The Jeep Commander is reporting for duty, though it doesn’t look like it’ll be deployed here.
The Brazilian-built Commander, a three-row, Compass-based crossover, has been revealed and wears styling inspired by the new WL Grand Cherokee.
It’s also set to be built in India, where it’ll reportedly wear the Meridian nameplate.
Stellantis Australia has said there are no plans for now to bring the Commander here.
The Brazilian-built Commander will go on sale in Latin America in August 2021, with Autocar India reporting the Meridian will go on sale in India in 2022.
Jeep’s Indian factory currently supplies Australia with the Compass, with Jeep’s small SUV also built in Italy and Mexico.
Revealed in Overland trim, the Commander bears a superficial resemblance to the Compass up front but features a unique grille, front bumper and LED headlights, among other parts.
Down back, there’s a ‘floating’ treatment at the D-pillar reminiscent of the WL Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L, plus slimmer tail lights.
The overall silhouette is boxier, with a longer rear overhang to accommodate a third row of seating.
It’ll reportedly be offered in both six- and seven-seat options, with the six-seat option featuring second-row captain’s chairs.
The Commander Overland will be available with a unique interior colourway, featuring brown leather seating, a black leather-wrapped dashboard, and brown suede accents with Burnished Copper stitching.
There’s a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system as in the updated Compass, plus a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.
Jeep’s Brazilian division has yet to confirm what powertrains the Commander will use, though the TD badge on the tailgate indicates a turbo-diesel – likely Jeep’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder – will be available.
In the Australian-market Compass, this produces 125kW of power and 350Nm of torque, though overseas reports have suggested a 149kW version could power the Commander.
It may also be joined by a turbocharged 1.3-litre petrol with 134kW of power.
The Commander has been spied testing in Europe, signalling it could be available in additional markets beyond Latin America and India.
Pictured: Chinese-market Commander
Jeep also sells a Grand Commander in China, though instead of a three-row crossover based on the Compass, it’s a three-row crossover based on the Cherokee.
The Commander is the five-seat version.
It also bears more of a resemblance to the new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer instead of the new Grand Cherokee, and was the first Jeep to offer a plug-in hybrid drivetrain.
