Our two Jeep Commanders have endured thousands of on- and off-highway miles, and the two rigs just keep chugging along. We have had these '07 Commanders for more than a year and haven't had any issues with them. If you understand that we continually push our vehicles well past their limits, then you can understand why we appreciate the dependable service of a good vehicle. We purchased the Jeeps from Chrysler as support vehicles for Ultimate Adventure 2007. But they have also served us well by transporting us to and from events over the year and bringing us home safely after countless trail runs. They again valiantly served as support vehicles for Ultimate Adventure 2008.
Even though the Commanders have gained soccer-mom status across most of the country, we have been highly impressed with the on- and off-highway performance of their Quadradrive system. We've wheeled the Jeeps in places most wouldn't dream of taking a fullsize station wagon. The Jeeps are extremely capable 4x4s. Both are fitted with the Quadra-Trac II NV245 transfer case and limited-slip differentials. The staff will take a good ol' mechanical locker over a limited-slip any day, but the traction control system on the Commanders works extremely well.
Both vehicles have been modified. The army-green Commander was fitted with a 4-inch suspension system from Superlift and 33-inch BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM2s. The maroon Commander was mildly lifted with Daystar 2-inch-boost coil-spring spacers and 31-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires. Additional add-ons include Mopar accessories and Defender racks.
Although we admire the Commanders for being the dependable workhorses of the magazine, the only downside to the two rigs is their poor fuel economy. Both vehicles average 12-13 mpg. Even though this may be a slight burden on our budget, we still appreciate the Jeeps' cargo-carrying capacities, comfort, and off-road capabilities. We'll continue to drive the Commanders until they just quit running.
We find the Jeep's capabilities very impressive for a fullsize SUV wagon. We can't think of too many trails or obstacles we haven't been able to negotiate. With the flick of a lever, the Commander's transfer case drops in Low and crawls. We've gotten this rig to go places where people have said, "Hey, you can't take that thing there." Yet we do, and we make it! Our Commanders have been well used over the past year and a half, and in some cases have been pushed to the limit by being overloaded with gear and passengers. The army-green Commander is driven daily and was used as a support vehicle for two Ultimate Adventures. In 2008, this Jeep carried hundreds of pounds of equipment and four passengers over 5,000 miles. The trip included travel over tough trails in hot climates, and the Commander survived UA without a single incident or mechanical breakdown.