Three different trim levels and three engines are offered on the 2008 Jeep Commander, along with rear-wheel drive or one of three different four-wheel-drive systems, to equip it for a wide range of performance requirements and budgets. A 210-horsepower, 3.7L V6 is standard on the base Sport model, the mid-range Limited model gets a 305-horsepower, 4.7L V8 engine, and the top-of-the-line Overland includes a 330-horsepower Hemi V8 engine. All models have a five-speed automatic transmission.
The 4.7L V8 makes an impressive 334 lb-ft of torque and is now flex-fuel capable, to handle a mix of up to 85-percent ethanol (E85), and the Hemi V8 includes the Multi-Displacement System, which automatically shuts down half of the cylinders during coasting or low-load conditions. The system now includes an in-dash "Fuel Saver Mode" display.
Each of the three models are available either with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The Sport model gets the Quadra-Trac I system, which has a single-speed transfer case and normally splits power 52 percent to the back wheels but can use the brakes to redistribute power where it's needed. The Limited gets the more sophisticated Quadra-Trac II system; it has a transfer case with low range and can send up to 100 percent of the torque to the axle with the most traction. It also uses a Throttle Anticipate feature to sense quick movement of the throttle and anticipate a loss in traction. The Overland features the Quadra-Drive II system, the system for hard-core off-roading; it also has a low range but uses electronic limited-slip differentials to smoothly route torque to the tires with the best traction. The center differential can go from completely locked to completely open, depending on the conditions, to maximize traction. Quadra-Drive II is available on the Sport and Limited as an option.
The Commander comes with seating for seven, arranged theater-style with the second and third rows higher than the front seats. The 40/20/40-split second-row seat folds flat and allows easy entry and exit to the third row, which also folds flat and is split 50/50.
Top options on the Commander include Sirius Backseat TV, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, and the MyGig system, which includes navigation, audio, entertainment, and communication functions. The system supports real-time traffic information, while it also includes a hard-drive system that can hold more than 100 hours of music in MP3 format.
The Jeep Commander's available V8 engine gets a 30-percent boost in power and ten-percent boost in torque for 2008, plus improved fuel economy. Several technologies--hill descent control, hill start assist, and trailer sway control--are introduced to the model as well.
Two new entertainment options also join the lineup. Sirius Backseat TV brings on-screen entertainment for back-seat passengers, and the MyGig Multimedia Infotainment System brings navigation, audio, entertainment, and communication features together, and includes a 20-gigabyte hard drive for music or photo storage.
In other changes, a two-row, five-passenger seating layout is now also available, an iPod interface is offered on some models, the steering column now tilts and telescopes, and there's a 115V AC plug. Options have also been realigned into popular packages.
The 2008 Jeep Commander, which is mechanically similar to the Grand Cherokee, has a boxier, more traditional appearance and is the first Jeep to offer three rows of seating and a versatile interior for combinations of people and cargo. With rear-wheel drive, the Commander can tow up to 7,400 pounds, and with four-wheel drive it's an extremely capable off-road mount.
