According to Jeff Bell, Vice President Jeep, Chrysler Group, the 2006 Jeep Commander’s exterior design was inspired by the vehicles comprising Jeep’s heritage. The Jeep wagons of the 1940s and 1950s, the Wagoneer of the 1960s, and even the recently retired 1980s Cherokee have influenced the Commander’s design. As if the Commander’s basic profile isn’t distinct enough, Jeep’s signature seven-slot grille and round headlamps (set within a square housing) dominate the front end. Also culled from Jeep’s lineage are the trapezoidal wheel arches and flat surfaced sides. Even the name comes from a racy two-door runabout sold in the late 60s and early 70s.

The 2006 Commander is the first Jeep to offer three-row seating, although the third row is more a place for young children than grown adults thanks to the confining space. The point here is to have a third-row seat for those folks who feel they need the extra capacity. When the neighbor’s kids stay home, fold the third-seat down to create 36.4 cubic feet of storage behind the second-row bench. Fold all the seats and the Commander features a disappointing 68.9 cubic feet of maximum cargo space, besting the Grand Cherokee by just 1.5 cubes.

One trend among many manufacturers is to lend an open-air feeling to modern vehicles. For the 2006 Commander, Jeep has gone with dual CommandView fixed skylights which are packaged in tandem with a power sunroof above the front seats. Combined with the large side windows, these tinted skylights add a feeling of openness and are equipped with shades that can be rolled out to offer shade, blocking light if needed. As for switches and controls, the Commander is an ergonomic delight. All the gauges are easy to read and the controls are simple to use and identify.