The Jeep, the hero of outdoor vehicles, is synonymous with four-wheel-drive vehicles that offer a stable and comfortable ride on off-road and snow-covered roads. Jeep's flagship model, the Grand Cherokee, and the only Jeep model with a diesel engine the Commander , are especially popular with skiers and snowboarders. The two machines look similar, but how do they actually work? Let's compare the Grand Cherokee and Commander, along with comments from Jeep owners who drive these two cars.
Conditions for a car you want to use for snowy mountains
Let's think about the conditions of the car you want to use to go skiing or snowboarding in the snowy mountains.
・It is a four-wheel drive vehicle
・There is space inside the vehicle to store long items (skis, snowboards) and gear of about 180 cm without stress
・Equipped with various functions that are resistant to snowy roads
・Equipped with features that are nice for driving in winter
・You can comfortably sleep in your car if necessary.
There is probably no objection to the fact that these conditions can be summarized. Among the Jeep models, the flagship Grand Cherokee, which boasts Jeep's traditional off-road performance, and the Commander, a 3-row, 7-seater SUV with a diesel engine, easily meet these requirements. These two machines look similar on the outside, but what is actually inside each one, and how easy is it to use?
What is the difference between Grand Cherokee and Commander?
grand cherokee limited
The Grand Cherokee is Jeep's flagship model, which is a full-fledged outdoor vehicle while also offering luxurious equipment and ride comfort. It will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2023, and its evolution continues unabated. The main features of the Limited are that it has plenty of interior space, has a snow road driving mode, and has excellent stability when driving on snowy roads. Of course, it is perfect for driving around town and at high speeds.
The main specifications are 5-seater, inline 4-cylinder DOHC turbo, 1995cc, 8-speed automatic. At 4,900 mm in length, 1,980 mm in width, and 1,810 mm in height, it is large and requires careful maneuvering in tight spaces, but it is extremely easy to drive as a large SUV.
The luxurious exterior and interior are suitable for the city, and the Grand Cherokee has a presence and unique style in snowy mountains and other outdoor scenes.This is the true value of the Grand Cherokee.
Compare Grand Cherokee and Commander at a glance!
| Cherokee Limited | Functions (Function details) | Commander Limited |
| 4WD | drive | 4WD |
| 4900mm×1980mm×1810mm | Total length x width x height | 4770mm×1860mm×1730mm |
| 60:40 split | Luggage space arrangement | 2nd row 60:40 split 3rd row 50:50 split |
| Five people | Riding capacity | 7 people |
| regular | fuel | Light oil |
| ー | Fuel efficiency | 10.1 (city mode) 14.8 (suburban mode) 17.3 (highway mode) km/ℓ |
| Inline 4-cylinder DOHC turbo | engine | Inline 4-cylinder DOHC diesel with turbocharger |
| 1995cc | Displacement | 1956cc |
| can be | SNOW mode | can be |
| can be | seat heater | can be |
| can be | handle heater | can be |
| Set on PHEV model | PHEV | none |
| Set to advanced grade | air suspension | none |
| 4 colors | Color variations | 4 colors |
| option | sunroof | option |
| none | 3rd row seat | can be |
| power gate | lift gate | hands free power |
| can be | fog lamp | can be |
| 10.1 inch | In-touch panel monitor | 10.1 inch |
| 3 | number | 3 |
| 8,300,000 yen (tax included) | price | 5,970,000 yen (tax included) |
commander limited
The Commander Limited will be released as a fully renewed model in 2022 with a 7-seater, 3-row seat and diesel engine specification. It is slightly smaller than the Grand Cherokee. The main difference is that it has a 2.0ℓ DOHC inline 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine, and it seats 7 people. And the price is likely to be considerably cheaper than the Grand Cherokee.
The first impression is that the exterior looks very cool. If the Grand Cherokee has a luxurious presence, the Commander feels sophisticated and cool. It has a unique design that connects Jeep's traditional 7-slot front grille with slightly narrower LED lights, and although it is positioned as a rough SUV, it gives off an impression of beauty and strength.
For family users who want a minivan, they might be thinking, ``How about an SUV that can accommodate a lot of passengers, is cool, and drives well?'' There is also a large amount of luggage space if you fold down the third row. If you fold down the second row as well, it becomes completely flat, allowing you to sleep in your car. However, it is a shame that it is not 180 degrees like the Grand Cherokee, but is slightly sloped.
It runs smoothly and stably on snowy roads, on highways, and around town. I'll leave the detailed driving impressions to car magazines, but it's reliable for its stress-free, powerful movement as it's designed for snowy mountains. Using light oil is also excellent in terms of cost performance.
Owner impressions for each
Grand Cherokee Limited | Grand Cherokee Limited
Grand Cherokee owner for 7 years
Mr. A (52 years old)
Mr. A has been skiing for over 30 years. Lately, I have become addicted to powder skiing, and I also participate in side country and guided tours that are accessed from the slopes. This is my second Grand Cherokee. He drives just under 20,000km a year.
Why we chose Grand Cherokee
I ski, mountain climb, and camp in the summer, so I bought a Gracello 7 years ago as a 4WD with plenty of luggage space. This is my second car. I used to ride Altitude. Although it had a generous displacement of 3600cc, the 2000cc turbo engine ran smoothly and stably, so I switched to it without any discomfort. I am satisfied that the weight tax is also cheaper.
impression
The high-level driver's seat provides a wide field of vision, making it easy to drive, and the comfortable seat means you won't feel tired on long drives. Even at high speeds, it's nice to have a stable running experience that doesn't overwhelm the sense of speed. When you drive another car, you realize once again how comfortable your car is. Thanks to the air suspension, the sense of stability is very high.
I usually fold down the back seat in half and carry two skis at all times. You can load up more when you go with friends. The living space is comfortable even with three passengers and plenty of luggage. I used to use a jetback, but I didn't like the wind noise and the fuel efficiency was low, so I decided to store my luggage inside the car. This is easier to put in and take out.
I have never been stuck on a snowy mountain before. Even if you wake up in the morning and there's a lot of snow, just move your car back and forth without using a shovel, and you'll be able to create a space for snow and escape in one go. The tires are 21 inches, but the wheelbase is wide, so I've never had it get stuck in snow.
When the temperature drops, the seat heaters are automatically turned on when the engine is started. It gets too hot if you forget to cut it.
The seat folds completely flat, so sleeping in the car is stress-free. I use it several times in the summer. I'm 170cm tall, so I'm a small person, but even when I'm loaded with luggage, it doesn't feel cramped. It takes a little effort for two people to sleep comfortably. Staying in your car is comfortable with a cooler box, a cantera, and your own curtains.
Fuel efficiency is not good at about 10 to 9 km on highway driving and 5 to 6 km on city driving, but since it uses regular gasoline, I think it is within acceptable range.
Commander Limited | Commander Limited
Mr. K (41 years old) with Jeep experience of 6 years
Mr. K also skis and snowboards. I have been skiing for over 30 years, starting when I was a child. He also goes family skiing with his children several times a season, but during the high season from January to February, he and his friends go hiking on weekends in search of fresh snow. His annual mileage is approximately 12,000 km.
Why did we choose Commander?
I originally drove a used Grand Cherokee Limited, and I traded it in for a new Commander. I've only used it for one winter, but it's very easy to use. I guess the difference between it and the Gracello is that it has a diesel engine. Previously, it had a 3600cc 8-speed automatic transmission that gave it a solid feel, but now it feels light and stress-free on both high speeds and snowy roads. At a time when gasoline prices are soaring, being able to use diesel oil is the most helpful thing.
impression
Some people point out the typical diesel engine sound, but on the contrary, I like that wild sound. The ride is very smooth. Even at high speeds, adaptive cruise control and active lane management make it tireless. Like Gracello, it's nice to be able to drive from a high perspective.
It seats 7 people, but the third row is always folded down. I've used it maybe twice so far.
When I go skiing or fishing, I fold the second row seats in half and use them to put long items inside the car. I think it's possible to stay in your car, but I haven't experienced it yet. It's a shame that when you put your child down, the second row seat doesn't lie flat when you fold it down, but it's not a problem because you adjust the thickness of the blanket.
I feel very safe on snowy roads. It was the same with Gracello, but the car height is high and the tires are large, so you don't have to worry about getting stuck. It runs well.
The good thing about buying it is that people around me say it's cool. I think so too. I compared it to the Gracello, Compass, and Renegade at the store and found the Commander to be the most stylish. Fuel consumption in the suburbs is around 15km/l, and around town it might be a little lower.
I ride it pretty much every week, so it's great that the fuel is diesel oil. Another point I would like to praise is that the weight tax is now cheaper than before. The fact that I was able to purchase a new car and it was much cheaper than the Gracero gave me a boost. I think the interior of the Gracero is certainly more luxurious, but when you weigh the driving performance, various functions, and overall satisfaction with the price, I feel it's a good deal.
summary
Now, which one should you choose?
This probably depends on the user's lifestyle and preferences, but considering that it's a car used for snowy mountain trips, it's hard to rate the ease of use in terms of driving performance, stability, and comfort. If I had to say, if you're looking for a luxury feel, go for the Grand Cherokee, and if you're looking for a Jeep-like feel with good cost performance, go for the Commander. These are two cars you should definitely add to your selection of cars for snowy mountains.
Information
Jeep official website: https://www.jeep-japan.com/
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