New Three-row Jeep Commander is Back–at Least In Brazil
New teaser video from Jeep Brazil shows what likely is the next Jeep Commander. This 7-passenger SUV is not for North America.
Jeep has a major infusion of some new blood coming. The 392-Powered Wrangler Rubicon should be a blast. The Grand Cherokee L will be able to transport seven people in comfort and style. And the Grand Wagoneer looks poised to take on the likes of Range Rover. This is all exciting news. For those living outside of North America the market and products are a bit different. The Jeep Commander has been dead here since 2010, but in the rest of the world it is a different story. A few years ago, the Chinese market saw a Jeep Commander hybrid. And now it seems the Commander name might be gracing a new model for the Brazil and India markets.
Jeep Brazil recently shared a 19-second-long teaser video of its newest model. The video was posted on the Carro Arretado YouTube channel. Being a teaser do not expect to see anything definitive. However, we can make some assumptions based on what we saw. The new vehicle is to be slotted above the Compass in the marketplace.
It was thought that perhaps Jeep would use the Patriot name, but this video seems to indicate otherwise. Watching it carefully you clearly see the letters “E” and “R” as part of the model’s name.
Of course, that could just mean they plan to call it the Jeep Sledgehammer for all we know. But if we were laying the odds we would go with Commander.
So, what will the Commander be exactly? Well, it will be big. It is a three-row SUV. It is also expected to be high tech. Features such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind-spot alert, and automatic emergency braking are expected to be available. It is expected to be produced in both India and Brazil.
The powerplant for the India version is expected to be a 2.0-liter Multijet turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine. Expected output is about 200 horsepower. Down in Brazil a 1.3-liter turbocharged inline-four-cylinder gasoline engine is expected to join the 2.0-liter. These are both to be paired to a 9-speed automatic transmission.
The new Commander is not exactly built to run with a Trackhawk. However, performance should be adequate and far more efficient than the 707-horsepower brute.
Even if those of us in North America don’t get these versions of the Commander, it is still big news. Brazil is second only to the United States in the number of Jeep sales. We of course want Jeep to be successful in every market. The more Jeep sales there are, the more that can be invested in newer and better products.
We can all appreciate that. The teasing should stop in the second quarter of this year when the official debut is expected. In the meantime, we can keep watching this clip and see if we can find any new clues as to the name or features that might be offered. Or, we just be out driving and enjoying our Jeeps as intended.
Photos: Jeep.com; Jeep Brazil