Jeep Wagoneer (WS)

The Jeep Wagoneer and the Jeep Grand Wagoneer are full-size SUVs produced by the Jeep division of Stellantis North America.[1] Both vehicles were released in March 2021 and were initially branded as "Wagoneer by Jeep" without the Jeep badge on vehicles.[2] The models are described as the "premium extension" of the Jeep brand in marketing copy.[3] Production of the 2022 Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer commenced in the first half of 2021 at Warren Truck Assembly.[4]

The model has four sub-models; the Wagoneer is the base model, and the Grand Wagoneer is the luxury model, with both available in short wheelbase and "L" long wheelbase versions.

History

Jeep had been continually attempting to redesign the Wagoneer since the mid-1990s with various proposals.[5] In January 2011, Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat S.p.A. and later Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), announced at his press conference at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit that the name "Grand Wagoneer" would be relaunched as a new SUV built on the same platform as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Dodge Durango.[6] On September 2, 2013, Chrysler announced that they would delay production until 2015 to allow the Dodge Durango to find an audience but at the same time would use the Grand Wagoneer concept as a basis for a full-size luxury SUV that would compete against the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator, whose redesigns went on sale in 2014.[7]

On June 9, 2015, FCA announced that it would unveil a new version of the full-sized Grand Wagoneer at its dealers' convention on August 25, 2015.[8] In August 2015, however, FCA announced that the production of the upcoming Grand Cherokee replacement would be delayed into 2018[9] and was scheduled to be built at Warren Truck Assembly.[10] On October 18, 2016, Jeep released teaser photos of the Grand Wagoneer, which indicated that it would be based on the third generation Durango and introduced as a 2019 model.[11] The plan was delayed again in March 2017.[12]

On December 5, 2019, spy shots surfaced of FCA testing a Wagoneer using a Ram 1500 body on frame SUV.[13] Due to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, FCA delayed the start of production by at least three months and was expected to debut this full-size version in early 2021 as a 2022 model.[14][15]

On September 3, 2020, Jeep presented the Grand Wagoneer concept, which foreshadowed the next Grand Wagoneer marketed in 2021.[16][17] The SUV is distinguished by a massive silhouette with oblong headlights and a multi-hole grille.[18] A characteristic feature is the lack of Jeep-branded markings on the body and in the passenger compartment in favor of badges with the model name.[19] Production models of the Wagoneer were revealed on March 11, 2021.[20] The first models were expected to ship later in the year, with general dealership availability starting October 2021.

On July 3, 2023, the Grand Wagoneer was launched in the Middle East.[21]

The Wagoneer will be phased out by 2026, making the 2025 model year its final iteration, while production of the Grand Wagoneer will continue.[22]

Layout

Rear-wheel drive is standard on the Wagoneer model with optional four-wheel drive available, while four-wheel drive is standard on the Grand Wagoneer.[23] Furthermore, introduced to the selection is the Quadra-Trac full-time four-wheel-drive system.[24]

Trims

At launch, the Wagoneer was offered in four trim levels: Series I, Series II, Carbide, and Series III. The Grand Wagoneer was offered in five: Series I, Series II, Obsidian, Series III, and Series III Obsidian. All trim levels were offered with the Standard or Long Wheelbase "L." For 2026, the trim levels of the Grand Wagoneer are: base, Limited Altitude, Upland, Limited Reserve, Summit Obsidian, and Summit Reserve. All trims are available in both standard and long wheelbase "L" configurations, with the exception of the Upland, which is available in standard wheelbase only.

Features

The fifth-generation UConnect 5 infotainment suite is available 10.1" in the Wagoneer, or 12" in the Grand Wagoneer. Other features include Amazon Alexa, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto smartphone integration, SiriusXM Satellite Radio with 360L, SiriusXM Travel Link services, and SiriusXM-powered UConnect Guardian.

There are two McIntosh premium audio systems available on the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer: a 19-speaker system with 950-watt amplifier and 10" subwoofer, and a larger 23-speaker McIntosh system with 1,375-watt amplifier and 12" subwoofer.[25]

Both the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer feature several standard screens, with several more screens being available as options. These include a standard digital instrument cluster, a central touchscreen infotainment system, and an interactive front passenger touchscreen display integrated into the woodgrain on the passenger side of the dashboard and allowing the passenger to stream music wirelessly to the vehicle's audio system via Bluetooth, view the GPS navigation map, and send directions directly to the central touchscreen display. The display features a special coating that is only viewable to the passenger, so as not to distract the driver while the vehicle is in motion. Several models also feature a touchscreen control panel for the rear seat climate controls, as well as a dual-screen rear seat entertainment system that allows rear seat passengers to connect their own external devices via HDMI or Bluetooth, connect to the Internet, view entertainment from Amazon, and play integrated games via the seatback-mounted displays.[26]

Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L

At the 2022 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), Jeep unveiled the extended-length 2023 Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L, which are a foot longer than their Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer counterparts. Trim level and feature content are expected to be the same as the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, although both vehicles feature new 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six (I6) gasoline engine.

The standard output version of this engine, used on the Wagoneer L models, produces 420 hp and 468 lbft of torque. The high-output version of the "Hurricane" engine used on Grand Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer L models produced 510 hp and 500 lbft of torque from 2022 to 2024. The 2025 Grand Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer L increased the power to 540 hp and 521 lbft.

Powertrain

All versions use an 8-speed TorqueFlite 8HP75 automatic.

Safety

The Wagoneer was the only model out of three most popular full-size SUVs in the U.S to be awarded "2024 Top Safety Pick" by IIHS. It excels in the small overlap crash test with maintaining survival space for the occupants, and the front and side curtain airbags worked correctly.[35]

Criticism

The Grand Wagoneer has faced criticism for its high price point, with some analysts questioning its competitiveness in the full-size luxury SUV market.[37] Despite initial expectations, the vehicle has experienced sluggish sales; as of December 2024, reports indicated that over 100,000 units remained unsold, even as the broader automotive market showed signs of recovery.[38][39][40] The model has also been subject to quality control concerns.[41] In late 2024, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation into reports of Grand Wagoneer engines shutting off unexpectedly while operating at low speeds.[42]

Sales

External links

• Official website