Bloomberg reports that Chrysler is finally going to execute the Jeep Commander. The Commander is/was the retro-styled (i.e. brick-shaped) gas-guzzling SUV whose packaging had RF proclaiming "Thanks to a foot well that's shallower than the British Royal family's gene pool, even polypeptide deficient three-year-olds sitting in the way back run the risk of giving themselves a pair of shiners with their knees (try explaining THAT to social services)." Jeep introduced the Commander,in 2005– just in time for the start of the fuel crisis. The slightly stretched and rebodied Grand Cherokee was supposed to give Chrysler an inroad to the three-row SUV market. Instead, it languished on the lots, selling only 88.5k in 2006. In 2007, sales dropped 29 percent. So far this year, sales are down 43 percent (large SUV sales are down 28 percent overall). Time of death: mid-2009. Tag it and bag it.
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The four-door version of the standard Jeep makes more sense and was long overdue compared to this piece of crap.
At least you can open that up in the summer and get some enjoyment as your money flies out of the car for the gas.
Now, about the Liberty…
It’s good to see Chrysler killing so many useless vehicles so quickly. If only GM had the balls to do the same! I never understood the purpose of this thing, and apparently many other people shared the feeling as well. Now, let’s talk about the Nitro, Aspen, and Compass…
Great, 2 down, pretty much the entire Mopar lineup to go.
I think Chrysler realized that the way to sell a 3 row vehicle (other than a minivan) is a crossover like the Dodge “leak-o-matic” Journey. That said, I always sort of liked this Commander, in a “hey, it’s 1998” way.
I too am glad to see this go. They are very popular around Detroit. With all the Chrysler Employees and their families snapping up $100/month lease deals. Forget about the gas crisis, this was just terrible execution. What is the point of having a 3 row SUV if the third row is totally useless. The Commander adds almost nothing to the much better looking Cherokee on which it is based. It was a stop gap measure to fill a market niche.
Smell ya’ later Commander.
I think I’d place the Time of Death for this thing somewhere around mid-2004, actually. I seem to recall it being pretty much outmoded before it hit the showroom floor, i.e. stillborn.
Killing the Commander is a good decision. Sounds like it will run through the 09 Model Year and then give way to a redesigned Grand Cherokee for the 2010 Model Year.
Brettc, I think Nitro and especially Compass will not be going anywhere for a while because are better positioned for the market. Nitro’s 4.0 V-6 is fairly fuel efficient, and for sure Compass’ 4-banger is. In fact, Compass and Patriot will be the first vehicles to receive the “line item” interior improvements that Jim Press has been pushing. As ugly as Compass is, it is a good overseas seller, and has shown domestic improvement recently, and will probably be around for a while..
I’m a little familiar with GM’s employee/supplier discounts, but is Chrysler really leasing these to employees for $100 a month?
Please JEEP, go find the old tooling for the 1980’s Grand Wagoner, and update the drivetrain. Classic styling, bullet proof chassis.
BZArcher
Great, 2 down, pretty much the entire Mopar lineup to go.
Actually, this brings the total to five models marked for execution. Chrysler Pacifica, PT Cruiser convertible, Crossfire, and the Dodge Magnum are the other four.
It’s a pity. The Commander was one of the few cars that could upheld Jeeps core-values. Even if it didn’t sell, it is more true to the soul of Jeep than Compass/Patriot.
“It’s good to see Chrysler killing so many useless vehicles so quickly. If only GM had the balls to do the same!”
It’s about shaving overhead. You will see Chrysler canning entire line-ups, if they find it bankable. The PT Cruiser, Viper, Aspen, etc. They all will have to go.
The question is, what will be left?
The Avenger, Compass and Aspen are feeling “survivor guilt”
minion444:
I’d love to see Jeep bring back the base Cherokee in some form.
If done right, it would also make an excellent shared platform for a revived Commanche light truck.
I am not sure that Jeep needs more than 2 models.
After the Wrangler and Cherokee everything else begins to dilute the brand.
They might be able to add a Outback like wagon – but their brand is built on Off-Road ability – anything that doesn’t do that should be shoved under Dodge or Chrysler.
Brettc, I think Nitro and especially Compass will not be going anywhere for a while because are better positioned for the market. Nitro’s 4.0 V-6 is fairly fuel efficient, and for sure Compass’ 4-banger is. In fact, Compass and Patriot will be the first vehicles to receive the “line item” interior improvements that Jim Press has been pushing. As ugly as Compass is, it is a good overseas seller, and has shown domestic improvement recently, and will probably be around for a while.
Exactly.
Although the Compass might still die, since the Patriot is almost exactly the same thing. And then the Nitro still isn’t the most fuel-efficient thing out there, and not the best car either. I remember Consumer Reports listing out the Pros and Cons for 2007 year vehicles and listing “none” under the Nitro. Plus, the Liberty is exactly the same thing under the skin with the same fuel economy (18 mpg vs. 18 mpg), and it can offroad.
Frankly, just cut the entire Dodge and Chrysler lineup save the Dakota, Ram, Charger, Avenger, PT Cruiser, (maybe) Sebring, and (maybe) 300C. And let us not forget the Challenger that’s coming up.
Once they’re done cutting, there won’t be much left.
I hate to admit it, but I actually kind of like the Commander.
It just seems more honest than the Expidition or the Yukahoe. I also find its (lack of) styling rather timeless.
I’m glad they are killing it though. The next gen Grand Cherokee should grow a third row, making the Commander reduntant.
Chryslerberus now needs to kill the Compass. They also need to kill any Non-Jeep SUV. The sooner the better. Keep the Patriot, Wranger, Liberty, and Grand Cherokee. Each occupies its own segment.
rochskier
I’d love to see Jeep bring back the base Cherokee in some form.
If done right, it would also make an excellent shared platform for a revived Commanche light truck.
The Patriot is the reincarnated base Cherokee. It is virtually the exact same dimensions. Comes in 2wd and trail rated 4wd variants. I know the interior leaves a lot to be desired, I am curious to see what the interior looks like for the 09 model year after Jim Press’ demand for line item improvements.
But otherwise, the Patriot was Jeep’s attempt to reincarnate the old Cherokee.
I’ve always hated the misshapen, bloated and deformed Commander.
Just a lazy, cynical design. Inside and out.
Huzzah! for Chrysler.
Michael is right – if they cut all the undesirable vehicles they won’t have much left to sell.
The Aspen needs to be euthanized ASAP.
And I always thought if the Commander was compact it would make a good modern Jeep Cherokee. A name Chrysler never should have dropped, even if the Liberty looks like a neo-Cherokee and it wears the name overseas.
Dump the Commander, Liberty, Compass, Patriot. Keep the Wrangler and recreate the Cherokee with a strong low revving 6 cylinder. Keep the Grand Cherokee and make it the luxury large Jeep. Stop trying to be everything to everyone – Jeeps have terrible road handling and gas mileage (bad for the soccer moms and sucker in the image conscious) sans the regadged neon derived hatches.
They are going to have to retain at least some of the four cylinder cars to meet their CAFE averages.
I like the little Compass but it sould have been marketed as a Dodge or Chrylser not a Jeep.
With the Gov’t forcasting $3.75 a gal this spring with $4 spikes, I think all car makers are going to have to retain some MPG friendly vehicles whatever their types.
I think it is time to bring back a Neon (possibly under a different name). Give us a sedan, a 3-door hatch, 5-door hatch, and a small wagon. Maybe a convertible ala Opel Tigra. They ought to concentrate on durability though.