Sure, it’s a Jeep, but the all-new 2006 Commander is unlike its stable mates. For starters, it’s the first Jeep with three rows of seating. The third row provides cupholders and heat/air conditioning control dials on the passenger side. There’s a lot of legroom and headroom for occupants seated in any of the three rows. If you’re the driver, however, the rearview is cramped into a tight space because of the high-rise of the third row seat/ headrests. (During a one-week evaluation of the Commander, the third row, 50/50 split seats were folded flat when not in use to “open up” the rearward view seen by the driver.) This newest Jeep offers CommandView skylights – two tinted glass panels over the second row seats that have roller shades. Commander is the lone SUV in its class to offer two V8 engine choices: 4.7-liter V8 (235 horsepower at 4500 rpm and 305 pounds-feet of torque at 3600 rpm) and 5.7-liter HEMI V8 (330 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 375 pounds-feet of torque at 4000rpm). The Commander is also available with a 3.7-liter V6 (210 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 235 pounds-feet of torque at 4000 rpm). The Commander is a mere 2 inches longer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, but both SUVs share the same wheelbase (109.5 inches). Front suspension is a short/long independent, while the rear suspension is a live axle. The 4x4 has a maximum trailer tow of 7200 pounds with the HEMI engine, 6500 pounds with the 4.7-liter V8, and 3500 pounds with the V6. The side sill ground clearance is 9.9 inches. For those Jeep Trail Rated adventure seekers, Commander has a 34-degree approach angle and a 27-degree departure angle. And for those folks who just like a capable on-highway vehicle, the Commander is a mighty nice people and cargo hauler. Mileage estimates for 4x4 Commander with V6 engine and 5-speed automatic transmission is 16 city/19 highway, and that vehicle’s MSRP is $29,540.