I wanted to get people's opinion,and /or experience with the New Jeep Commander,and the Liberty Diesel.I'll never get rid of my XJ,but am looking at both of these. Thanks Bob in Wyoming

hi bob,    when i first heard that jeep was going to make the comander and that it would look more like the cherokee than the liberty i i thought "cool". then i saw that it's big, really big, bigger than a grand cherokee. i think i'd rather have an h3 hummer. it's smaller than the h2 and is nicer inside and gets 20 mph. and you can lock all three differentials.  haven't read anything about the liberty diesel but waaaaay back in this group messages someone from england said either he or one of his friends had a cherokee diesel and he really liked it. unstoppable pulling power and still quick enough to show it's tail lights to a lot of "sporty" cars.   unless you need the room of the comander the diesel liberty would be my choice. right now diesel costs more than unleaded here in the midwest but diesels usually get better mileage so it might even out.  the extra driving range between fill up's would be handy. for the most part, auto makers seem to think that the max range on a tank of gas should be around 300 miles. some get a bit more, others a bit less. buy something that gets 30 mpg and it will have a small gas tank. buy something that gets low gas mileage and it will have a big tank. i'd like to be able to go at least 500 miles between fillup's. i used to have an austin healy bugeye sprite. it got 40 mpg and had a 7 gallon tank.              tom

Bob

I have looked at the Commanders and don't like them. Way too bulky and look a lot like the GC inside. I have a '05 GC and love it to death, but this new one is a bit on the bulky side for me. As for the Liberty diesel, I hear it's a 2.8L engine. I wonder if this is one of the Jeeps 2.8L v-6 gas engines converted over to diesel? If it is, look out. Remember the GM small block converted to diesel, a disaster. Lester

Hi Lester   I had that impression of the Commander too.They keep pushing putting a big V-8 in it too.I haven't seen a Liberty diesel at our dealer here yet.                                    Bob

Hi Tom   I am partial to diesels anyway,anf I don't need something as big as the Commander.Wish thry would put the 4.0 in a Liberty                                Bob

Well, since you asked for opinions..

I think they are both junk.  I cant get past the but-uglyness of the liberty.  They are all based on IFS front suspension now as well which is far inferior to a solid front axle in the offroad department.

I would not even consider anything new made by jeep except a TJ anymore.  And sadly next year it gets a redo and the 4.0L I6 is gone :(

Pickup a good newer low milliage XJ and forget the new junk.

My opinion :)

Andy

Yep Bob, you can get it with a hemi I guess. I think I heard that. Lester   

Hi Guys!  With the 5.7 Liter hemi, the Commander is rated to tow 7,200 lbs.  That's not too bad.   Norm  

like I sad-I'll never get rid of my 91 XJ.it;s creeping toward 250,000 miles and still runs great                                                     Bob

 same here with my 91 xj. i'm about 80k behind you in mileage but then you have lots of space to run around up

I'm an environment freak, so I really like the diesel Liberty- especially when converted to biodiesel (old cooking oil). I've heard that they were pretty reliable too. I was excited about the commander when I first saw it, but then realized it's just a grandcherokee with a new boxy cover. I rode in the newest grand and wasn't impressed. Although it's much larger than my xj, I don't notice the added space on the inside. Also, all these new jeeps look like they have pretty poor ground clearance. I've been looking at vehicles for my wife and like the X-terra. But, as for me, I'd never replace my xj with anything until it's totally beyond repair (well, I do like the wrangler unlimited...). Hopefully by then, I'd be too old to drive anyway.

Ditto on the use of bio-diesel.                            Bob

Bob, We looked into a Liberty diesel until I heard that they were going to be using an Italian-built engine, with only 5,000 sold this year. Two things from my small production numbered, southern European diesel experience: 1) Good luck finding parts on the road, and as it gets older 2) Quality of build could become an issue As to running a diesel in Northern New England, from past experience: 1) Good luck finding fuel at night in some more isolated areas 2) Prepare to pay through the wazoo for said fuel if you're in the boonies (most woods equipment uses diesel, plus heating with #2, hence more demand in winter versus gas from refineries) About the Commander, it looks to this old Cherokee fan like a Hummer doing a bad impersonation of an XJ. Way too much chrome, and in the worst places. Just my opinion, Felix

I wish they would have decided to make the Rescue.   Full size jeep with heavy duty axles, 37" tires, and a cummins turbo diesel.   Andy

 

The Commander is a Grand Cherokee with cramped second- and third-row seats. Rear visibility is compromised. The V6 is lackluster and the powerful Hemi V8 is thirsty. Handling is secure but not agile, and the ride is unsettled over undulations. The Commander has dropped to well below average reliability.

regards
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John