Seating for seven, with a 7,200-pound towing capacity.

This Jeep is a go-anywhere type of vehicle capable of towing your boat, or travelling off the beaten track to visit out-of-the-way ghost towns in the Rockies.

Another product that can stand up to the tough Rubicon Trail reputation of many previous Jeeps, the Commander is at home on all types of roads, from the four-lane Trans Canada Highway, to Powderface Trail, a narrow gravel road that winds it way through foothills and mountains.

It’s a design reminiscent of the original Jeep shape, upgraded with a powered sun roof, dual skylights for the second row, and a straighter windshield than the Grand Cherokee. Second- and third-row passengers sit higher than those in front, offering a clear view ahead while driving. Legroom in the third row is perfect for the kids.

Rear seats don’t have to be removed to provide a flat surface for storing cargo – they simply fold forward. Head rests fold out of the way as seats are lowered into place. Behind the third row is a storage bin in the floor where you can stash the jack, along with other tools. An AM/FM/CD stereo is standard along with cruise control, air-conditioning and a tire pressure monitoring system.

Raising the roof over the second row of seats, about three inches higher, provides additional headroom. (This is not apparent from the outside of the vehicle, as the stepped roof is hidden by the new roof rack.) The rack has three integrated tie-downs on each side, and on the Commander Limited, assist handles extend from the roof rack, down the rear of the vehicle to make it easier to load and unload items from the roof while standing on the rear bumper.

The Commander is available with a choice of three full-time, four-wheel-drive systems and three engines. A 5.7L Hemi V8 with two different transfer cases, two five-speed automatic transmissions, standard independent front suspension, plus rack-and-pinion steering.

Quadra-Trac I uses a single-speed NV140 transfer case with Brake Traction Control System (BTCS) that detects wheel slippage and transfers torque to the wheel that has the most grip. This transfer case gives full-time, four-wheel-drive capability without low range for those who don’t go off-roading.

Quadra-Trac II provides full-time, active, four-wheel-drive with low range and BTCS that can transfer all available 375 lb-ft of torque to the axle with most traction. This NV245 transfer case includes electronic shifting and a neutral for towing the Commander behind a motorhome.

With a 3.7L V6 engine, (the same as in my Jeep Liberty) I found it powerful enough for everyday travel on highways, plus backroad excursions. With a 3.07 rear axle, the 3.7L can tow 3,500 pounds of trailer. This engine produces 210 hp at 5,200 rpm and 235 lb-ft of torque, which is hushed by thicker walls in the composite manifold, and structural improvements to the air box and resonator.

The 4.7L SOHC V8 puts out 235 hp at 4,500 rpm and 305 lb-ft of torque, giving a trailer rating of 6,500 pounds with a 3.73 rear axle ratio. This engine has been calibrated for better fuel economy and power output. (It’s actually quieter than the same V6 in my Liberty.)

A 5.7L Hemi with a Multi-displacement System provides the Commander with the economy of a four-cylinder engine when cruising, and the power of an eight when you need to pull up a stiff hill. Electronic Throttle Control in the Hemi version empowers the vehicle with more pep and instant response. Based on operating conditions, it maintains a more consistent speed on rolling grades, with the cruise control, than with the old mechanical throttle system. This engine provides 330 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque for trailer towing with a rating of 7,200 pounds – equal to that of the Grand Cherokee.

The Electronic Stability Program we’ve tested in other Chrysler vehicles gives a greater sense of control, with better steering to keep you on the path you want, without sacrificing the trail-rated, off-road strength Jeep is known for. This standard feature works by using signals from sensors throughout the vehicle to determine best brake and throttle adjustments, for directional stability.

The 4.7L and 5.7L Hemi use the 545RFE five-speed automatic transmission with a paddle shifter that allows the driver to manually choose the gear by simply moving the shift lever left or right from the drive position. The Commander is available in a Limited Edition including a chrome grille, front fascia, body-side mouldings and roof rail crossbars with premium fender flares. It has fog lights, rain-sensitive windshield wipers, SmartBeam Intelligent Headlamp System, Goodyear OWL all-season tire’s and 17-inch cast aluminum wheels. Heated, leather, bucket seats with an eight-way driver seat and four-way passenger seat bring easy adjustment and comfort to a long haul when you’re switching drivers.

Also standard on the Limited is Limited Slip Differential, Electronic Roll Mitigation, ParkSense rear-park assist, advanced multistage driver, front passenger air bags with an occupant classification system, and side-curtain air bags that cover all three rows of seats. An AM/FM/CD stereo radio is standard, with a Sirius Satellite radio service as an option. Other options include a six-CD stereo with a full-map GPS display and navigation radio, plus a rear seat DVD to entertain passengers.

Chrysler Group vehicles equipped with Multi Displacement Systems through the end of the 2007 model year will save more than 60 million gallons of fuel each year. The Commander’s base price is $40,865 while the Jeep Commander Limited models equipped with the 5.7-litre HEMI V-8 engine ring in at $51,055. (Page Top)