We've noted the Jeep Commander's oddly configured cargo area before, but it wasn't until last night that I saw it first hand. Drop the third row to throw in a little cargo and you get a load floor that's four or five inches higher than the actual threshold. Since the seats don't fold flat into the floor, Jeep's engineers simply raised everything around them to make things even. It's better than having a multilevel floor, but trying to load big items isn't easy with such a high liftover...
It's one of the compromises that comes with having a truly off road capable SUV, as some of the Jeep's competitors like the Ford Expedition use less capable independent rear suspensions in order to carve out more room inside.
Ed Hellwig
Senior Editor Inside Line
Ed Hellwig
Senior Editor Inside Line
rsholland says:
10:03 AM, 06/16/06
Ed, isn't the Dodge Durango's floor level with the bottom edge of the tailgate? It has a fold-into-the floor rear seat, plus a solid rear axle.
fst1 says:
10:20 AM, 06/16/06
Yes, that's true. I'm not saying there aren't SUVs out there that combine the two, but it's exaggerated in the Jeep. Look underneath the rear end of the Commander and you see two huge bars underneath that not only protect the undercarraige, they allow the Jeep to slide right off of obstacles that otherwise might damage less protected vehicles. I could be wrong here, but I'm guessing this is one reason they couldn't engineer seats that fold into the floor.
rsholland says:
10:27 AM, 06/16/06
Well, to honest with you, I wish they had gone with an IRS instead. If Land Rover can make an excellent off-road SUV with IRS, there's no reason Jeep can't too.
I had mentioned this in an earlier blog entry. I think the LR3 offers a good counterpoint to the Jeep way of thinking. They're both about the same size, both offer 3-row seating, and both are very good off road. The LR3, unlike the Jeep, has IRS and a reasonably comfortable and roomy 3rd-row seat.
rsholland says:
10:32 AM, 06/16/06
...and a rear floor level with the bottom edge of the tailgate.
jeepcreeper says:
11:36 PM, 06/17/06
Hi. More often than loading something heavy in there, I find myself opening the flip up glass and tossing in smaller items, which nest in the low channel, formed when the liftgate is closed. Things don't go rolling around as much when driving. Also, the storage area under the narrow tray that houses the tire jack and tools is very handy... jeepcreeper.