A Uniquely Shaped, Sized and Specified Model that Seems Right for the Times

DaimlerChrysler, otherwise known as Chrysler Group, has an interesting philosophy when it comes to styling. Rather than introduce a banal,

Chryco designers often pen unique, unorthodox styling exercises that inspire near riotous passion among those that see the automaker's "vision", but in so doing rarely become popular with everyone. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

white bread and processed cheese kind of design - the plight of middle-of-the-road vehicles that set out to be inoffensive from concept and by so doing hardly inspire any buyer enthusiasm other than via hopes of virtuous reliability and comforting safety features - Chryco designers often pen unique, unorthodox styling exercises that inspire near riotous passion among those that see the automaker's "vision", but in so doing rarely become popular with everyone.

But this is OK, as experienced in 1994 when the radical Dodge Ram pickup redesign hit the scene and boosted the model's sales exponentially while simultaneously splitting the market between those who loved it and those who hated it, and how the brand's car division and Chrysler have done

What I like about the Commander is how its boxy proportions make for a very accommodating interior. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

the same with the revolutionary Magnum, Charger and 300 LX cars respectively, while Jeep has already stirred up disdainful sentiments from some 4x4 fans who hate the styling of its new Commander. So what! More importantly to the brand, the utilitarian Commander has also caused palpitations of positive excitement among zealots of the previous Cherokee - the one without the "Grand" in its designation which lent a great deal of inspiration to the new seven-passenger SUV's design.

I'm not sure where I sit in this camp, being that initially I wasn't all that keen on the 300C's styling, a model which currently can be numbered among my favourites for its exterior shape alone. What I like about the Commander is how its boxy proportions make for a very accommodating interior - at least when seated in its first two rows or when loading in cargo... but more on its third row in a moment.