2007 Jeep Commander

The Jeep Wrangler has poor fuel economy, wind noise, an uncomfortable interior, and reliability scores near the bottom of Consumer Reports’ rankings. Despite those results, the Wrangler has been popular for decades. Next to endless options of aerodynamic compact SUVs, its boxy, military-inspired design makes it timeless and charming. It’s also especially capable off-road, and is available as a pickup truck. The Wrangler’s rugged appeal benefits the rest of Jeep’s lineup of small, medium, and large SUVs. The Cherokee and Wagoneer, despite their name’s historical appeal, usually score low on Consumer Reports’ customer satisfaction surveys. However, shoppers drawn to the Jeep name who are comfortable with sacrificing handling and fuel economy for three-row capacity can consider the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. Low reliability scores across the brand make it difficult to recommend buying a used Jeep.

Introduced for 2006, the Commander was built on the same platform as the Grand Cherokee but looked boxier like the old Grand Wagoneer. Its third-row seat increased passenger capacity to seven, but both the second- and third rows are cramped. The third row is OK for kids but not adults. Rear vision is severely compromised when the third-row seats are in use. The Commander offered a lackluster 3.7-liter V6 and two V8s: a 4.7-liter and the powerful but thirsty 5.7-liter Hemi, which moves this vehicle effortlessly but returned a mere 13 mpg in our tests. Handling is secure but not agile. The ride is absorbent but gets unsettled over pavement undulations. Model year 2010 was the Commander's last.