SUMMANDER 2005 - 2007 SUV Test Drive

Jeep for growth

Commander is created for those who cannot imagine another SUV, except Jeep, but need somewhat more than what the company has yet offered.
It was not by chance that Oman was chosen by the venue of the presentation of Jeep Commander. A small state in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula, which recently received complete independence from the protectorate of Great Britain, is characteristic of the fact that on its territory you can find not only classic deserts with dunes and unsteady sands, but also real mountains with one of the largest canyons in the world. But even the variety of landscape is noteworthy, it is more important for Jeep that there, as in the entire Arab world, appreciate large cars. This is not surprising - the distances are great, gasoline is cheap, the families are rather big, and the habit of comfort is well known. Jeep Commander almost one hundred percent meets the requirements of the market market. But in Europe and we have a new SUV, perhaps, such a rainbow prospects will not wait. Still not in honor in the Old World and in one sixth seven -seater SUVs of the upper line of the middle class. Now, if the Commander was half a meter longer and was crasing in solidity with Tahoe, then the matter is different ... ours would appreciate! However, than to guess on the coffee grounds about the prospects of the new Jeep, we will go to the desert and further to the blue from the wet spring haze of the mountain. And along the way we ride along the very, very good Oman routes and very similar to our country. By the way, in two days of tests, we dashed almost a thousand kilometers - few people are satisfied with such large -scale pokatushki to quench the professional curiosity of journalists.
Surprises
To fly to Oman for almost seven hours: at first almost five to the Doha, after about two more before the Muscat - the local capital. The dawn met us over the bay, and we saw the first sands and dunes only before the landing. Having an idea of \u200b\u200bthe Arabian Peninsula is more from television news reports, I represented Oman as a desert that was accumulated oil towers and thought with some longing about the upcoming two -day boredom behind the wheel against the background of a smooth, sandy surface. And why do you need to fly so much to see a living camel? Reality exceeded my expectations. Jeep would not be jeep if I had not come up with something completely special. Early rise, hasty breakfast, half an hour of dynamic theory, safety instruction, and here is the first surprise - the test is organized as a convoy. Usually the writer receives cars, legend, map and instructions in two hours at the collection point three hundred kilometers from the start. Sometimes there is not enough time to shoot, to say about the speed mode or a meticulous study of the car and its running qualities. But on the Commander, we walked with a caravan, divided into three groups and led by experienced leaders on Wrangler, worrying only to lag in the cities when passing numerous traffic lights. Locals, I must say, are not more boring than other guests of the capital, except that the cars better are better. So city traffic is still entertainment. However, the solid silhouette of the Commander does not have to cut and squeeze it without looking. Moreover, the sensitive steering and traction engines did not allow themselves to humiliate. A big plus and the fact that the new Jeep is not too large for a seven -seater car. At least his dimensions are not as impressive as his appearance. Large flat body panels, straight angles and small radii of rounding create the impression that Jeep is a full -size SUV, and after all, it is only five centimeters longer than Grand Cherokee, which you can’t say much about.
Truly the running qualities of Commander open in the desert and on the highway - on the highway especially. It's nice, I will tell you, not too in a hurry to go to the new Jeep on a smooth asphalt straight, like an arrow, of the highway. An empty steering wheel is only in a joy, and comfortable chairs have a complete set of adjustments and, together with the pedal block moved back and forth, will literally force the most convenient position. By the way, landing seemed to me more vertical, if you like, compared to Grand Cherokee. Neat climate control and a very serious audio system with speakers from Boston Acoustics will help you enjoy the trip of any duration. Commander has a useful option - a separate climate control unit for the third row of seats. Given that the third row is intended for children, the presence of your own climate is very appropriate. As well, however, like the arrangement of the rows with an amphitheater, when the second is several inches above the front and below the rear, and, of course, DVD with a screen built into the ceiling. On the second row the three of us can be sitting, but not too comfortable, and if DVD is installed in the car, it is frankly inconvenient - there is nowhere to put your legs. The player is located behind the console box, speaking behind the backs of the front seats. So that everyone has enough space in height, Jeep lifted the roof of Commander, making a small ledge. Moreover, it made it so cunning that nothing is visible from the side and there are no unnecessary associations with the proprietary design solution of Land Rover. The protrusion is hidden by impressive religions, which are always appropriate on an SUV. Things also need to be put somewhere, otherwise in a three-row version there is 235 liters of volume from the trunk, if measured to the ceiling. It should be added that if you fold two rows, it turns out a flat floor of a two -meter length, and the volume of the cargo compartment increases to impressive 1775 liters.
Better - softer!
The platform on which Commander built is almost unchanged from Grand Cherokee. Suspension, transmission, chassis, bottom protection - everything is familiar and already verified. The body was made by 50 mm longer, the track, width and especially height increased by almost ten centimeters. But the wheelbase has not changed. The equipped mass of the car has grown - in comparison with Grand, the new Jeep is about three hundred kilograms heavier. An increase in height and mass, probably worsened the situation with the rolls in corners and with trajectory stability, but this is not noticeable. A strikingly small radius of the UMMander turn - 11.8 meters, like on a car. In the Old World, and with us it can be relevant. By the way, for Europe and Russia, Commander will be assembled in grace, Austria, at the Magna-Styr factory. From their overseas brothers, jeeps from the Old World will be distinguished by lighting equipment and, more importantly, the adjustment of the steering and the rigidity of the elastic elements of the suspension and shock absorbers. We went to the American version of Commander, and, I want to say, Europeans are wrong! Do not need a jeep, a clamped suspension is not Ferrari. And a sharp steering is useless. Perhaps on the mountain serpentine or in the crowd cities it will be appropriate, but the comfort and ease with which the Commander holds a course, will be lost for sure. Yes, and on the lane, I want to have a softer suspension. Even softer ...
With off -road in Oman, everything is in order. Where there is no asphalt, there is off -road, almost like ours. The desert begins from the fence of the extreme house in the city, but it is not easy to determine where the city ends. It seems that the buildings and streets disappeared, a couple of kilometers of palm trees and roadside lawns, and again fences, white walls and flat roofs. However, our guides know the way, and after a few turns, we are already wheeling along the incredibly dusty country of the Arabian Peninsula. It’s not too nice to go - shakes and nothing is visible, even the roadsides. Behind the car walking in front, a hundred -meter dustpan of dust, which reduces visibility to several meters. It’s good that the salon filter copes with its work, as well as the air conditioner, which is extremely relevant in the 40-degree heat.
We rode through the dunes, along the major gravel of dry rivers and on the real stones of local gorges. On the test there were cars with two types of transmission and drive. Those with the 4.7 engine, the Quadra-Trac II transmission is a constant all-wheel drive with an electron-mechanical locking of the center differential, the anti-wings system and lowering the gear in the gearbox. Machines with a 5.7 Hemi engine are equipped with a more advanced Quadra -Drive transmission - with three differential automatics and also with an anti -wings system and a lowering transmission 1: 2.72. All cars without any problems coped with the proposed obstacles, buking blows against stones demonstrating excellent bottom protection. The operation of differential blocking systems or slowing down the spun wheels turned out to be equally effective. But the Hemi motor silver on the stones turned out to be excessive: to achieve jewelry accuracy of maneuvering, I had to put pressure on the gas and on the brake at the same time. The limits of cross -country ability were limited by geometric parameters every time. The lack of any radiator protection was alarmed. From below it is covered with a steel arc from the profile, and in front - come, good people, break through wherever you want. In the desert, this may not matter, but if you are going to travel our, Russian in the city, you need to put additional protection, the benefit of this good for Jeep is enough.
For the European version of Jeep Commander, three species are provided, as the Poles say, motorization: the mentioned gasoline V-shaped eights 4.7 and 5.7 HEMI, as well as the Mercedes turbodiesel 3.0 CRD. Diesel will not be delivered to North America, but there will go on sale version 3.7 V6, equipped with a Quadra-Trac transmission with a single-stage hand-boxed box. Both eights and diesel will fall into our market. All engines are joined with 5-speed automatic 5-45RFE series for gasoline motors and W5A580. The first box has the so -called alternative second gear that helps with heavy load and fast accelerations, and the W5A580 automatically adapts to the movement mode. Accordingly, the engine will be possible to choose a drive. Moreover, Quadra-Drive is included in the option for the 4.7 V8 motor.
Market prospects
Since 2006, all CHRISLER cars, including JEEP brands, will be sold in a fixed configuration, and when forming optional packages, the most popular and popular components, heating the seats, tinting, signaling and an audio system of premium level, are taken into account in advance. As a result, it turns out that the order of a car in a package, for example, P1 will save almost a thousand euros in comparison with the purchase of a car, taking into account the same options, but purchased separately. Of course, you can buy a car without a package, taking into account your own wishes. As for Commander, its price range is in a fork of 47,800 euros for Jeep with a 4.7 engine and a p1 packet to 67,000 euros for Hemi and P2. In general, it turns out that Commander will be more expensive than Grand Cherokee for 5-6 thousand euros, depending on the kit and engine. Prices for diesel versions will appear a little later, perhaps when the number is already out of print. Commander will compete primarily with seven -seater performances of Land Rover Discovery, with Ford Explorer and Expedition, with Toyota Land Cruiser 100 VX, to a lesser extent with Nissan Patrol. We do not take into account the supply of gray dealers in which you can find a number of close -up SUVs, since it is impossible to predict their pricing policy. You can only assume that the appearance of a new Jeep with its outstanding capabilities in the Russian market will contribute to the growth of the popularity of the brand, which it certainly has long deserves.
Text: Igor Gubar

Source: Magazine 4x4