The cockpit of the
Jeep Commander has a cozy, cocoon-like feel to it. The seats are nicely shaped and padded, and the steering wheel, a four-spoke design with cruise control buttons at the thumb positions, has the substantial feel of leather and exposed stitching on higher line models. The Commander has a tangible sheltering quality that immediately appealed to us. It's the kind of vehicle we'd like to get into on a cold, windy day.
At the same time, the Commander offers a sense of spaciousness. Overhead skylights add an airy feeling for passengers in the second row. The skylights are fixed and don't open, but they have pull-out shades to filter light and reduce heat. The Commander's raised roof permits use of stadium seating; each row is higher than the one in front of it, giving second- and third-row passengers enhanced forward visibility.
Up front, occupants enjoy a commanding view of the road. Head and leg room are plentiful. From the driver's seat, the controls are all within easy reach and are logically placed. The materials are decent for the price, but there are more hard plastic surfaces than top-line buyers might like. Commander offers good storage space, with a large center console, a decent-sized glove box with an open cubby above it, plenty of cupholders and other thoughtful cubby holes here and there.
The second-row seats are comfortable but are tight on leg room for taller passengers. The third-row seat will accommodate an adult, but seems designed for children in the eight- to 10-year-old range. To access the rear, the second-row seat flops forward, providing a careful adult with a reasonably easy path to the rearmost bench seat, which is split 50-50. Those of average size and weight should be able to make their way into the third row with minimal effort. Still, the Commander is only a few inches bigger than a standard Grand Che{{{Cherokee, so back-row seating is not ideal for taller adults or for longer trips. The third row does have available rear heating and air conditioning controls, and nearby power points. In addition to providing comfort for children, the rear HVAC can be a relief to dogs on hot days.
Both the second- and third-row seats fold to create a perfectly flat load floor, and there is an L-shaped storage bin located behind the third-row seats. The arrangement means that there will always be a practical way to configure the Commander for either more passenger seating, or added cargo and gear. It strikes us as versatile, with few tradeoffs. The load floor height is relatively high, however, at 36.2 inches, meaning it requires extra effort to lift cargo up and in.
Jeep says the MyGig Multi-Media Infotainment system can hold 1600 songs. The MyGig Entertainment system doesn't have a navigation system and all its associated map information, so it hold twice as many songs. The rear-seat DVD package is now offered with Sirius Backseat TV. The TV has three channels, all aimed at kids: Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, and Nickelodeon. Two sets of headphones are provided, so front passengers can listen to Sirius radio while rear occupants watch the TV. With the car in Park, front passengers can watch TV on the MyGig screen. next page