2006 Jeep Commander Limited 4x4

That's one big Jeep!

Jeep casts a large shadow over the SUV world. If a Jeep wasn't the first SUV, it's hard to know what was. The 2006 Jeep Commander Limited 4x4 blots out the sun. The biggest, most expensive Jeep ever made, the 2006 Jeep Commander Limited 4x4 carries a list price of $38,405 ($44,800 as tested), along with Jeep's 3 year/36,000 mile warranty and an EPA estimate of 14 mpg city/18 mpg highway for the 5.7 liter HEMI-equipped model. So how does the biggest, baddest Jeep of all stack up?

If you like right angles and flat planes, you'll love the Commander. If Commander's designers ever find themselves out of work, they could always find jobs with Kenmore, designing refrigerators. Even the grab handles on the exterior resemble refrigerator parts. Commander is definitely one of those "love-it-or-hate-it" designs.

If you love the look of the HUMMER H3, you're in for a treat. Jeep can arguably lay claim to the look of the Commander, which hearkens back to the Willys Station Wagons of the 1950s, the Wagoneers of the 1960s and the Cherokees of the 1980s. The classic Jeep six-bar grille is there all right, dipped in a coat of chrome for appeal. Big angular fenders look like they are secured to the body with allen bolts, a very tough-looking feature. The big flip-up rectangular rear glass hides a much smaller oval opening -- an odd shape that doesn't add much functional purpose.

Commander comes standard with 17" aluminum wheels that are just crying out for upsizing. My test vehicle wore optional ($820) chromed 17" aluminum wheels -- 20" would look even cooler, I have to admit. If Commander ever catches on with the customizing crowd, it presents an excellent palette for upgrades and flourishes. I'd love to see some big wheels and flared fenders bolted on, along with more chrome and flash. Anything you've seen done to an H2 could be done to the Commander with great effect.

Continued below . . .

The rough and ready theme continues on the Commander's dash. Visible allen bolts (functional or faux, I'm not sure) appear to hold the dash in place. There's a big grab bar built into the dash on passenger side. Four vertically stacked pairs of round air vents are arrayed across the dash, and a big center stack holds audio and climate controls. My test vehicle was equipped with an optional ($1,200) GPS Navigation system and display -- my next new SUV will definitely have one of these. I'd forego the $1,200 Electronic Infotainment System Group and buy the kiddies individual $99 DVD players. There are plenty of 12 volt outlets scattered throughout the cabin to power games and accessories.

Commander's front bucket seats are comfortable and supportive. The center row of seats are acceptable for adults, with plenty of head room but a little lacking in leg and hip space for a vehicle that feels as large as Commander. The third row of seats is for youngsters only. With Jeep's "theater seating," at least the kids will have a good view toward the front, and you'll be able to keep an eye on them in the rear view mirror. You won't be able to see much else in your rear view with the third row occupied, so use those side mirrors and change lanes carefully.

My test vehicle had the biggest of three engine choices, the $1,495 5.7 liter HEMI V8 hooked up to Jeep's Quadra-Drive four-wheel drive system and five-speed automatic transmission. The HEMI provides plenty of power to move the 5169 lb Commander in style, 330 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque. Multiple-Displacement technology allows the engine to shut down up to four of its eight cylinders in low-demand situations, like cruising at a constant speed on the freeway, in order to save gas. Still, 14 mpg city/18 mpg highway is painful in these days of high fuel prices, so you may want to test drive the 4.7 liter V8 and 3.6 liter V6 equipped Commander before you buy -- the 2WD V6 manages to squeeze 2 additional miles out of each gallon of gas.

For such a tall vehicle, Commander is remarkably sure-footed in 4WD trim. Power and handling ability are well-matched, and you'll find yourself scooting around town with some vigor. With 8.4 inches of ground clearance and a solid-looking set of skid plates, Commander should be able to conquer adverse conditions with grace. The 4WD Commander includes standard four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, electronic stability control and traction control. The HEMI package includes electronic limited-slip differentials front and rear. I didn't test Commander off-road, but I'd love to.

A new Jeep should be big news -- Jeep's timing was just a little bit off with Commander. Just as they're upsizing, everyone's thinking about downsizing to save gas. If you've got a lead foot (like I do), you're going to have to lighten up to get into the high teens with your HEMI Commander. Having all that power on tap is too tempting for me to resist. You may be more capable of restraint than I am. If so, you may find Commander to be an excellent companion. Commander does a lot of things well, but at this price point, there's plenty of other well-established competition to consider.

General Motors covers the field with a wide range of SUVs that you should measure against the Commander, from the high-zoot Cadillac Escalade to the GMC Yukon to the Chevrolet Tahoe, not to mention the HUMMER H2 and it's less expensive sibling the H3. Ford's in the game in a big way as well, with the venerable Explorer leading the pack. Don't forget the Japanese -- Toyota's Sequoia and Nissan's Pathfinder are solid, capable vehicles that will move seven passengers from point A to point B, even if the journey leaves the pavement for a while.

For some buyers, only a Jeep will do. Commander takes Jeep style to the next level -- I'm just not sure if I'm ready to go there with it.