What's Hot: Lightweight, rally car-like handling, fun to drive
What's Not: No locker or limited-slip differential, low ground clearance
Our Take: The best value in four-wheel drive
From the Logbook:
* "Interior appointments are nice for the money."
* "Sand champ of the test."
* "It may not be the best performer off-pavement, but this is a damn fine little SUV."
* "I can hear every rock on the trail hitting the undercarriage."
* "Handles and drives like a car."
What's Hot: Engine, highway manners
What's Not: Limited outward visibility, controversial styling, not as eager on the trails as we expected
Our Take: As a daily driver, the Commander is exceptional, but we expect more trailability from a Jeep.
From the Logbook:
* "Everything that makes the Jeep so enjoyable on the highway prevents it from doing anything particularly well off-pavement."
* "These tires are tough-not even a mark in the sidewalls after the rock trails."
* "Interior is very rich looking, one of my favorite in the test."
* "The Commander tries to get itself stuck in the sand."
* "How could a larger copy of the XJ turn out so ugly?"