Jeep Grand Commander
04-25-18, 12:27 PM
#1
Jeep Grand Commander
Jeep has finally revealed its first three-row SUV since the Commander, and the new one is called, as we expected, Grand Commander. And it looks just like we expected from leaked images and patent drawings. It pulls a bit of inspiration from the Jeep Yuntu concept, but it generally looks like a much bigger, stretched-out Compass. We do see a bit of Renegade inspiration in the D-pillar, though.
Interestingly, the Grand Commander isn't really bigger than our Grand Cherokee. The Grand Commander is just under 192 inches long, which is only 2 inches longer than the Grand Cherokee. But the Grand Commander's wheelbase is four inches shorter. It's also about two inches narrower than the Grand Cherokee. This is all interesting considering the Grand Commander's greater passenger capacity.
Also interesting is the Grand Commander's powertrain. It's only available with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, likely lifted from the Jeep Cherokee and Wrangler. If so, it's been detuned, and it now makes just 231 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque as opposed to the 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet in the other Jeeps. The Grand Commander's four-cylinder is also paired to a nine-speed automatic, and it can be had with either two-wheel or four-wheel drive.
The question of course is, will the Grand Commander come to America? It would fill a gap in the Jeep lineup, since the brand has no three-row vehicles. There have been many rumors of a three-row Jeep, possibly called Grand Wagoneer, as well as Grand Commander prototypes running around the U.S. But the size of the Grand Commander has us questioning whether it would be brought here, or if Jeep would develop a larger three-row, maybe based on Durango, for our market.
Interestingly, the Grand Commander isn't really bigger than our Grand Cherokee. The Grand Commander is just under 192 inches long, which is only 2 inches longer than the Grand Cherokee. But the Grand Commander's wheelbase is four inches shorter. It's also about two inches narrower than the Grand Cherokee. This is all interesting considering the Grand Commander's greater passenger capacity.
Also interesting is the Grand Commander's powertrain. It's only available with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, likely lifted from the Jeep Cherokee and Wrangler. If so, it's been detuned, and it now makes just 231 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque as opposed to the 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet in the other Jeeps. The Grand Commander's four-cylinder is also paired to a nine-speed automatic, and it can be had with either two-wheel or four-wheel drive.
The question of course is, will the Grand Commander come to America? It would fill a gap in the Jeep lineup, since the brand has no three-row vehicles. There have been many rumors of a three-row Jeep, possibly called Grand Wagoneer, as well as Grand Commander prototypes running around the U.S. But the size of the Grand Commander has us questioning whether it would be brought here, or if Jeep would develop a larger three-row, maybe based on Durango, for our market.
04-25-18, 05:03 PM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
Looks can be deceiving, though...I've fallen for that, too, a number of times. Go by the actual measurements...especially with a nice boxy design like that with good interior space efficiency.
04-25-18, 07:28 PM
#5
The Grand Commander is just under 192 inches long, which is only 2 inches longer than the Grand Cherokee. But the Grand Commander's wheelbase is four inches shorter. It's also about two inches narrower than the Grand Cherokee.
04-26-18, 04:21 AM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
The Grand Commander is just under 192 inches long, which is only 2 inches longer than the Grand Cherokee. But the Grand Commander's wheelbase is four inches shorter. It's also about two inches narrower than the Grand Cherokee.
04-26-18, 06:09 AM
#7
Lexus Champion
The reason that the Grand Commander has such strange dimensions is because it is derived from (read: stretched) the FWD-based Cherokee platform, a compact crossover. Jeep stretched both the Cherokee's wheelbase and length, but platform engineering limitations probably prevented too great of a change to the width.
Trending Topics
04-26-18, 09:27 AM
#9
Lexus Champion
04-26-18, 10:30 AM
#10
Jeep needs a Grand Commander / Grand Wagoneer built for the U.S. They have the smaller CUVs, they have the venerable Grand Cherokee, they have the iconic niche Wrangler. Now's the the time to make a 7/8 seater on the more premium side to tackle the cheaper versions of the Land Rover Discovery.
04-26-18, 02:07 PM
#11
Jeep needs a Grand Commander / Grand Wagoneer built for the U.S. They have the smaller CUVs, they have the venerable Grand Cherokee, they have the iconic niche Wrangler. Now's the the time to make a 7/8 seater on the more premium side to tackle the cheaper versions of the Land Rover Discovery.
04-26-18, 02:35 PM
#12
I agree. My point was in regards to some article I read months ago. FCA in regards to Jeep wants to push models like the Grand Cherokee and possibly bigger, slightly more upscale. SRT and Trackhawk while performance oriented have shown they can command prices once never thought possible with Jeep. A slightly nicer interior, I'm all for.
04-26-18, 08:32 PM
#13
I agree. My point was in regards to some article I read months ago. FCA in regards to Jeep wants to push models like the Grand Cherokee and possibly bigger, slightly more upscale. SRT and Trackhawk while performance oriented have shown they can command prices once never thought possible with Jeep. A slightly nicer interior, I'm all for.
All I'm saying is the current Grand Cherokee is a legit competitor to the midsize crossovers from Germany and Japan's best. No reason why they can't expand this market upward both in price and size. Personally what I love about the Grand Cherokee vs the competition is the Grand Cherokee still does truck stuff. Its good off-road, it has a locking center diff with a low range 4wd setting, it has a great tow rating, it looks pretty butch as well. Yet its refined as a luxury car, especially in some of the upper spec trims. The sheer breadth of trims, engine options, and price points makes it like the 1962 full size Chevrolet lineup, there is a trim and an engine for every man on any budget.
04-27-18, 09:30 AM
#14
Jeep has spoken and committed multiple times now to expanding above the Grand Cherokee in the U.S. As others have quickly deduced, this Chinese market Grand Commander is definitely not in line with that vision for the U.S. premium full size market.
04-27-18, 12:42 PM
#15
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
shorter and narrower than grand cherokee hardly makes it a 'commander' 
doesn't look special either. #fail
doesn't look special either. #fail