Jeep Commander V6 Engine Vs. V8 Engine
The Jeep Commander is a mid-size SUV that has been produced by American automaker Chrysler since 2006. The Commander is Jeep's largest vehicle, seating up to seven passengers and able to tow up to 7,400 lbs. Several different engines are available in the Jeep Commander, including six- and eight-cylinder models.
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PowerTech V6
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The base engine for the Jeep Commander is a PowerTech V6. The engine, designated by Chrysler as EKG, uses regular gasoline and has a displacement of 3.7 liters. Peak horsepower of this engine is 210 at 5,200 RPM, and torque maxes out at 235 pound-feet at 4,000 RMP. Equipped with the 3.7-liter V6, the Commander can tow 3,500 lbs. The PowerTech V6 is the same engine used in several other Chrysler vehicles, including the Dodge Ram and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
PowerTech V8
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Up-level variants of the Jeep Commander can be ordered with a PowerTech V8 engine. This engine, which can run on gasoline of E85 ethanol fuel, has a 4.7-liter displacement. It produces 305 horsepower at 5,650 RPM and 334 pound-feet of torque at 3,950 RPM. With the PowerTech V8 the Commander is rated to tow up to 6,500 lbs. Like the PowerTech V6, the V8 variant uses a cast-iron block and aluminum heads. It can be found in performance versions of the Dodge Ram and Jeep Grand Cherokee as well.
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Hemi V8
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Chrysler's notable "Hemi" engine, with hemispherical combustion chambers, is available in the highest level of Jeep Commander, known as the Overland trim level. The V8 Hemi has a 5.7-liter displacement and burns regular gasoline. It produces 357 horsepower and 389 pound-feet of torque. With the Hemi V8 the Jeep Commander can tow its maximum of 7,400 lbs. Modified versions of the same same 5.7-liter V8 engine are used in the Dodge Ram, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Challenger R/T sports car.
Diesel
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The Jeep Commander is available with a diesel engine in Europe and other markets, though nowhere in North America. The diesel engine is a 3.0-liter V6 with common rail direct fuel injection. It produces 215 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque while achieving an impressive fuel economy of around 22 miles per gallon. There are no plans to make the diesel variant of the Jeep Commander available in the United States, where diesel engines remain unpopular.
Comparison
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Several factors are important in choosing an engine for the Jeep Commander. As with all other cars and trucks, larger engines generally mean worse fuel economy. The Commander can go around 14 miles per gallon with either of the V8 engines, but closer to 17 miles per gallon with the PowerTech V6. Towing capacity is another important consideration, with the Hemi V8 allowing the Commander to tow more than twice as much weight as the V6-powered model. Finally, price is always a factor. As part of the larger trim levels of the Commander, the Hemi V8 engine can add more than $16,000 to the Commander's $30,000 base price.
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