Ron Perry’s Opinion of the 2006 Jeep Commander’s Quality:
My overall impression of the 2006 Jeep Commander was one of quality. Nothing feels or looks cheap. Not even the plastic that makes up the dash. Based on my inspection, all the interior trim and panels fit snugly into place. The cabin’s woodgrain and chrome has a look and feel of quality, as do the leather seats. I even think the material chosen for the headliner looks great. Outside, the quality continues, though some trim pieces are questionable. The fender trim is thin plastic and though it fits nice when new, I’m sure in a couple years it would be loose and exhibit gaps. The front grille looks like a nice piece of chromed metal, but closer inspection reveals a plastic appliance. No noticeable rattles were apparent on my drive and wind noise was almost non-existent. The Commander’s doors and tailgate closed with a nice thud that imparted a solid build. Even the mechanisms that lower the third-row seat felt solid – with the exception of their plastic handles. I finished my drive with a much better impression of the Commander’s quality than I expected.

Christian Wardlaw’s Opinion of the 2006 Jeep Commander’s Quality:
Jeep nailed the quality category with the 2006 Commander. The interior materials appear to be the same as those in the Grand Cherokee, but without the shiny Armor-all finish that makes the JGC look so chintzy inside. Maybe it’s the shape of the Commander’s unique dashboard and vertical front glass. Chrome accents, door handles with a quality feel and heft, and a woven cloth headliner all contribute to an upscale feel. It’s too bad, then, that the fake wood looks so fake.

Interior build quality was average, though the Commander emitted no rattles or squeaks except when off-roading. Tightly assembled, but with several inconsistencies of fit throughout the interior, the most egregious build issues on the inside were ill-fitting screw plugs on the B-pillar trim and sloppy assembly of trim and materials at the intersection of the left rear D-pillar and the headliner. Exterior build quality was exceptionally good. I could only find minor driver’s door fit issues and tailgate gap variances, and while some shut-lines could be tighter, Jeep could stack the Commander up against any Honda or Toyota when it comes to exterior assembly quality.

Thom Blackett’s Opinion of the 2006 Jeep Commander’s Quality:
Jeeps are typically known for rugged durability rather than build precision, and our 2006 Jeep Commander Limited test truck was no exception. Gaps around the hood were on the wide side and the paint surface looked pitted, a problem commonly referred to as orange peel. The vertical chrome rails alongside the tailgate had flexible plastic shells, though the interior, dominated by hard plastic and alloy bolts, felt mostly secure. I did notice that the shifter handle, composed of pleather and plastic chrome, felt like it’d fall apart with the first 10,000 miles, though the leather-wrapped steering wheel felt good to the touch, as did the hides on the seats. If there’s one thing I’d definitely change, that would be the storage cubby over the glove box. Probably intended to keep items secure on bumpy trails, I get the stinking suspicion that some passenger will grab hold of the thin plastic cover in a moment of off-road thrashing and do some major tweaking. My suggestion? Either put a full cover on that storage compartment, replace the cubby with a sturdy grab handle, or drop the whole deal.

Brian Chee’s Opinion of the 2006 Jeep Commander’s Quality:
With a proven powertrain and a nicely executed interior, there are no glaring quality issues with the 2006 Jeep Commander. Based on a brief inspection, there are few build issues with our tester, either, and the chrome touches throughout the interior lent an upper class feel to the vehicle. Outside, the chromed seven-slot grille is especially nice, and, even if you don’t care for the boxy look, the exterior handles and slightly narrowed windows are well done. On the road, there were few rattles and squeaks, save for a bit too much wind noise coming off the front windshield area. Materials inside the cabin are of good quality, and controls have a nice heft. Plastics are nicely done, as well. Indeed, the Commander has a real “suburban” feel, to the point that it’s hard to imagine this vehicle in a mud bog.