SPIED: Is This Our FIRST Look At A Proper, 7-Seater Jeep? Does A Grand Commander Interest YOU?

No. The rear looks like an extended Renegade and is not attractive or cohesive.

No - If I want a large 4x4, I want a full frame truck - the word "Jeep" means nothing to me now that FCA owns it. So - I prefer a Suburban. To me - Jeeps are beginning to blend together - getting long in the Tooth - and FCA does not have a good reputation for improving styling - much less that Jeep is simply unreliable - and the local dealers are not the best either.

However - for families with kids looking for a "mom's" car (not necessarily for the mom today) - there are lots of options out there. I would suspect this would sell near or over the price of a Buick Enclave - which is what I would prefer(due to the local dealer) - or a Chevy Traverse - both recently new. Then there are the plethora of others from FOrd, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, KIA - etc. The Honda Pilot and the Acura MDX would both be better choices than the Jeep.

@TomM Does Porsche mean nothing to you because VW own them or that the make non-sports cars? If Porsche can still be Porsche while making a 4 door sedan, then Jeep is still Jeep while producing a large softroader.

Sorry Matt - BUT - AS Part of the VW empire - VW makes a LOT of different cars - some with Porsche styling - that are simply platforms already being used for "lesser" Products. THat VW makes an MSB platform based Sedan with Porsche type styling may impress some - but real enthusiasts see the end of the independence of Porsche. THe same can be said for the Pseudo-Porsche SUVs. However - for that matter - Porsche - for years - produced some unreliable vehicles as well - and for a long time - that handling of rear engine Porsches was a HANDFUL - I never really cared for them compared to Ferrari - and I assume YOU preferred TVR as well.

Remembering that I also own an FCA product - I simply wanted to note that FCA is on the low end of the reliability chain of manufacturers - and Jeep also places very low as well. And it appears that every time they bring out a new product - they seem to have many problems as well - SO - in a segment where there are LOTS of options - where they are pricing jeeps higher than is justified - there are many better choices. I mentioned a few - I am sure even YOU can name a few others.

@TomM you probably cannot see that you're contradicting yourself.

Mentioning what he owns & the bit about "mom's car" kinda kills TomM's argument. Head-scratcher - a bit confusing.

Jeep still has an overall positive brand perspective - their product line is just old or a bit stodgy. FCA was pushing for an updated Jeep line with a lot of European style to inject some "life" into the brand. I don't know its been working so far. But Jeep kinda missed its opportunity to cash-in on the big-expensive overly-capable SUV craze that M-B & GM has done with the G-wagen & Escalade.

Jeep has been foolish for quite some time not having a 7 seater in their portfolio. Considering their history with SUVs, just about every other manufacturer has passed them on this feature, one that is key to move families looking to carry the neighbor’s kids as well from time to time. It’s the one feature that kept me away from the Grand Cherokee.

The fact that this is not headed for the USA shows how stupid Sergio is. This would go gangbusters here. I'd kill the Cherokee. Rename the Grand Cherokee the Cherokee. Ditch "Grand" on this and call it Commander. This has tremendous potential. What do we get? A facelift on the Jeep Aztek.

If this were on sale here, I'd want one.

This is for China. If it ends up in the USA it will likely be a Chrysler. An on road vehicle. Jeeps plan is a body-on-frame Grand Wagoneer based on Ram Chassis to go after bigger vehicle top end of the market. Next gen Grand Cherokee and revised Cherokee coming as well. Durango is to be the hot rod SUV per Dodge role in the line up.

I like this particular "spin" by Vette71...b/c this better NOT be the full-size Jeep the NA-market has been waiting for. It would be operationally & financially acceptable to do a 7-seater Jeep based off the respectable Durango - which is based off a platform used for the recent-gen M-B G/M-class SUVs - to grow the Jeep brand internationally & add product on the domestic side as well. Throw a larger Jeep at China & Japan - but not too big - and max-out the interior content as well.

If the short-term plan is to get another SUV to Chrysler, then that's a good plan. Chrysler is starving for product, especially at a time when SUVs are hugely popular & it's relatively easy (acceptable) to kinda do a badge-engineering exercise just to have a competing product on the street. I would've thought FCA was working on the next Dodge Journey & a Chrysler version. Chrysler should have a version of the Jeep Cherokee or Compass as well.

This is easy stuff. The market took a huge turn toward SUVs, why has Dodge/Chrys been so slow to adjust & respond? I'm starting to think FCA is so screwed up internally, it would be easier for GM to bring back the Hummer brand & do well in the upscale & luxury priced categories, than it would be for Dodge/Chrys to get their SUV biz back in order.

If one follows the Mopar forums which has insider members that's the plan. I.m no Sergio fan but it starts to make sense, especially for profitability which is numero uno at the moment (the reason the 200 and Dart were dropped).

Chrysler- Mainstream brand (Ford,Chevy) Starved for product 300, Pacifica, gets Journey replacement, and larger CUV (USA Commander)
Dodge - Performance brand Challenger, Charger, Durango (SRT versions)
Jeep - Renegade, Wrangler (2 and 4 door) Traditional Jeep look) mix. Compass, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer more upscale look with trail rated versions.
Ram - Trucks

The Durango should have been a Jeep to begin with.

"No. The rear looks like an extended Renegade and is not attractive or cohesive."

Are aesthetics even a consideration in the 7 passenger category? It'd be like refusing to rent from Hertz because their airport courtesy van doesn't look cool enough.

That's kind of an insane question. Aesthetics is important in any vehicle purchase, no matter what function that vehicle would serve. I certainly don't want to spend what probably would amount to $50-$60k on a vehicle that too-closely resembles its lowest-priced brethren in the (non-premium) brand.

And renting from Hertz certainly isn't anything remotely close to making a buying/leasing decision.