JEEP COMMANDER ‘MONSTERS’ THE 4X4 MARKET
15 January 2007 - Chrysler

UK sales of 4x4s and SUVs fell in the UK last year after ten years of growth.

Some of this can be attributed to high running costs, fears of further punitive tax gathering congestion charging, the anti-4x4 lobby and a general decrease in the country’s new car sales.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders put the 6.2% decline in 4x4 sales mainly down to the fact that many manufacturers of the most popular ranges changed their models in 2006 and the run-down and run-up of old and new vehicles caused this blip in sales. Indeed two of the major ‘players’ in the 4x4 market claimed increased sales, Jeep up by 22.6% overall and Range Rover Sport up by 52% and Range Rover by 12.5%.

Some families in urban areas will have adopted a more socially acceptable form of family transport and this is supported by the increase in multi-purpose vehicle sales which increased by 7.4%. The ‘Yummy Mummies’ on the school run in urban areas perhaps now feel more comfortable being seen driving a fashionable MPV rather than an anti-social 4x4 as some people see them.

The 13% increase in luxury car sales would suggest that high profile business executives have perhaps decided to move away from big top of the range 4x4s to something a little more acceptable.

Still the rise and fall of 4x4 sales has not, and will not, stop manufacturers tempting buyers with small, medium and large off-roaders and crossover ‘softer’ SUVs. The 2007 diary is pretty busy with dates for new model launches in these categories.

In practical terms the big 4x4s are much more at home in the country where the hunting, shooting, fishing and farming communities want and need such vehicles.

They do not come much larger or more imposing than the relatively new Jeep Commander, a real monster of a 4x4 that lives up to its name, it commands attention. It is Jeep’s first model to offer three rows of seating for up to seven passengers as standard. The in-your-face styling with glitzy chrome detailing may not be to everybody’s choice but size alone gives this vehicle huge road, or off-road, presence. In typical Jeep fashion this vehicle has a very high level of equipment fitted as standard and it is hugely impressive off-road.

If you find the American styling an acquired taste you will find its on-road handling equally daunting. It is a big barge of a vehicle and handles in the same manner even though it has electronic stability control fitted as standard. As for parking in town streets, don’t bother look for a car park, you’ll need the space. Although the overall length of the vehicle is only 37mm or 1.5 inches longer than the Grand Cherokee it looks and feels much larger. The overall length is a significant 4,784mm, width a daunting 1,899mm and height a garage prohibiting 1,826mm. On the positive side it can tow 3,360kg with ease.

Again in true Jeep tradition you get a lot of vehicle for your money. Although launched last year with one V8 petrol and a 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine options, as of late 2006 the HEMI V8 engine was dropped from the range as customers who drive big 4x4s only want diesel models. This large executive 4x4 costs from £27,490 up to £31,490. All versions have a five-speed automatic transmission with a manual tiptronic mode, permanent four-wheel drive and Quadra-Drive high and low ratio transfer gearbox with electronic limited slip differentials front and rear. Basically the drive is delivered to which wheels, or wheel, has the most grip. There are two levels or specification, Predator and Limited. Predator is well specified but Limited, which 80% of customers opt for, has even more ‘goodies’. These include extra brightwork trim inside and out, rain sensitive wipers, leather trimmed seats, uprated speaker system, additional rear air conditioning with heater, heated seats, much needed front and rear park assist and tyre pressure monitoring.

So the most popular and sensible model is the Jeep Commander Limited with the Mercedes sourced 3.0-litre, V6 CRD direct injection high pressure turbodiesel engine priced at £31,490, good value when you compare it to a Range Rover diesel at £54,000 or the new BMW X5 which goes on sale in April. The current X5 top diesel model sells at over £37,000 plus the cost of extras, so the new model will be considerably more.

Over 90% of customers buying big 4x4s specify a diesel engine, it makes for better overall driving performance and significantly better fuel economy. The diesel engine produces 215bhp and a massive 376lb ft of torque from only 1,600rpm. Top speed is 118mph with a 0-62mph time of 9.0 seconds. The combined cycle average fuel economy is quoted at 26.2mpg and my vehicle returned just about 26mpg.

I drove this model on its media launch last year in the wilds of Scotland both on and off road. Off-road it was fantastic. I’m not just talking about covering gravel roads and muddy tracks; I’m talking serious rock faces, fording deep rivers, up and down very steep hills. Despite its size, driving the Commander off road is easy and worry-free. It is neat and nimble and above all predictable. It is certainly one of the best, if not the best off-road.

On the road it is a different issue. It floats and rolls along with side-to-side roll and front-to-rear pitch. On fast undulating roads it can wallow quite significantly and over poor surfaces at lower speeds the ride is jittery. You are very aware that you are driving a high and wide vehicle and it requires concentration. It is nowhere as sharp for on-road performance as most of the European 4x4s which is a shame because in most other respects it is excellent.

Also worthy of mention is the vast interior that again has good and bad features. The facia is very dated because it is very high level with flat surfaces. Instrumentation, controls and so forth are comprehensive and generally come to hand well. The three rows of seats are theatre style with each row slightly higher than the row in front. The spilt folding facility for each row allows good seating and load carrying combinations. The second and third rows can be folded completely flat to give a huge load carrying area with cargo capacity ranging from 212 to 1,940 litres. Passenger room in the rear row of seats is limited with difficult access via the rear side doors.

So there you have it, the Jeep Commander, big, brash, really well equipped and great off-road but with limitations in on-road handling. Style acceptability will be a matter of taste, sort of new money versus old money customer choice.

MILESTONES. Jeep Commander 3.0 CRD Limited automatic. Price £31,490 (as tested £34,490). Engine: Mercedes sourced 3.0-litre, V6 direct injection, high pressure, turbodiesel, 215bhp, 376lb ft of from 1,600rpm. Transmission: 5-speed auto with Quadra-Drive duel range high and low ratios, permanent variable torque split 4x4 system with front and rear electronic limited slip differentials. Performance: 118mph, 0-62mph 9.0 seconds, 26mpg, CO2 284 g/km. VED: Band G £215. Insurance group: 14E. Towing capacity braked: 3,360kg.

For: Huge road presence, very high equipment levels, very competitive pricing in its class, good engine/transmission, tough and excellent off-road capabilities.
Against: On-road handling, tight space for third row passengers, too glitzy for some.

From: Miles Better News Agency

www.daimlerchrysler.com

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