By Kyle Francis & Dan Clougher
Jeep made history in 1963 when it began production of the world's first bonafide SUV, the Wagoneer. Not only was it able to boss the outdoors, but it also had the practicality and comfort needed to keep its occupants happy during the long road trip to its driver's off-road trail of choice. While it stayed consistent for several decades, the SUV market exploded during the 1990s.
While firmly part of the battle with its Cherokee model, in the mid-2000s Jeep unveiled a new model that was designed to carry extra passengers with the addition of a third row of seating. It ended up flopping, however, but this means it now sits as an interesting option for people looking for an affordable used people mover.
The Commander Was Jeep's Seven-Seat SUV
Wanting to snatch away territory in the seven-seat SUV arena from the likes of American rival Ford, which offered its segment-defining Explorer in the category, Jeep developed the Commander. Jeep's largest offering to that point was the Grand Cherokee which, while featuring a spacious cabin, only came with seating for five. With the Commander, Jeep wanted to offer a seven-seater that was only a little larger than the Grand Cherokee to ensure it could remain decently maneuverable around town.
It was essentially a larger version of the Liberty compact SUV, and was built upon the same base foundations as the Grand Cherokee. The Commander was only two inches longer than the latter though, but offered the flexibility of seven seats thanks to that boxy frame. The vehicle was available in five-seat form too, for those who would rather have extra cargo space out back.
The Commander's Interior Was Endlessly Configurable
The second and third rows of seating were designed to not only provide the comfort and space needed to ensure their passengers were comfortable, but also to be easy to move. Both rows could be fully collapsed to increase load space, and they were modular so that each seat could move and fold on its own. This added flexibility came in handy for those who needed to carry six people, for example, as the seventh seat could be folded down to enhance cargo space.
The Commander entered production in 2006, though it struggled to make much of an impact. While Jeep managed to shift a little over 217,000 Commanders between 2005 and 2011, well over 800,000 Grand Cherokees found new owners during the same period. As a result, the Commander was quietly discontinued in 2010.
The Commander Offers Good Value In 2026
The Commander's unpopularity meant it has largely been forgotten, with a swarm of rival seven-seat SUVs arriving over the decade-and-a-half since it went out of production, which doesn't do much for its used value. This is great news for buyers of pre-loved vehicles though, who can grab a stunning bargain on a modern and spacious SUV that can also cut the mustard when terrain gets tricky.
| 2005-2010 Jeep Commander Used Values | |
|---|---|
| Sport | $4,095—$5,638 |
| Limited | $4,230—$7,030 |
| Overland | $6,509—$7,962 |
According to Kelley Blue Book, early 2006 model year examples can be had for around $4,000 in today's market. Given that they started from a shade under $29,000 when they were new in 2006, which translates to around $45,000 in today's money. The higher-spec Limited Sport trim cost over $50,000, well over ten times the vehicle's current used value.
Newer Variants Won't Snatch Much Extra From Your Wallet
One of the smartest things to do when buying a used model is to make sure you buy later examples, as by then the manufacturer would have ironed out any kinks not found during the design process that find their way into early cars. While MY2010 Commanders cost a decent chunk more than their earlier counterparts, KBB reports that higher-end Sport Limited models should only set you back around $7,000.
The base Sport versions can be expected to cost a little over $5,500, a sweet deal for such a modern off-road-geared SUV. Compare that to the price of more successful offerings from the era, perhaps ever-popular German models, and a late model Commander makes excellent discal sense in 2026 — if you can look past the slightly awkward styling.
Furthermore, Jeep didn't feel the need to get adventurous when designing the Commander's underpinnings. So, the oily parts are tried-and-tested Jeep gear, with familiar drivetrains providing power to all four corners, and well-established six- and eight-cylinder choices for up at the front. RepairPal tells us that the Commander will set owners back around $639 annually on maintenance and repairs, which is around $100 cheaper than the figure given for Ford's Explorer and the Chevy Tahoe, but a little higher than what's quoted for the Honda Pilot.
Sources: Jeep, Kelley Blue Book.
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This article originally appeared on CarBuzz and is republished here with permission.
