2021 Jeep Commander May Come Back To North America

There have been a lot of talks these days about Jeep’s future lineup and many experts agree that there is enough room for new models to come. As a company that produces crossovers and SUVs only (with the exception of Gladiator), Jeep would definitely need to expand its lineup in order to become more competitive than before. This would also include models that are positioned somewhere between common segments and that is where many see a place for 2021 Jeep Commander. The familiar nameplate hasn’t been around for a quite long time, though there is a version in China, known as Grand Commander.

This version might come to North America after all, to fill the gap between two segments. This especially makes sense if the rumors about the next-generation Grand Cherokee are true. Allegedly, the famous crossover will become notably bigger. This leaves room to put 2021 Jeep Commander somewhere between compact Cherokee and mid-size Grand Cherokee. At this point, all this is just speculation, so take to following paragraphs with a big reserve.

2021 Jeep Commander Design

When it comes to 2021 Jeep Commander, we presume it would be pretty much the same vehicle as to the Chinese Grand Commander. In terms of size, this model measures a little bit more than 110 inches between the axles. That perfectly fits the aforementioned story about slotting this model between Cherokee (around 106 inches in wheelbase) and Grande Cherokee (114 inches in wheelbase). This SUV is closely related to the compact Cherokee and also rides on a Compact US Wide architecture, which has been updated for this occasion. In terms of aesthetics, we don’t expect significant changes. The Chinese version comes with a typical Jeep layout, with familiar aesthetics and overall design language. On the other side, we could see some tweaks on the inside.

Interior

This is where we could see a couple of modifications for the possible 2021 Jeep Commander. While Grand Commander comes with three rows, the North American version would probably come as a five-seater, with two comfortable and spacious rows of seats and decent cargo area behind them. Of course, we could also see a slightly revised dashboard, with some aesthetical tweaks, higher-quality materials and more tech goodies.

2021 Jeep Commander Engine

As we’ve already mentioned, this model shares a lot with Cherokee. However, that doesn’t mean you may count on a large and thirsty V6 engine. The 2021 Jeep Commander would rather focus on a 2.0-liter turbo-four, which offers way superior efficiency and overall performance. The Chinee model comes in a version with 230 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Still, we may see a more powerful variant in North America as well, which is good for about 270 horsepower and respectable 295 pound-feet of torque. In both cases, you may count on FCA’s familiar 9-speed automatic transmission.

2021 Jeep Commander PHEV

Another thing we could easily see in North America is a new PHEV version, which recently debuted in China. This is a new hybrid system, notably different from one that can be found in Chrysler Pacifica, as it is based on a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine, instead of V6. This promises significantly better fuel efficiency, but the new version would have a lot of other great things to offer. This system comes with two electric motors and a 13kWh battery pack. With such capacity, you may count on a quite a respectable all-electric range of 43 miles. Furthermore, you may count on a fully-blended regenerative braking system that converts the kinetic energy to electricity, while the battery is also charger when the crossover decelerates from higher speeds, as the electric motors act as a generator.

Grand Commander under Chrysler’s badge?

Sources like Motor1 also suggest a possibility to see this crossover under Chrysler’s badge. although this may seem confusing, things are actually quite simple once you look at Chrysler’s current lineup. The famous brand currently offers just two models. On one side, there is a recently refreshed Pacifica, which is expected to soldier on in the next several years. On the other, you can find an outdated 300 sedan, which will definitely be discontinued in the near future.

Therefore, new models are more than welcome to the brand’s lineup. It’s no secret that FCA is already working on a large three-row crossover, but this model might bee a great addition too. Rather with Chrysler’s badged than 2021 Jeep Grand Commander, this model wouldn’t make so much crowd and confusion among lowers of Jeep brand but would make FCA more competitive on the market anyway. Of course, which would require certain revisions. This especially refers to aesthetics, so it would also be a little bit more expensive solutions. Finally, we may see both versions in the offer, it wouldn’t be a surprise.

In any case, keep in mind that these are all just rumors, so don’t get excited about the new model too early.