I think that if they really think they can steer a potential Commander buying customer to a Chrysler or Dodge whatever, then they don't understand there own customer base. I'd like to think that they wouldn't be so ignorant, but the compass tells me they are. Dropping the inline six (4.0) is another example. They threw away a part of their product that has developed a devoted and vocal following like it was worthless.

I think that once they start offering the Commander with the CRD, than the "Towing" crowd will recognize it as an alternative to the Cummins, Duramax, PowerStroke.
Personally, I think there should be better entry/egress and space in the 3rd row. It's just aweful, I can't even fit my size 10 EEE in the space between the seat and door frame. Heck, my first generation Durango is better in that respect.

While visiting the Jeep display at NAIAS last week, I had a conversation with the DCX rep at the desk (not the model demo'ing the vehicles). He stated that the Commander will be discontinued so that potential customers can be steered towards the Aspen. He also grudgingly acknowledged that the Compass did not meet Jeep's expectations and would likely not have a significant production life. (There wasn't even an accessible Compass on the display floor!)
I briefly got on my soapbox about what a poor decision it was by DCX not to produce the Gladiator, and his response was that the company wanted to build a customer base for the new Wrangler and Patriot before adding yet another vehicle to the lineup, but that we should expect to see a Jeep pickup in the next few years.
</grainofsalt>

Makes sense, I think the commander has taken away potential G/C sales. Its a great vehicle, the biggest complaint is lack of space. It would make sense to build a bigger commander with a crd option that would get reasonable fuel economy. I talked to a dcx product tester that had a crd commander and said they were getting 28MPG's!!

Jason

I think that the GC getting a face lift and the Commander getting discontinued would almost make sense with Chrysler's current product planning. I guess if I were to connect the dots here, I'm going to have to say that the next generation/facelift of the GC will look alot like the Trailhawk concepts front end. When I saw the concept I thought to my self that it kind of seems like a compromise between the Commanders styling and the GC styling. Did anybody else get that feeling too?

The Grand Cherokee seems to run in about 6 year periods for each model. Since the current WK came out in 05 it would be due for a make over or whatever in 2010. Since the Commander is basically the same vehicle off the same line it would only make sense that the Commander is replaced or updated at that time also. I am sure with the current state of SUV's that the next gen WK/XK will be well thought out. I seem to think that the next GC or Commander or both could share a platform with the Durango/Aspen. Not sure if I like that but it makes sense. Liberty/Nitro,
Compass/Patriot/Caliber are already examples of it.

I wouldn't put stock into any rumors of this magnitude until we get closer to 2009. I mean think of all the rumors we have heard... of the Gladiator, of the death of the 2-door Wrangler, etc. A lot of them are unfounded. Who cares what J.D. says about removing it from their forecasts? It isn't them who decides to build it. UAW contracts will be renogotiated a bunch of times before 2009 comes along.

I would hate to see the Commander go. For the first time in my life I felt like somebody actually made a vehicle just for me. It's not too big. It's not too small. There are 3 rows of seating if you need them. It can tow a decent amount. It's boxy. It has a real dashboard (man, I've missed those). The sunroof system is great. I just hope if they axe it, they keep parts available for a LONG time.

I would like to think that people are buying the Commander for function and reliability, not looks.

Since I do most of the driving, I haven't had the chance to risde in the rear seat, but I have been told it's 'okay' but they wouldn't want to take an extended trip in it. I agree, it's a kiddie seat and/or best for picking up friends for a short jaunt.

If the next generation Cherokee is going to be built alongside the Durango, then yes, definitely the Cherokee can have a third row.

As a matter of fact, I was looking at my Hot Wheels/Matchbox cars, and was reminded that the Jeep Rescue concept was built on the RAM 2500 chassis, similar to the Durango...So in effect, if the Next-gen Cherokee were upsized, you could have in effect, an 8 seat Rescue. I wouldn't care if they call it a Commander, a Gladiator, a Cherokee, a Jeepster, or whatever, the fact is that the Commander was thoroughly market researched,and it is a great vehicle, and, in my opinion, better that the Cherokee

I personally would like to see the Cherokee look and function more like the Trailhawk Concept.

First, those that believe the Commander affected Grand Cherokee sales just need to look at the numbers.....13K more vehicles than when the Grand Cherokee was alone. Remember, the Grand Cherokee and Commander are built at the same plant using flex, so you count the sales numbers together.

(The same goes for the Compass, which many people hate. It doesn't matter how many they sell because they can adjust Caliber/Compass/Patriot production of each model from 0 to 100%. Hence, selling 10,000 Compasses per year is several weeks more production time in the Belvidere plant than would have been needed if the Compass did not exist.)

Second, with the Liberty moving up in size, the Grand Cherokee will probably get a 3rd row and be more like the current Commander.

Third, if rumors are true that the next generation Durango and Grand Cherokee will be built together in a flex plant, they could always add a larger, Commander-sized vehicle to the lineup if the engineering and market allows.

I think killing the Commander would be a big mistake. The problem is not with the vehicle itself. I think most people like it's looks. The main problem is that the Commander is actually too small. Jeep needs to get the vehicle set up so that the 3rd row seats are actually usable by adults. For all practical purposes you have the Commander competing directly against the Grand Cherokee due to the fact that they are so close in size. When talk of the Commander came out I really thought that it would take a genuine stab at the likes of the Tahoe and Expedition. Instead, I think people have bought it based on it's looks rather than it's usable interior space. I know Jeep tried to keep the size down due to off road testing and rating but I really don't think that is what people were really looking for. If most are like me, they were looking for a larger SUV that would actually have a very good 4X4 system and that could actually survive in mild to moderate off road outtings. Much like the niche that the Grand Wagoneer filled. Don't kill it. We still want it. Just get it right.

I hope it's not true, because we love our Commander, although this aricle is only speculation, and it has no official comment from JEEP.

The fact is that the Commander is sized just right, and mabye a Durango or Tahoe is just TOO big. My wife wouldn't have wanted anything bigger, and I insisted on a Jeep for durability, based on my 1997 Wrangler--163,000+ miles and counting. So I'm sure the Commander works for lots of others besides myself

Today, Regular unleaded is only $2.09 a gallon, so mabye this article is premature.

Jeep really did their homework when designing the Commander, and it shows when you drive it for extended periods, and in the snow.

We haven't had the opportunity to take it off road yet, but it feels solid and adds a degree of confidence when driving it.