2009 Jeep Commander: What's New

Vehicle Overview
The Jeep Commander is the first Jeep to have three rows of seats; it seats up to seven people. Sport, Limited and Overland trim levels are available, as are three four-wheel-drive systems. The Commander’s competitors include the Toyota 4Runner, Nissan Pathfinder and Ford Explorer.

New for 2009
The Commander receives a redesigned 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, an available iPod interface and a leather-appointed interior package.

Exterior
The Commander features an upright windshield and rear window. Its angular sheet metal and vertical side glass give it a classic Jeep profile and a rugged, upright military look. The Commander is 2 inches longer and 4 inches taller than the Grand Cherokee; they share the same 109.5-inch wheelbase and are built on the same platform. The Commander is 188.5 inches long and 74.8 inches wide, which is about the same as the 4Runner. The Explorer is longer and slightly narrower.

• Standard body-colored door handles, grille and front/rear bumpers
• Standard power heated mirrors
• Standard remote keyless entry
• 17-inch aluminum wheels (Sport and Limited)
• 18-inch aluminum chrome-clad wheels (Overland)
• Optional high-intensity-discharge headlamps (standard on Overland)
• Optional dual-panel sunroof (standard on Limited and Overland)

Interior
The SUV holds up to seven occupants on two or three rows of seats. Each row is slightly higher than the one ahead of it, enhancing forward visibility for rear occupants. The second- and third-row seats fold forward to create a flat load floor. A stepped roof provides headroom for rear occupants.

Passenger volume comes in at 112.8 cubic feet, with maximum interior cargo volume of 68.5 cubic feet, which is less than its competition offers.

• Cloth, leather or perforated leather
• Faux aluminum, wood veneer and real wood trim available
• Standard air conditioning
• Dual-zone automatic climate control (standard on Limited and Overland)
• Standard power locks, mirrors and windows
• Standard steering-wheel-mounted cruise control
• Standard eight-way power driver seat and optional four-way-power passenger seat
• Optional second-row overhead TV monitor and satellite television
• Optional voice-activated navigation and/or audio system (including touch-screen, voice commands, 30GB hard drive and navigation radio)

Under the Hood
Three full-time four-wheel-drive systems and two transfer cases are available. In ascending order of ruggedness, Jeep calls its four-wheel-drive systems Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II.

Four-wheel-drive Commanders come standard with Hill Descent Control, which is designed to keep the SUV’s speed to a crawl when traversing difficult terrain. Hill Start Assist is also offered; it keeps the Commander from rolling backward on an incline.

• 210-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6 with 235 pounds-feet of torque (Standard on Sport)
• 305-hp, 4.7-liter V-8 with 334 pounds-feet of torque (standard on Limited, optional on Sport)
• 357-hp, 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with 389 pounds-feet of torque (standard on Overland, optional on Limited)
• Five-speed automatic transmission
• Rear- and four-wheel-drive systems available

Safety
Safety features include:

• Standard side curtain airbags for all rows
• Standard antilock brakes
• Standard electronic stability system and traction control
• Standard smart key that immobilizes the engine in a theft attempt
• Standard rear parking assist
• Available rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlamps