jeeps survey is showing that 9/10 jeep users would consider buying this. Why? Because above all, Jeeps are Soccer mom vehicles. This is a 7 passenger vehicle tested on the Rubicon. Well why not the Rescue concept from a few years ago? Personally, as awesome as the vehicle was, it was a little TOO close to looking like an H2, whereas this looks like a Jeep (the cherokee). Brand ID, you know. Would I buy one, probably not, mainly b/c I wouldn't buy a suburban or any other thing that size. Can I accept it? If it performs like a Jeep...welcome to the family.

It really reminds me of my old neighbor Elwood's Beat Up Grand Wagoneer.

The cargo space is essentially the same between the JGC and the Commander, so I'm rather disappointed. I don't need the extra row of seats, but a bit more cargo capacity would help. I'll be going to the NY Auto Show on Monday, rather than Sunday, to avoid the crowds. I wonder about the interior differences--this might be a factor in selecting one or the other.

I recently rented a new Laredo; go to Edmunds.com for my review (in the 4Runner vs. JGC forum).

And now hopefully the 4 door Wrangler will be a good replacement for the ruined Xterra.

Is that freak from BMW responsible for the recent Durango / Commander / Ect.... that dude who ruined BMW, was he picked up by DC or something?

I think Bada Bing Crosby should invest any spare change he has in oil stock. He will be rich in 2-3 years.

Other then Ford with the new Mustang, it seems we are heading back to the dark ages in Automotive design. Just a few years ago, Nissan has an incredible looking 2002 Xterra and SC Frontier, now look what they've done with the ugly Titan look? Now look at Jeep with the ugly vehicles they have? (Other then the Wrangler) Look what happened to Dodge, awesome looking Durango and Dakota a few years ago, new models look horrible and the shape just is not right. I think we are in a dark period in automotive design personally.

yeah, check them out. They are the best pics yet. This
reminds me so much of my XJ, I can't help but like it.

Forget the Cherokee. With those skylights I think they brought back my father's Olds Vista Cruiser!

"sick of you people" has my vote for best post, I couldn't agree with him more. I'm a long time Wrangler owner who actually bought a KJ out of brand loyalty and we've been rewarded with a vehicle that we love and it fits us emtpty-nesters perfectly. I even took it off road when my TJ was in the middle of a lift installation and I was quite impressed!

here is my comment I thought this ugly ass thing
was suposed to be full size. This one will be a
"BIG" loser! Yuppieville for sure. Man did "JEEP"
ever blow it on this one.

here is my comment IT SUCKS!!!!!!!!!

Maybe he's working for Nissan now too, or it's a couple of his proteges.

JD Power is estimating that sales of the Commander will be around 70,000 units. This, if nothing else, will help fund the further expansion of the Jeep line and allow DCX to continue to produce niche vehicles like the Wrangler and possibly the Gladiator.

By the way, be sure to check out the reveal video. Got to love the Mustang-like growl of the HEMI 6.1L in the SRT-8.

As great as the original Cherokee was, the thing that convinced me to leave it behind was a pic of the Xterra vs. the Cherokee in the structural cage / front end crash test results fron the IIHS .....LOL it was definitely time to retire the Cherokee.

Well I haven't seen the next Wrangler yet so I wont say I'll abandon Jeep altogether, but this thing is ugly, though it does look like a Cherokee which is better then a supersized Liberty, but it should have looked like the Rescue!

I take back the Xterra comment too, the more I look at it I like it, it will be either a new one, an FJ Cruiser, or the 4 door Wrangler is it looks like a Gladiator and not something like the Liberty. That wont be till 2007 or longer anyway.

Just Ok for Me....

However, when not if, but when oil breaks to new highs and heads over $60+ a barrel and gas is at or approaching $3+ a gallon, these land yachts will be selling for pennies on the Dollar....at least Jeep has the diesel liberty.....laugh if ya want but higher gas is here to stay and moving higher is a reality in our world....netherlands is pay $6 a liter right now.....lots of taxes in there for sure.....but much higher for the states in next 2-3 years.....

Not bad! It has the Land Rover look which seems to popular right now and im sure that jeep did their homework on this one just like the did with the new grand cherokee. I was at a gas station and a guy pulled up next to me in his 05 grand and i could hardly hear the engine run, unlike my 98.....

Put a diesel in this thing. I'm a Cherokee fan so I can't not like it, and I will definitely check them out at the dealer. Hmm, a Commander, keep my XJ forever, and I'll have to get a Gladiator if they ever make that...

Looks like a XJ on Steroids! Good to see Jeep respect its roots, even though this one reminds me so much of the AMC dark days.

The Commander is too big for my tastes, but families who want a rugged look without shelling more for a Hummer will love it.

I hope they announce pricing soon. The base Commander is equipped about the same as a GC. I wonder if it will be about the same $ ? ?

Basically, we have a vehicle that is barely larger than the Grand
Cherokee on both the outside and inside, is heaver, slower,
more consumptive, etc. What I find especially depressing is the
cargo capacity; again, it’s barely larger than the Grand Cherokee.
The third-row seats appear to be nothing but cramped, in
addition to there being no space behind those seats. As a true
seven-seater it pales in comparison to a Suburban or van. Yet, it
is smaller, but consumes as much fuel as the big boys. Is this
meant to be a “betweener” SUV like the former Dodge Durango?
To me, it is a very inefficiently engineered family wagon.

As regards design, it’s typical 1984-boring box. There is no
class, whatsoever. Look at those “rugged” bolted-on fender
flares and the handholds on the rear hatch—cheap, tacky, and
tasteless. Automotive design forums are already ridiculing this
monstrosity. I believe the Chrysler Commander now ranks top in
terms of design stupidity, even surpassing the Chevrolet H2 and
H3.

Finally, this SUV could not have been released at a worse time
with rising gas prices, rising anti-SUV bias, lower consumer
demand for this vehicle type, etc; ten-years ago would have
been perfect, not now.

This is a guaranteed flop, without question.

finally a Chrysler product so i can get rid of
my wife's Suburban.

Well..I have waited years for a larger Jeep and here it is! I have a Wrangler and a GC. The past few years I have been really considering trading for a Tahoe or something to have more room for the family. Jeep has gone a long way on going the right way with this vehicle. I think it looks great! The GC has a more contemporary styling and this Jeep has somewhat of a retro styling. Some may like it and some may not. But..you have to admit...with the Wrangler, the Liberty, the Grand Cherokee, and now the Commander...Jeep now has a vehicle to fit just about anyones needs and size requirements. You really just can't argue with that.

I think Jeep and Land Rover attracts two different kinds of customers.
Jeep has me because I can afford them and because of Jeeps heritage.

Ah, Land Rover: Jeep’s British Imitator

I have to agree with the above posts.
I am excited about the Commander and the new products coming from Jeep. I bet that most of the ones complaining wouldn't be buying a new Jeep anyway no matter what they make.

... and the biggest question, how many of the people who complain about soccer mom's are MARRIED TO ONE?

I have been reading this site and other Jeep related web forums for years now and I have come to one conclusion. There isn't a single vehicle that Jeep could possible build that you all would like. What happened to the people who actually like Jeeps what web site do they post on. You complain endlessly about the ending of the replacement of the Cherokee and now the build what is basically a new slightly larger Cherokee and guess what all you do is complain.

I like the Commander, I will admit that at first I thought it look a little to 1984 but the more I look at it the more I like it. I like the boxy styling it is simple and utilitarian. And for the last time to all of you that say it is a land barge IT IS ONLY TWO INCHES LONGER THAN THE GRAND CHEROKEE!!!!! That is the smallest land barge I have ever seen. Also it gets the V-6 gets 16/19 mpg the XJ's I-6 got about 15/20 with the auto in 2001.

I don't believe that you all realize that when you talk crap about soccer moms that it is the soccer moms not the off-roaders that keep Jeep in business it has been that way ever since SUVs started to become the popular way to haul your family, get used to it.

My guess is that the Cherokee's cargo area was bigger because more focus was put on utility than passenger comfort. Then people complained it was too cramped or whatever so they moved the front seats back, etc. I also wonder if the Cherokee measurements included the space that was taken up by the spare tire. Now the spare tire gets put under the vehicle, creating a slightly higher floor.

The lack of cargo space, when compared to the Grand Cherokee
(and even the original Cherokee), really confuses me, too.

I don't understand how the Cherokee XJ can have more Cargo space (71 Cubic Feet) than the new Commander when it is smaller? Maybe I should ax Pimpin Ho's?

Yo maan...Dis truk is da bomm...

I nees me sum 22's an din slams it...

Din gis me sum el see dees an DVD's an go pimpin'

Gis me sum limo tint so da poh-lees ain seein my crack-ho's gittin freaky all ova my peeps...

Yo MTV---Pimps My Commanda

here is my comment I thought this ugly ass thing
was suposed to be full size. This one will be a
"BIG" loser! Yuppieville for sure. Man did "JEEP"
ever blow it on this one.

Ten years from now all the commander offroad loyalist will be s**t talking the next jeep. It happenedd in the past from the mb to the tj and it is just the way it is. I think the commander offers so much more than the grand cherokee. The interior volume is the same but a different shape so the space is actually useable!!!! I am heavly considering trading my wrangler for one!!!! The aev lift for the grand should bolt right up???

I have waited two YEARS for this?? I should have bought my Durango last fall like my friends told me to, but NO….I had to wait for the Commander.
OK, I work in the pseudo auto biz so I'm probably not the best person to ask when it comes to styling. But, being in the 2 wheeled auto biz is very very close to the 4 wheel auto biz and in fact we recruit heavily from Detroit. At my company, it is all about style. It seems that D-C HAD taken cues from their extremely successful American motorcycle counter parts (i.e. retro, smooth-SCULPTURED styling); But WHAT THE HECK IS THAT THING??!! I loved the 2001 Jeep G/C so much I bought one. I’ve been tracking the Commander for 2 years now and waiting anxiously for it’s debut. But instead of getting the Jeep recuse, we got a 4wd BOXcar that resembles something that I hoped was gone forever. Are they trying to squeeze a few more dollars out of the 1980’s sheet metal form tooling that’s been in storage for 20 years??? Frustrated, I looked at the new SRT8 and suddenly realized how close it looks to the Dodge Magnum?? Ahh... this looks all too familiar with sharing tooling across platforms. I'd say, 2005 G/C shares tooling with 2005 Dodge Magnum (but for $10k less, buy a Magnum). I thought to myself... NAHHHH, it can’t be true. BUT apon further investigation I found the Merc-Benz G 500; and there it was… the 2006 COMMANDER dressed in a German uniform.

OK I admit I’m frustrated. Jeep had a good thing going and now I think they blew it. Form does not always have to follow function in the case of a rugged SUV, ecspecailly when they have a platform as cool as Jeep to work with! Look at the Hummer. It’s so big, rugged and ugly, that it’s actually COOL. Especially with that cool Jeep grill in front. ;)

PEACE!

well said, renegade

Autoblog.com has posted some photos of a nice shiny black Commander Limited from the NY Auto Show.

http://www.autoblog.com/entry/1234000870037392/

Buahaha, that is a Cherokee with a Grand Cherokee front end, that thing makes the Commander look good.

I will say if gas were .99 a gallon and the Commander had better head lights I might like it more, it does look like a Cherokee a bit which is good. One thing I will say, interior looks great.

I too like the XJ and still drive one. But, I will definitely not be trading it in on this land barge. This is nearly 2000 lbs heavier than the efficient XJ ... what went wrong with the design? Insane to release this barge without a fuel efficient diesel. What's wrong with DC?

I am gonna' pee my pants. I am an XJ guy at heart and love the style, as opposed to the new Grand Chero that just looks so-so.

It's time to sell the house and buy one of these.

Like someone else mentioned, the new Commander should
really be called Grand Cherokee, since it looks like a big (grand)
Cherokee; and the Grand Cherokee should really be called
Commander, as it more closely resembles the Commander
Concept.

My reaction: you won’t see me driving this embarrassing
Conestoga wagon. This vehicle is right up there with the Chevy
H2 in terms of overall uselessness. For such a boxy shape, I
expect more cargo capacity; the third-row seats are cramped;
gas mileage is on par with vehicles much more capacious and
functional in size. Its design is bland, yet busy at the same time
with creases in all the wrong places. My TJ even has more curves
than this Isuzu Trooper wannabe.

Thankfully, I only have to endure one more Jeep debut (that of
the Scout) before production cancellation of the TJ, that which
will mark the end of my allegiance to the Jeep brand.

Not too mention, DCX is working (with GM) on next-generation hybrid technology that would probably work wonders in conjunction with the HEMI MDS engine. It will probably be a few years before they would show up in something like the Commander though. Like Jon said, if you are worried about the cost of gas you should probably look for something in the compact hybrid segment.

I find it hard to believe that the Netherlands is paying $6 a liter. That works out to $24 a gallon, thats pretty high even for Europe.

It would seam that building this on the Durango platform would have been a much better idea. The would have had all the same claims (i.e. two V8's etc) It would have been a larger truck that way differentiating itself from the Grand Cherokee.

Since this one looks like a Cherokee shouldn’t it be the Grand Cherokee and the other one should be the Grand Liberty.

Andyvp

i like it. it ha 3 rows and is smaller than a suburban/youkon and will be more fuel efficent. the liberty's bubble shape worried me but this thing is starting to re-enforce my faith in the jeep designers. i also think that the commander came at the right time people will be trading in all of thier bloated land yachts for this. most people would agree that 15-20mpg is better than 13-17mpg in the long run.

Oh my God! Someone left their Jeep Cherokee on 3 mile Island!!!

Bland! Bland! Bland!

I'm very disappointed.

I liked the original XJ Cherokee and I did wish that current jeeps took more their design cues from it. So I should like the new Commander. But I don't.

All the designers (or more likely meddling management) did was water down a rugged & quintesential SUV design into panel van that looks like it was designed in the Third World.

If the company wanted to go heritage, then why didn't they use design elements from the original Wagoneer? That was a classic and probably could have translated quite well to the new vehicle since they are both similar in size.

The classic Wagoneer was cool, this thing is not cool and is unlikely ever to be considered a classic.

Well it looks like an oversized XJ. I liked the XJ because it was not oversized. DC cans the XJ for the KJ (why or why?) so they produce a supersized, watered down, bling XJ. It will never replace the XJ.

True it does seem retro, but most auto makers are going to 70s and 60s retro design (new mustang, FJ cruiser, etc.) However, DC's idea of retro is using boxy 80's styling.

I predict it will fall on its face just like the WK and KJ. Plus with the current price of gas SUVs sales are dropping across the board. So Jeep goes ahead and makes a larger, less fuel efficient Jeep. Smart? What they really need to do is start looking at adding diesel options to all their product line. Then be the first in the US to introduce diesel hybrids. If you can get 27 with a C R D boat anchor KJ then a diesel hybrid in the new TJ you could get 35-40mpg.

Overall very disappointed in the new XK. About as capable as a surbru, gets 13mpg, and ugly as sin. An oversized, watered down, bling bling XJ.

I like it.retro but nice! Lots o space. The family
SUV of the future?

Although virtually identical to the mock ups we've seen over the
last week, this official version looks much, much better. The
hood looks more like an old Wagoneer hood, and the way the
turn signals cut in toward the grill emphasizes the round
headlights better than they did in the earlier version. I'm still not
impressed by the fender rivets, and the tail end (if you look at
the pictures on xkjeeps.com) is sort of bulbous and out of
proportion, but I guess that's what they had to do for the 3rd
row of seats.

But thank goodness it's not as ugly as we thought.

Anyone know if the electric motors they talk about on their site are an option?

This old-schooler likes it. Would I take it out on the trail? Maybe the easy trail, but that doesn't seem the point. It looks like I could slide a stack of 4x8 sheets of drywall into the back, and it has the motor options to make it a standout tow rig. On top of all of that, it's not ostentatious to my eye. Functional, with plenty of room.

Looking at the official dimensions, it also looks like it's footprint isn't appreciatively larger than the GC. Nice.

Has some XJ design cues that make it bearable.

1st major problem, becoming all to common on Jeeps, is the IFS front suspension. 2nd is I have no use for a truck of that size unless it is able to tow a decent sized load around.

Just bring back the origional XJ with an updated OHC crossflow head 4.0L and make everybody happy.

I have owned 4 XJs at one time... so I might be biased though :)

Oh the Yuppies will be sooo pleased. That is one mighty ugly tahoe.

Yo Yo yo Wasssssup...

Wuz you axin' a quextion...

Da Commanda gos mo room fo drivin' da skeeza-bishes downtown to da Freaknik, das how dey-be fittin dey big-azz boo-tays in dem slippas'

Fols dat las slippa down an you gos plenty of room to git hit by Da Bull.

I be kickin' it on da Wess-Sieeedeee wif ma homies...Aiiieeegghhhhttt!!!!

Pees an' Love---Rox an' Blows

The Commander concept has nothing to do with the current Commander. The Commander concept was a study in hybrid technology. Some of it's design details ended up in the 2005 Grand Cherokee. As a Jeep fan, you should know this was never the concept vehicle for the current Commander.

Hmmm, maybe my timeframe's off in relation to the
Gladiator and 4door Wrangler. Whatever. You get the
point.

I think perhaps we are beginning to look at this from a
better angle. I'll happily rag on soccer moms because
(thankfully) the missus believes that if familes needed
to go larger than 4 there'd be a third row of seats in her
Wrangler. But, hey, I'll accept that the cash that gets
funneled (hopefully) into the Commander will bring
more exciting things. Yes, I'm still sore over not getting
a Dakar or a Rescue but it looks like DC is trying to
cover the bases first. First the cuddly, wuddly chick-
friendly Liberty to compete with all those Sportages and
Rav-4s and whatnot. Now they can silence those
who've been begging for a Jeep with more seating
capacity. Soon well get a Gladiator for those who've
been wanting a pickup.

Maybe after that we'll get that four-door Wrangler that'll
shut me up. Then a Rescue? Though I still won't buy it.
I'm beginning to see it as a good move.

1: I saw that Pimp my Ride show for the first time last week, that guy who picks up the cars is hilarious, that show is awesome!

2: For all the people who say there was never a good replacement for the Cherokee, there was, it was called an Xterra, and it was every bit as awesome as the XJ until Nissan just Pontiac Azteked it.

I too have owned many Jeeps and quality issues have come up. I guess that with most vehicles I figure they are all going to have issues(although my wife swears that her Hondas never broke down).
I really like Jeep and what it did and does stand for so I will put up with some of those quality issues(and make sure I have a warranty).
I didn't get excited about the new GC as much as I was hoping for. I have a 2000 GC now and was figuring that when the 2005 came out that would be my new Jeep. When I saw them I didn't think they looked bad but I just couldn't get excited enough to run out and trade in. I figured I would end up with one because I had no other choice as a Liberty was too small for me and a Wrangler was not an option at this point because of my family.
When I first saw spy-photos of the Commander I started to get a little excited because I thought if this looks the way I think it will I am going to want one. Now that the official photos are out I know this will be my next Jeep. This is exciting and I love the looks and the fact it is basically the same size as a GC. I didn't need a "full size" SUV so I was glad it didn't grow in size. I love the looks as it dosn't look like anything else. Personally I think that the Rescue concept is way cool but also maybe a little trendy but that's alright with me.
Jeep will do well with the Commander contrary to what several predict. I know I will buy one.

Your right Jon. I can't personally speak for or against Land Rover. I have never owned one. I just try to keep up with them as well as Jeep. I have owned 4 Jeeps and I have a 2002 JGC Limited now. I have had a Jeep Comanche Truck which was my first Jeep. It only had a 4 cylinder because that was all I could afford at the time but that was a tough little sucker. I then bought a 1994 Jeep Wrangler Sahara. I ordered that one with all options. That has always been my dream Jeep. I had absolutely no problems with that thing. No complaints at all. Due to family needs I was then forced to get a 1997 GC Laredo. It had the 6 cylinder and that too was a great vehicle. I now have the 2002 GC Limited with the HO 4.7. That thing is a beast but buld quality is very poor. I love the Quadra Drive and it has worked flawlessly in every situation I have had it in but I have had so many problems with this Jeep that it sort of has me down on the brand a bit. Especially since it was the top of the line Jeep when I bought it. I will probably trade again in another year or so and it has yet to be seen whether it will be a LR or Jeep. I am hoping that this newer line of Jeeps offer more quality. It's a bit soon to tell that yet but I am hearing good things. The new Commander may very well be my next vehicle.

I hate to say it but "sick of all you people" is right. As it stands at this moment, with the Commader added, Jeep is offering a vehicle for just about any size requirement or purpse. What exactly are you looking for? Let's face it..except for most Wrangler owners people (Jeep Owners)want an SUV that is at least semi livable on road and can handle most any general off road traveling. For rock crawling and bolder bashing you have the Wrangler. They even gave you a bigger one with the Unlimited. That vehicle can be built pretty much as extreme as you like and just stock with the Rubicon package...it surpasses at least 90% of off roaders driving capabilities and challenges they will put it through. I am not even going to talk about Hummer but lets face it. There are realy only two SUV's that are really built to handle off road situations. That is Land Rover and Jeep. Toyota was in the mix for a while but they have dropped attention and some of the capabilities with the Land Cruiser. Given the two requirements of most SUV drivers (give me a vehicle that drives well on the road and a vehicle that can truely handle and survive most off road excursions)Jeep can't do much better than they have. Now..if they ruin the Wrangler then you will have something to complain about. Until they do...Jeep has just about everyone and their wants and needs covered. The truck is comming..that will be a nice addition. If they also end up producing something near the Rescue then they will totally own the offroad and the SUV market. Even though it's not here for the time being, the Rescue would be the Defender 110 killer offering big size and extreme off road capabilities. Also worth mentioning...the Ford buy out certainly didn't have the adverse affect on the LR3 as I thought it would. It certainly isn't an Explorer as thought it would be. I know most people don't like it but Land Rover has hit some pretty big strides with the technical features in the LR3...that is if they can get and keep them working right which with another model year or two I am sure they will. Jeep and Land Rover seem to be matching some strides here. They are both offering a sport SUV this coming year. A few more years and the Defender will be back here. Wrangler versus Defender...now that will be a real war!

Well, I'll put it like this... the photo above and the ones
on autoblog are the most flattering yet. I can stomach it.
But I won't buy it.

We all have our points (some more embraced than
others) but are we looking at it from the right angle?
The specs don't lie, it doesn't dwarf a GC and it offers a
third row of seats. Our beloved XJ which sold so well
wasn't only bought by off-roaders and such. There are
some jeep loving families who are loyal to the brand -
who never, ever use the vehicle to its fullest capacity-
and don't want to get a Denali or Excursion or a Land
Mower/Range Mower or whatever. That third row of
seats is for them. This is a soccer mom jeep, in my
opinion. And I'm thinking that they'll cough up the
green to have it. It may not be beautiful but neither is
that Honda Element I keep seeing. Neither is the
Trailblazer. Sheesh, the LawnMower Discovery ain't
that beautiful, most people just buy it because of the
name.

So, I'm thinking that this thing will sell. At least I hope
so. If it does, then maybe DC will consider adding
some vehicles to the jeep line that may not be quite so
mainstream. Hopefully it will be a vehicle that most of
us are more interested in... like a Dak... aw, nevermind.

OK, TO ALL THOSE WHO SEEM TO KEEP CALLING THE COMMANDER A LAND BARGE OR LAND YACHT:

The Commander is 2" longer than the new Grand Cherokee and 1" shorter than the Ford Explorer. This is hardly a BARGE. This is shorter than a full-sized sedan. But perhaps you are driving a Chevy Cavalier so everything looks big to you.

The same people who are complaining the back seat is cramped (which all 7-passenger vehicles are unless they are Ford Excursion sized) are complaining that it is a land barge.

Do any of you think out your arguments?

If you don't like the styling, fine. If you don't need a 7-passenger vehicle, fine. Then DON'T BUY IT!