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2009 Jeep Commander Quality Review

February 22, 2009

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

The cramped 3rd row suits only grade-schoolers
Consumer Guide

Big, but not inside
Motor Trend

Road and wind noise stay in check on the highway
Cars.com

Too much hard plastic for an SUV in this price range
Edmunds

The Jeep Commander is not a true luxury SUV, and it never let occupants forget that; however, it still retains sturdy construction and off-road prowess.

Consumer Guide says the Commander’s front seats provide "ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder space for even large adults, but flat seat bottoms lack support for longer trips.” However, Edmunds calls the front seats "comfortable," and Cars.com deems them "well-cushioned and durable," adding that "the standard eight-way power driver's seat has lots of travel."

"Headroom is adequate,” says ConsumerGuide about the Commander’s second-row seats, “but legroom is very tight...three-abreast travel is best left to brief rides.” According to Kelley Blue Book, the third row has just 28.9 inches of legroom and 35.7 inches of headroom. "The cramped 3rd row suits only grade-schoolers, and is overly complicated to access,” contends Consumer Guide.

When the third-row seat is lowered, storage space becomes a strong suit of the Commander. To this regard Consumer Guide comments, "Generous space is made more useful by a wide, flat floor and large hatch opening," but notes that with the third-row bench in the "up" position, "available cargo space shrinks to negligible." Cars.com reports that inside the Jeep Commander, "A pocketed shelf sits above the glove compartment, and there are several nooks around the gearshift to stash cell phones or parking stubs," but adds, "There's just 7.5 cubic feet of luggage space behind the [rear] seats, which is less than half what you'll get in a Nissan Pathfinder."

Although the 2009 Jeep Commander is a definite upgrade compared to the old Cherokee, reviewers' opinions are mixed. Edmunds calls the interior materials "lackluster" and cites "too much hard plastic for an SUV in this price range," while Cars.com remarks, "The silver plastic surrounding the center controls and window switches is respectable in quality." ConsumerGuide ranks the 2009 Commander "among the quietest traditional truck-type SUVs." And Kelley Blue Book is impressed with the leather and wood grain-trimmed interior found in the Limited version. Cars.com adds, "Road and wind noise stay in check on the highway, but the Commander's poor aerodynamics mean crosswinds can catch drivers off-guard."

Conclusion

The 2009 Jeep Commander’s third row is strictly for kids, but its first two rows of seating are quite comfortable; don’t expect luxurious, though.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:The cramped 3rd row suits only grade-schoolersConsumer GuideBig, but not insideMotor TrendRoad and wind noise stay in check on the highwayCars.comToo much hard plastic for an SUV in this price rangeEdmunds The Jeep Commander is not a true luxury SUV, and it never let occupants forget that; however, it still retains sturdy construction and off-road prowess. Consumer Guide says the Commander’s front seats provide "ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder space for even large adults, but flat seat bottoms lack support for longer trips.” However, Edmunds calls the front seats "comfortable," and Cars.com deems them "well-cushioned and durable," adding that "the standard eight-way power driver's seat has lots of travel." "Headroom is adequate,” says ConsumerGuide about the Commander’s second-row seats, “but legroom is very tight...three-abreast travel is best left to brief rides.” According to Kelley Blue Book, the third row has just 28.9 inches of legroom and 35.7 inches of headroom. "The cramped 3rd row suits only grade-schoolers, and is overly complicated to access,” contends Consumer Guide. When the third-row seat is lowered, storage space becomes a strong suit of the Commander. To this regard Consumer Guide comments, "Generous space is made more useful by a wide, flat floor and large hatch opening," but notes that with the third-row bench in the "up" position, "available cargo space shrinks to negligible." Cars.com reports that inside the Jeep Commander, "A pocketed shelf sits above the glove compartment, and there are several nooks around the gearshift to stash cell phones or parking stubs," but adds, "There's just 7.5 cubic feet of luggage space behind the [rear] seats, which is less than half what you'll get in a Nissan Pathfinder." Although the 2009 Jeep Commander is a definite upgrade compared to the old Cherokee, reviewers' opinions are mixed. Edmunds calls the interior materials "lackluster" and cites "too much hard plastic for an SUV in this price range," while Cars.com remarks, "The silver plastic surrounding the center controls and window switches is respectable in quality." ConsumerGuide ranks the 2009 Commander "among the quietest traditional truck-type SUVs." And Kelley Blue Book is impressed with the leather and wood grain-trimmed interior found in the Limited version. Cars.com adds, "Road and wind noise stay in check on the highway, but the Commander's poor aerodynamics mean crosswinds can catch drivers off-guard." ConclusionThe 2009 Jeep Commander’s third row is strictly for kids, but its first two rows of seating are quite comfortable; don’t expect luxurious, though. 2009 JEEP COMMANDER STYLING | [8 out of 10] Car and Driver: "Classic Jeep styling" Kelley Blue Book: "Far better interior accommodations" Cars.com: "Instantly recognizable as a Jeep " Edmunds: "An upscale two-tone decor makes for an attractive interior" Although retail sales ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

It's important to note that none of these competitors can match the 2009 Jeep Commander once the road ends—the Commander maintains the advantage here, though the 4Runner and Pathfinder can be equipped quite well for off-roading. Some of these competitors, however, do offer varying degrees of niceties such as extra room and/or comfort for rear-seat passengers. The Ford Explorer is one of the roomiest in the class with ample space even way in back. The Honda Pilot offers seating for eight, outdoing the Commander by one, and has crisp handling and great ride quality. The Nissan Pathfinder's second row is comfortable, but its very tight third row is similar to the Commander's.

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See the Jeep Commander in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

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