pet connection

Jeep’s big brute Commands DogCar attention

VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS
type	5 door, suv – full, 4wd
msrp	$38,100
trans	automatic
gas mi.	14mpg/19mpg
rating

Typically, when I pick up the spec sheet of a new vehicle, there are two things that I look for: The total price of the vehicle and the EPA fuel economy estimate. Those two pieces of information clearly influence the way that I look at the rest of the car.

In the case of the 2010 Jeep Commander, that was not a good way to start. The price of my tester – a 2010 Jeep Commander Sport 4X4 – was $38,100 as equipped, which included approximately $5,000 of options.

I would have much rather seen a price in the low $30k or even high $28k range for this sport utility vehicle. Price: Strike one.

The EPA mileage was the opposite – low; as in 14 city mpg and 19 highway mpg. Those numbers put the combined fuel economy for the Jeep Commander at 16 mpg, +which means daily driving of any sort of will find you filling up on a more than regular basis. Fuel economy: Strike two.

However, once I climbed into the Jeep Commander, my impressions began to change. The Commander sits high above the road, giving a “commanding” view of the road ahead. It’s well designed for dog owners because not only is it extra long in the tail, but also because the seats fold totally flat to provide a level landing place for crates.

And the commander of the Chrysler Commander design team didn’t stop there. The rear portion also features a plethora of hooks to secure those crates as well as a 12 volt plug to power fans to keep your pups cool. But Jeep even thought of that, offering separate climate controls in the back so you can rest easy that your canines are comfortable.

Backing up the brutish Commander is fairly easy and worry-free with the optional built-in camera and center dash monitor, and the four-wheel drive turns rough roads into silky side streets. After all, it is a Jeep.

If not for the lofty price and lowly gas mileage, the Commander would be a worthy contender for five paw accolades. So let’s drop a paw and say the Commander is clearly a capable DogCar.

– Keith Turner

Carguy Comments: The seven-passenger Jeep Commander features a large, 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine (357 horsepower) that is standard on the Limited model and optional on the Sport, which otherwise comes with a 3.7-liter V-6. Fuel mileage is mitigated somewhat by a special multi-displacement system that alternates between eight and four cylinders when appropriate. A power lift gate is also standard on the Limited. The cargo area measures 68.5 inches deep from the back of the front seats, 44-inches wide and 29 inches tall.

Barking Lot Banter: Put aside the Commander’s low fuel mileage and high price tag and you’ve got one dandy DogCar.

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