Jeep Commander name returning on Compass-based crossover

The Jeep Commander may have been honourably discharged, but it’s coming back to serve.

The Commander badge will return in 2021, but it won’t be applied to a hulking seven-seater.

It’ll still be a seven-seater, but the new Commander will be based on the Compass SUV instead of the Grand Cherokee.

Jeep Australia hasn’t confirmed the Commander for our market.

Spy photos and overseas reports show the Commander will have a longer rear overhang than the Compass (which is a similar size to the Kia Seltos) and larger rear doors to allow better access to the third row.

Expect a boxier roofline than the compass, and a more upright tailgate to free up space for passengers and luggage.

It’ll likely feature front- and rear-end styling inspired by the new Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee L, with slim lights and bold chrome detailing.

Power will come from the same range of engines as the Compass, which in Australia comes with a choice of naturally-aspirated 2.4-litre petrol or 2.0-litre turbo-diesel power.

Conceptually, the Commander appears similar to the Mercedes-Benz GLB, which is a boxy seven-seater spun off the same platform as the compact A-Class.

It’s a significant departure from the last Commander we saw here, which was sold globally between 2005 and 2010.

Based on the same bones on the Grand Cherokee, it had some proper off-road ability and was available with a choice of naturally-aspirated V6 and V8 engines and a turbo-diesel V6.

It also featured a dual-tier roof to create more headroom for second- and third-row passengers, disguised by a clever roof rail design.

The Commander name returned – with the Grand prefix – in 2018 on a Cherokee-based SUV, although it was exclusive to China.

Measuring 45mm longer than a Grand Cherokee but available with a third row of seating, the Grand Commander is also available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

The PHEV features a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, a 13kWh lithium-ion battery pack, two electric motors and an electrically-variable transmission, with a total electric range of 70km on the more lenient NEDC test cycle.

Jeep has been busy of late. Along with an updated Compass, the brand has recently revealed the all-new Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee L.

The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer won’t be coming to Australia, but the Grand Cherokee L is testing on local shores, and will touch down late in 2021.