Jeep Commander 3.0 CRD Limited (auto)

The JEEP Commander is the only car that I have bought two of! I was originally set on replacing my facelifted Discovery 2 with a year old Discovery 3 when I was offered a 3 day test drive in the newly launched Commander....I was immediately smitten. I also got a great deal from my local dealer. I had the first one three years and after filling it with unleaded (its a diesel), I traded it in for another, slightly improved new model.

Good bits - value for money, reliable (the Discovery was back at dealer for warranty work 20 times in 3 years, the JEEP(S) never...touch wood). It has all the bells and whistles (inc DVD), its fast for a 2.5 ton car (watch the boy racers try to overtake...its fun), very comfortable.

Bad bits - tacky clumsy plastic dashboard. Storage is useless. Rear seats only good for double leg amputees. annoying US trip computer. No sat nav. RUST!!!

Overall....the best car I have ever had...twice!!!

I have owned several Cherokee & Grand Cherokee models over the years, this latest Jeep Commander 3.0 Limited puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. The Mercedes 3.0 diesel engine is ultra reliable & pushes this 2ton+ car surprisingly quickly along the road. It has a superb driving position, is easy to manoeuver with a very good turning circle. My wife is just over 5ft & manages to drive it easily as the drivers seat has a surprising amount of adjustment.I drive with a light foot & manage 26mpg on short journeys rising to 31mpg on a longer run. We use the car as a 5 seater having the 2 rear child seats permanently folded, this gives a large storage space at the rear. This car has all the bells & whistles, the on-board computer is geared for the American market and gives some readings which have to be adjusted for UK drivers such as the mpg figures based on an Americal gallon which is smaller than a European gallon.As a driver you really feel safe & protected inside this car, it has superbly comfortable seats with good all round visibility.The automatic gears have a good ratio, the brakes are excellent.All in all I feel really confident in driving it.The sat nav is average, its the only one I have used where you cannot input a post code, it only works on street names & towns.It needs servicing every 12,500 miles.If you want a car that's different, is a head turner and a great driving experience then this is the car for you.

What can I say, Commander 3.0 is an awesome Jeep. I have owned 2 Jeep Grand Cherokees, a 1996 model and a 1999 model. I loved the 1999 model, but I love the Commander even more. I love the boxy looks, although I guess some people prefer a more modern snout nosed look. The power and performance of the 3.0 litre CRD model is supeb. The main thing that attracted me to this particular Jeep is just how light it feels when driving. When I first got into it for e test drive I was immediatley struck by how agile it is.

The interior is very comfortable and it has just about every option you could think of. I got the Commander as I have 3 children and I needed the additional seats as my mother doesn't drive and occasionaly I need more than just 5 seats. However, I would not want to put everyone in it for a long journey as the legroom in the third row is quite restricted. I tried to go in it and could only manage about 5 minutes before cramp set in. However my young daughters love it as they have their own airconditioning controls and don't comp,ain about the lack of space. They are 9 and 6. Apart from that I can get the whole family in as well as Ben, our 3 year old golden retriever. He also enjoys it as he has a good view, as does everyone else. I was gobsmacked at the view from the middle row of seats and was quite comfortable in the back. I am 6ft1".

I would thoroughly recommend the Jeep Commander as it is agile, easy to drive, has a great view is definitely different, and just eats up the miles on a long journey. With regards to it's offroad capabilities, a good friend of mine in South Africa took it offroad through some extremely rugged terrain. He was stunned by it's grip and capability and was totally suprised that going up an extreme slope - 40 degrees no less, that it went up without any of the wheels slipping. To understand just how good the Quadra DriveII system is you need to watch a TV programme called 4 Wheel Drive. It is made in South Africa, see it on the SA Direct channel on Sky and compares various 4X4's including Jeep, Landrover (All variants, the Merc G500 and Toyota Landcruiser. The Jeep came out tops in terms of grip and overall capabilty. In fact the Jeep managed to get through some terrain that the others got stuck in. Well worth watching.