The 2022 Jeep Commander is coming as the seven-seat version of the Compass crossover, spy shots are indicating. The nameplate was used more than ten years ago, when the mid-size SUV had a short stint in the market, lasted for five seasons between 2006-2010. The nameplate came back a few years ago when the FCA launched the Grand Commander for Chine. Outside this country, the SUV is not available. The new model won’t have too many things in common with its predecessor, and it is still questionable if it is coming to the US.
Rewind to 2018. FCA had big announcements. Fans were focusing mostly on the electrification and the new Jeep truck. Meanwhile, Grand Wagoneer arrived to fill the vacant spot at the full-size segment. The virus pandemic slowed down the company from fulfilling promises. One of them was the seven-seat version of the Compass crossover, as part of the redesign. Back then, the vehicle was all-new and we expect the 7-seater in 2020. Later, it was postponed for 2022, as Grand Compass. The latest speculations are mentioning the 2022 Jeep Commander, rather than the first nameplate.
What We Know So Far?
A few spy photos are showing the new vehicle and it immediately draws the attention of fans and experts. It is obvious that the crossover SUV is based on the Compass and that the new version is going to offer more space. Extra room is used for the third row, increasing the seating capacity to seven. For a long time, we couldn’t buy a seven-seat Jeep in the US, until last year, when the Grand Cherokee arrived with the third row.
Now, shortly after that, the 2022 Jeep Commander will join Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer in the same segment. It is still unclear if the vehicle is going to be available in the US. In the rest of the world, compact crossovers are offering larger editions with extra seats. Nissan Qashqai+2 (Rogue’s sibling), Honda CR-V, and VW Tiguan Allspace are just some of these models. So, The new Commander could be there to compete, while buyers in the US will rather purchase more spacious Grand Cherokee. Finally, the Twitter announcement of the Commander is coming from the South American department of the FCA.
2022 Jeep Commander Specs, Engines, PHEV
The Grand Commander is the first electric vehicle from the FCA in China. There are no doubts the lineup will expand, especially knowing the chiefs have promised that some while ago. But, for now, we know a 2.0-liter turbocharged unit is the only certain drivetrain for the 2022 Jeep Commander. You can also find it under the bonnet of the new Wrangler. FCA calls it Hurricane. A four-banger is an excellent alternative for the V6 mill, returning 275 horsepower. A six-cylinder is not going to be there for the new Commander, a.k.a. Grand Compass. Speaking of its base sibling, the compact crossover is using a 2.4-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder plant. The Tigershark engine is good for 180 hp. This is enough power for non-US markets, so the 2022 Commander might feature this unit as well. Of course, oil-burners are also an option for Europe, Asia, and South America.
A plug-in hybrid variant is also likely to happen, but we are not confident it will be available right after the launch. But, the 4xe model is already there for the Wrangler, and a few other models are about to get a kind of electric drivetrain, either hybrid or the PHEV. The plug-in configuration will be a step closer to the full electrification, promised by late Sergio Marchionne in 2018. Commander is one of the ten electric and PHEV vehicles promised for the next season. Also, Level 3 of the autonomous drive should be in this package as well.
2022 Jeep Commander Release Date
There is still time for development, but the spy photos are the indicator that the 2022 Jeep Commander is in the final phases of this process. The vehicle is already officially announced for South America, but we want to know more about the US release date. The seven-seater will arrive early next year and then fans will get the full update about the availability and prices. The Grand Commander, available in China, costs somewhere between $35,000 and $55,000, depending on the model. The new Commander will be slightly cheaper to stay competitive in a tough market. On the other hand, do not expect a bargain for the PHEV configuration.
Source: Autoevolution
