Is a Jeep Commander that bad?

[tartangirl]

Having read these boards I am now coming to the conclusion that I wont be getting a Durango from Alamo as my 7 seater.

I have always been put off a Jeep Commander by what others say but if the option is a Commander or dropping down to the standard SUV or minivan category the Commander might still be the best on offer. There are only 4 of us so space wont be a problem.

I've looked through the Jeep website at the Commander and I would be concerned that the air con doesn't look good - not dual zone or in the rear. The rest looks OK.

Can anyone say anything positive about the Commander or is it just one to avoid. If so is there anything in the standard SUV or minivan category that is good? At least I get a choice from those categories.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi,

Cannot really help on the Jeep Commander but if you get to the stage where you decide a minivan is the option then we have found these ideal over the years.

Though we usually book with Dollar and get either the Chrysler Voyager or Dodge Caravan.
Both are great we find and have the 'stow and go' seating options meaning some of the seats can be stored into the lower chassis of the vehicle - meaning loads more room should you need it.
Even though there are 3 of us for most of our holidays we have booked a minivan.
The Dodge & Chrysler are essentially the same, slight differences only - different badge etc

 

[Corky Morris]

We had a Jeep Commander a month ago & as far as I am concerned the Durango is loads better. With all 7 seats up we could not even fit the push chair in! There are 5 in my immediate family, but usually either my folks or DW's folks come with us. We always hire a 7/8 seat 4x4 & as we came into Sanford we booked through Budget & were assigned it & could not get an alternative. My folks had an intermediate car as well.
The 7 seater makes it easier if we all travel to a park together, but having another car gives us the freedom to be independent.
A good word? Maybe the stereo? It was very easy to drive (but they all are).
What we do now is book via www.uscarhire.co.uk & upgrade to the 8 seat 4x4 so you either get Chevy Suburban or Ford Expedition which you can get suit cases & 7 people in.
Try to avoid the Jeep if I were you.

 

[sandshal]

Sorry .... gonna have to disagree!!!!!!!!!!

We booked a full size 4 x 4 last summer through Alamo, there were none available when we arrived so were talked into taking a Hummer H3 for a considerable amount more money. Even though we're serious car fanatics, the H3 was a big disappointment and was taken back to the depot after only 2 days.

The only full size 4x4 they had was a Jeep Commander. Not sure if this was top of the range but it was superb!!!!

Full leather, all bells and whistles even a reversing camera showing a view from the bumper.

So don't panic ... it did us proud and I'd happily hire one again.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I have test driven a Commender on a Jeep away day, both on and off road.
The air con is very good and the gear changes are slightly jerky, the same as all American SUV's. The only proble,m I found with it was poor rear view. Seats were very comfortable and the steering whilst old system, was good.

Its OK, its as good as the Grand Cherokee and better than the Dodge range. On a par with the Ford explorer.

Its no Discovery, but so long as you don't compare against the Disco, rather against other American SUV's, its a good product.

 

[tartangirl]

Thanks for the feedback.

Perhaps I'll not fear the Jeep.

Seems to me whenever we get a car we like they go and change it - wish they still had the Chrysler Pacifica as that was our favourite.

 

[disneyholic family]

we always rent with alamo - we take the minivan size - which is always a chrysler grand voyager...we've been happy with it every time..

i have the same reserved for this september..

 

[kevin harrison]

Hi,

Cannot really help on the Jeep Commander but if you get to the stage where you decide a minivan is the option then we have found these ideal over the years.

Though we usually book with Dollar and get either the Chrysler Voyager or Dodge Caravan.
Both are great we find and have the 'stow and go' seating options meaning some of the seats can be stored into the lower chassis of the vehicle - meaning loads more room should you need it.

Johnny - We always rent a caravan also, question - the dodge used to have inbuilt baby seats, the new models apparently have not. Is this correct?

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Johnny - We always rent a caravan also, question - the dodge used to have inbuilt baby seats, the new models apparently have not. Is this correct?

The one we had didn't have baby seat(s) Kev.

They do seem to change the config every now and then, they used to have a bench seat behind the front 2 seats also, this has now changed to 2 seperate seats.

 

[kevin harrison]

The one we had didn't have baby seat(s) Kev.

They do seem to change the config every now and then, they used to have a bench seat behind the front 2 seats also, this has now changed to 2 seperate seats.

Ok. The seats behind the front two seats used to have a harness hidden, so it could be used as a child seat. Pity that's gone, will have to hire a seat now.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Ok. The seats behind the front two seats used to have a harness hidden, so it could be used as a child seat. Pity that's gone, will have to hire a seat now.

Maybe you could check first when you get out there, I could be mistaken and wouldn't want you paying unecessarily.

I maybe should edit my post to say "I don't think they have baby seat/harness but check anyway".

 

[gbrchill]

Is my understanding correct that with all 7 seats up the Jeep Commander has no room for bags too? I wonder how they reconcile this with the descriptions on the hire car websites showing 7 seats and N bags.

Chris

 

[bazzanoid]

Another one in the 'hate the Commander' camp. Took one look at it and it's lack of space / general ugliness, immediately rebooked through Dollar, as I knew I'd get either a Durango, an Aspen (the Chrysler version) or a Chevy Suburban. As it turned out I had the choice of the three, opted for the Suburban in a VERY ominous looking Dark Blue colour. Best 'big' car i've had in florida, most people seemed to stay out of it's way too, maybe coz it looked like an FBI cruiser.......