Not soon enough

How about we blame Jeep?

Someone should paint one of these white with faux wood-grain paneling as an homage to the Wagoneer.

I don't know, in a world where the H2 is successful, you'd be suprised that a lame product with tough-guy looks that tries to take advantage of an off-roading brand image doesn't do well.

I don't think I've ever seen one of those rolling.
Looks like a 1st year Izusu Trooper. Certainly square enough.

please let the Compass soon follow afterwards

Well, can you blame them when theres a hot new SUV like the Mahindra Scorpio coming

Aw, this was my favorite overpriced, red headed step child of underengineering and under cutting of public opinion feat that Daimler Chrysler has done. Ditto jnostalgics on bringing back the Wagoneer.

Sky-high gas prices and tearful outcries from the Sierra Club aside, here's betting the real reason for the Commander's early exit is due to its being the ugliest thing on 4 wheels this side of a turd on a roller skate.

I blame Matt for not writing a review on it. See what happens Jalopnik?!

No review = instant auto death

I remember when this thing came out. Has anyone driven this truck? It's awful. The interior is made up of rejected Rubbermaid Plastic, the seats are truly flat and shapeless, and when the third seat is erected, you can't see out the back window (and Jeep included backup parking sensors as standard equipment with this beast.... that should have been a clue). Oh and try driving one of these with the standard V-6. Talk about underpowered!

Goodbye Commander, Goodbye Pacifica, Goodbuy PT Cruiser (Convertible only!), Goodbye Crossfire. Hopefully this will help Chrysler bring out some great product, though I'm very doubtful. You really need to say goodbye to the Nitro, Sebring, and the Dakota, but I doubt if you will...

@Neener: Fair point.

@jnostalgics:I actually saw a white one with woodgrain on it the other day. Looks like it might have had some extra chrome bits added too. Probably a dealer option package. I checked the Jeep website and couldn't find it as an option.

Missy Elliot, you did your best

@UDMan: I think I'm not alone in including the Caliber, Compass and Patriot on the list. Oh wait, the wildly cheap Sebring droptop, too. That leaves precious few products.

I could never understand why they offered this and the Grand Cherokee, as they're both medium-sized non-luxo SUVs on the exact. Same. Chassis.

It's like two competing designers had a fight and a senior manager just let them both have products.

I'd still buy one with the 3.0L CRD. Torque + mileage and all that. (If only diesel weren't 4.40/gal here)

I drove a Commander in and around the SF Bay area for a few days, it was awful. I wanted to like it, but the v6 was weak and the visibility was horrible. There were six of us in it, and as UDMan says, you couldn't see for sh*t out the back with the third row in use. (Not that visibility to the rear was good to start with.) It was very nice to be able to fit that many people in it, but riding in the third row was like being in the tail car on a rough riding roller coaster. Urp. (Didn't help that it was Hwy 1 we were on...)

I know the Commander counts as a dark point in Jeep's legacy, but I still kinda like it. That it should be axed while the Compass is allowed to live is just wrong on several levels. What this calls for is a stupid and futile gesture be done on someone's behalf. Round up all the $500 Cherokees we can find, and every $1000 (after rebates) Commander, and make an entire armada of Deathmobiles, and raid Auburn Hills. Who's with me!

I had a Dodge Nitro as a rental, which I believe is basically the same pile of shit as the Commander. It was crude, loud, ugly, uncivilized, uncomfortable, low-rent, and a gas gulper. I couldn't wait to get home to get back into my 20 year-old Bimmer, which was a lot quieter and more fun to drive.

Hmmmm the Commander gets offed the same day some mystery company wants us to design a new SUV for the. Coincidence? I THINK NOT!

@jnostalgics: Here you go: [www.carmosaic.com]

[www.carmosaic.com]

I guess you could say the Commander was given an dishonorary discharge.

@BMRFILE: Nitro = Liberty, not Commander. (Another epic fail in my opinion)

I rented one of these 2 years ago. Drove it from LAX to Big Bear. It was OK. It was kind of a hassle to parallel park the thing in Hollywood, but other than that it was OK. Decent power. Decent road manners, and it held 3 people and all our gear easily (although a WRX would have been just as good).

I hope they get rid of the Patriot. I rented one of those last year for a weekend in Detroit. No power, terrible seats, cheap interior - it's one car that needs to go.

Less products more... efficiency!!!

@UDMan: @brandegee: Amen, brothas. Amen

Maybe if they had raised the beltline by an inch, decreasing the windo size, people would have seen the manliness within.

As it stands, that think almost looks like a functional SUV.

It's too bad Jeep messed up on the styling and execution on the Commander. At least on paper, this thing should have been a good seller.

A family member has one and it has strong points. Independent front suspension with rack & pinion steering, live axle with a pretty sophisticated 5-link rear suspension with track bar. That's about the most advanced suspension set up ever in a Jeep. I've driven it and it tracks very well on the highway, good road feel, very stable and solid feeling, it ain't no BMW X5 but certainly a much better driver than most domestic SUV's. Still feels like a Jeep with all the Jeep capabilities Jeep owners want, but much more competent on road.

Anyway, the Commander was a good idea poorly executed. I don't blame Chryslerebus for kicking it to the curb. A good used SUV choice for those looking for a bargain.

@ash78: "windo"? "think"?

I guess I've been hitting the sauce early today.

Reports of my death have been greatly exagerrated!

Niedermeyer

too much overlap with the Grand Cherokee. Pricewise and sizewise. The only real advantage being the +2 seating.

If a good deal came along on one, i'd consider it as my Suburban replacement, eventhough its likely not quite as capable.

I rented one of these with the 3.7 V6 in DFW and while not spectacular, it was passable. The power was enough to get it moving in traffic, but definitely left the driver feeling short changed.

I think what really killed it is the faux "bolts" on the dash. Kinda neat looking, but reminiscent of the overall theme of the Commander - trying to be something it isn't.

They don't look as bad when they're lifted:

[www.aev-conversions.com]

[www.aev-conversions.com]

I like the styling on the Commander inside and out. For example, compared to the H2/H3, the Commander has "real" military styling (no fake air intakes or fake tire pressure system).

The seats seemed comfortable and the fit and finish is decent.

On the downside, the fuel economy wasn't competitive (might as well get a Hemi because all the engines get the same real-world mileage), and visibility was quite poor (as a result of the styling and third-row packaging).

@CJJack: Sweet Moses! The lift made it look great! Oh well. It's fugly from the assembly line tho'. So long Kommandant!

Like all JEEPs, Wrangler included, the Commander was a great "blank canvas" to tinker with. Suspension lift, bigger tires, Diff and sump guard, etc.. Jeep missed the point. What went for a toy, i.e Wrangler or even Liberty, did not apply in that segment. The car was too expensive to customize. The car + conversion cost bought you real luxury. Shame, I still have a soft spot for it.

@Mad_Science:

My bad. Is it really the Liberty?! it felt bigger, that's why I thought it was based on a Commander. I rode in a first gen Liberty and it was cramped.

I miss the Cherokee with the 4.0L I-6. Nothing ever came close from Jeep after they stopped making them.

The Commander was supposed to allow Jeep to compete with the Expedition and the Tahoe while tugging at the heartstrings of those who missed the boxy styling of the old XJ. But where the XJ was a nicely-sized and honestly capable SUV, the Commander was a loafing pimpmobile without the space of its competitors. I seriously looked at one last year to the point of test driving it. Drove like a Grand Cherokee with a 500 pound ballast in back--and that was with a 4.7 V8. I considered myself a Jeep guy up to that point, but I wouldn't have done an even trade for my '97 GC on that thing--which was almost the case. The dealer dropped $12k off of list just for my expressing an interest.

Is there any way we can get Jeep sold BACK to AMC?

This is news? Didn't they cancel this about six months ago? Was I seeing into the future?

You are kidding me, right? This pile was dead a long time ago.

Urp indeed. Now I want one.

This thing was always an ugly pile, not to mention confusing in a product lineup- lemme see- cherokee, liberty, wrangler unlimited, and this thing fits where? Oh ya- to the three people the above choices don't fit.....

First they show the badass Jeep Rescue concept, then they give us this whimpy, soccer mom POS. They could have used the 4BT cummins engine with a straight axel, lockers (All out Rubicon-Powerwagon type drivetrain) And real jeepers would be waiting in line for it.