We say The Commander is enormous, comfortable and very capable off-road.Performance The Commander’s 5.7 V8 Hemi petrol engine is unrefined, thirsty and very fast – it can cover trhe 62mph sprint in a faintly absurd 7.4. The Jeep 3.0-litre diesel is the business with torque and power through a 5-speed auto box – it can tow 3360kg.Emissions The petrol can manage an utterly woeful 18mpg and 368g/km; the diesel can manage a slight better 26mpg but CO2 is still very high at 284g/km.Driving Soft ride with a fair bit of body roll coupled with poor steering – the Jeep is not at its best on the roads. The Commander excels off-road however – a clever Quadra-Drive II system means the Commander is always assured, with plenty of electronic trickery to keep you plugging and there’s significant ground clearance.Feel The diesel grunts when revved and there's some wind noise due to the height. The Commander makes an excellent motorway cruiser.Space Works best as a spacious five-seater, but can fit in seven seats. The Commander’s third row is too cramped, however, and squeezes the already weak 212 litres of boot space into near-nonexistence.Equipment Think of any trim option. The Commander has it – Jeep has specced the SUV extremely well to compete with rivals.Price The Commander can boast a good list price, especially with all that kit, but residuals won't hold up in comparison with rivals. Economy and emissions are black marks too.Quality The Commander features under-par interiors compared with rivals; though Jeep mechanics and engines should be reliable.Safety ABS, stability, traction control and airbags at front and side comprise standard safety kit.Pros Good looks, if that's what you're into. Good offroad ability and loads of standard kit.Cons High running costs, tight for seven people, sub-par interior quality.Alternatives Land Rover Discovery, Volkswagen Touareg
