Chrysler, or no matter it was often called at any given time, has been puzzlingly gradual to get into the big-SUV recreation. That it lastly determined to take action underneath the Jeep model (quite than, say, Ram) and with the Wagoneer nameplate is smart — the nameplate’s historical past buys on the spot credibility. The Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer has been a very long time coming. It was a fixture of former FCA CEO Sergio Marchione’s future product shows and was initially supposed to seem in 2014. It’s unclear why Jeep dithered for thus lengthy.
It positively wasn’t to create one thing revolutionary. The Wagoneer hews to conference in some ways. It’s constructed on the modified body of the extremely regarded Ram 1500 pickup, though with an unbiased quite than a live-axle rear suspension. A pair of off-the-shelf naturally aspirated V8s present the facility. An eight-speed computerized handles shifting duties, and though the Wagoneer comes customary with rear-wheel drive, most will probably be geared up with one in all Jeep’s current four-wheel-drive methods.
Its measurement, clearly, is just not one thing we have seen tried by Jeep, Ram or something within the Stellantis portfolio. At 214.7 inches in size and with a 123-inch wheelbase, the Wagoneer duo is barely bigger than the standard-size Ford Expedition/Lincoln Navigator and Chevrolet Tahoe/Cadillac Escalade. Three-row seating is, naturally, customary. With the third row in use, the Wagoneer has extra baggage house than its rivals, with a genuinely helpful 27.4 cubic toes. Its most cargo quantity varies with gear, however primarily straddles the FoMoCo SUVs and runs shy of the GMs. All these dimensions are for the standard-wheelbase variants, which launch now. There additionally will probably be extended-length variations of each fashions, mirroring the choices of GM and Ford.
The Wagoneer, pictured above, is meant to compete towards mainstream-brand SUVs, whereas the Grand Wagoneer (pictured within the prime gallery) pushes upmarket to tackle the posh nameplates. The visible variations between them are delicate. The 2 are differentiated by their grille design, entrance fascia, lighting, hood, wheels, and liftgate trim. The obvious level of distinction, although, is the black roof that’s unique to the Grand Wagoneer. Neither mannequin has any Jeep badging, a part of the hassle to push them upmarket.
As ever, styling is subjective, nevertheless it’s exhausting to not suppose that Jeep was much less profitable in conjuring the spirit of the Wagoneer’s iconic predecessor than Land Rover was in its redo of the Defender or Ford in its resurrection of the Bronco. The Jeeps’ lead exterior designer factors to the upright pillars, tall facet home windows, and metal-finished grille as components that reference the unique Wagoneer, which debuted as a 1963 mannequin and was final offered in 1991.
The 2022 Grand Wagoneer is powered by the Stellantis 6.4-liter V8, right here with new consumption and exhaust manifolds and a selected exhaust system. It places out 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. These horsepower numbers higher GM’s 6.2-liter within the Cadillac Escalade/GMC Yukon/Chevrolet Tahoe and the three.5-liter turbo V6s within the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator. The 6.4’s torque output, nonetheless, trails these opponents.
The common Wagoneer makes use of the company 5.7-liter Hemi V8, which is rated at 392 horsepower and 404 lb-ft of torque. Its eTorque mild-hybrid system includes a belt-driven generator and a small lithium ion battery (charged by way of regenerative braking) and might add a quick increase of 130 lb-ft. It additionally permits engine shut-off when decelerating.
Even with that modicum of fuel-saving tech, the rear-drive Wagoneer’s EPA estimates are 16 mpg metropolis and 22 mpg freeway, with the 4WD model at 15/20 mpg. The 6.4-liter 4WD Grand Wagoneer is a thirsty beast at 13/18 mpg. These numbers aren’t a lot decrease than a Cadillac Escalade’s 6.2-liter gas-powered V8, however its consumption is significantly worse than GM’s 5.3-liter V8 and diesel-powered choices in addition to Ford’s EcoBoost V6s.
Do not simply blame the large Jeep’s engines, although. Its curb weights are crushing. The Wagoneer 4×2 is simply barely underneath three tons at 5,960 kilos, and the Grand Wagoneer can hit 6,420 kilos. The Escalade, in contrast, ranges from 5,635 to six,015 kilos.
That does not stop a hefty towing capability, nonetheless. The rear-drive Wagoneer tows 10,000 kilos; subtract 150 from that whole for the 4WD model or for Grand Wagoneer, regardless of its bigger engine. Both approach, these figures are tops within the class, eclipsing the Expedition (9,300 kilos), Navigator (8,700), Tahoe (8,400), and Escalade (8,200), in addition to all of the Europeans. A category IV receiver hitch is customary, and an accessible heavy-duty trailer-tow package deal consists of upgraded engine cooling, a trailer-brake controller, a hitch zoom digicam, and hitch line-up help — however no automated steering help for backing up with a trailer.
Typical of Jeep, there’s multiple accessible four-wheel-drive system. The Wagoneer comes customary with rear-drive, and presents Quadra-Trac I or Quadra-Trac II as choices. The JGW comes customary with Quadra-Drive II (though a peek at fueleconomy.gov signifies that it, too, will provide a rear-drive model). Quadra-Trac I has a single-speed switch case; the opposite two get a selectable low vary, with Quadra-Drive II including digital controls to the mechanical limited-slip rear differential.
Not like most Jeeps, there isn’t a off-road-oriented Trailhawk (no Wagoneer is even Path Rated), making probably the most succesful model a Wagoneer with the Superior All-Terrain Group. That package deal, not accessible on Grand Wagoneer, brings a two-speed switch case, air springs, skid plates, a 3.92:1 rear axle ratio, off-road pace management, tow hooks and 18- or 20-inch wheels with all-terrain tires.
We drove a so-equipped Wagoneer on a brief off-road course particularly laid out to indicate off the large Jeep’s talents. Axle articulation isn’t as nice as in additional hardcore Jeeps — a few instances we had been left with a tire hanging within the air — however the Wagoneer, which has 10 inches of floor clearance with the air suspension on its tiptoes (or 8.3 inches with the mounted suspension), nonetheless clambered over the rocks and dips with out wheelspin or hesitation. And a characteristic referred to as Lively 4 Low (on each of the higher 4WD methods) additionally allowed it to maneuver across the tight turns in low vary with out crabbing.
The remainder of our drive time was within the Grand Wagoneer. With its 6.4-liter V8, acceleration is definitely ample, although it’s not on the frenetic degree of the Grand Cherokee SRT with the identical engine. As a substitute, the 6.4-liter is easy and quiet; the accelerator is linear in its response; and the eight-speed computerized’s shifting is completely unobtrusive. As a result of Jeep makes use of a dial shifter, manually downshifting — or, extra precisely, setting a most gear — is finished by way of buttons on the steering wheel.
Air springs and adaptive dampers are customary on the Grand Wagoneer (and elective on the Wagoneer), and so they ship spectacular experience high quality. Driving north out of New York Metropolis, we had been on the West Facet Freeway and, later, the Noticed Mill River Parkway, each older highways with storm drains on the fringe of the lane, generally significantly under the pavement degree. In some sections, you hit one after the opposite, and the Grand Wagoneer acknowledged them with a single physique movement, and that’s it. There was no head toss and no shudder by way of the construction. A goodly portion of this car’s appreciable mass will need to have gone towards structural rigidity, as a result of the GW felt stable it doesn’t matter what patched and pockmarked pavement we traversed. The adaptive dampers additionally successfully quell physique motions, however toggling between Sport and the default Auto drive modes didn’t make a lot discernable distinction. The drive modes solely have an effect on the powertrain and suspension, not the steering, so cranking the two-spoke steering wheel at all times stays a low-effort affair.
No-effort steering is feasible with the Freeway Help System, which is Jeep’s adaptive cruise management with lane-centering that is unique to the Grand Wagoneer. It did a succesful job conserving the large SUV centered in its lane with only a hand on the wheel, besides on the Noticed Mill’s sharper curves, when it alerted the motive force to retake steering duties. We’re advised a hands-free, GM Tremendous Cruise–type semi-autonomous system is coming, however as to timing, Jeep officers would solely say “quickly.”
The Grand Wagoneer cabin includes a wealth of rich-looking supplies, together with the huge expanses of wooden proven above. Predictably, the Wagoneer has fewer leather-wrapped surfaces and less-intricate detailing, however at the least leather-based is customary fare, which is usually not the case elsewhere. Critically for a road-trip car, stowage is plentiful together with an accessible cool field underneath the entrance middle armrest — or, alternately, a keypad-lockable protected.
Jeep claims best-in-class second- and third-row legroom, and certainly, with the entrance seat set for a 6-foot driver, there’s oceans of legroom in row two and greater than ample legroom and headroom in row three. With extra hip room than both the Escalade or Navigator, the Grand Wagoneer third row additionally feels genuinely viable for three-across seating. And right here’s a rarity: The third row truly has padded armrests (within the GW, not the Wagoneer). Again-benchers additionally get USB shops on either side, and people are among the many eight to 11 whole USB shops scattered all through the cabin. Be aware that every gives the selection of utilizing both a USB-A or USB-C output.
For the Wagoneer and notably the Grand Wagoneer, screens are the defining ingredient of the inside. Whereas the sheer variety of them appears extreme, the primary ones that you simply work together with are extraordinarily effectively accomplished.
There’s the central infotainment show (10.1 inches within the Wagoneer and 12 inches within the Grand proven above left) and the usual digital instrument cluster (10.25 inches within the Wagoneer and 12.3 inches within the Grand proven above proper). Some fashions even have touchscreens devoted to the local weather management system within the entrance and within the rear. One can even spec a touchscreen for the entrance passenger and a rear-seat leisure system with twin 10.1-inch screens and Amazon Fireplace streaming TV functionality amongst different media choices. So, seven in whole — and that’s not even counting the digital rear digicam mirror or the head-up show.
For the 2 primary screens, configurability is the watchword. We’ll begin with the digital instrument cluster, which matches far past the everyday selection between “sporty” or “basic” renditions of gauges. A full-screen show of the navigation map is feasible, as in another automobiles, however there are additionally six different features that may take pleasure of place, corresponding to night time imaginative and prescient (for automobiles so geared up), off-road information, or audio. One can additional tweak the format by having a shrunken speedo and tach seem on the far edges of the display, or go for a digital pace readout up prime and a band-style tach on the backside. After which you possibly can decide what further readouts reside on the very prime of the display. Naturally, setting all this up utilizing four-way buttons on the steering wheel isn’t simple (even for the man who designed it and was demonstrating all of it for us). Plan on spending a good bit of driveway time studying your approach across the system and establishing your most well-liked format.
The central show is extra conventionally configurable, with the house display capable of present two, three or 4 features. A number of residence pages will be saved, and also you swipe to maneuver from one to a different. Moreover, there are touch-sensitive buttons to take you to primary features. You even have some say over what’s within the dock-like band of icons throughout the highest of the display — one merchandise you’ll need to put up there’s the digicam (since there’s no bodily button to name it up) plus perhaps the fam-cam in-cabin digicam. There’s additionally wi-fi Apple CarPlay/Android Auto with the required wi-fi charging to go along with it.
The elective entrance passenger show appears a bit like overkill. It, too, has a customizable residence web page and might present audio information, navigation, the cameras, and the video participant (a privateness display prevents the motive force from having the ability to view it). Then there are the entrance and rear climate-control touchscreens, which additionally smack of extra, though Jeep is just not the one producer to make use of them. Helpfully, there’s additionally a row of bodily buttons for often used climate-control features.
So, there are numerous capabilities. How is it in observe? The bigger digital cluster and central show look nice. The graphics are as trendy and sharp as any on the market, and the quantity of customization truly is beneficial, even when the setup is a bit daunting. We did expertise a couple of bugs, nonetheless, in our pre-production automobiles. The tuning knob was generally laggy in scrolling by way of satellite tv for pc radio stations, the map within the instrument cluster refused to load, and the amount knob briefly went on strike. Right here’s hoping all the numerous options work easily within the salable items. And naturally, the inevitable updates will be carried out over-the-air.
For homeowners puzzled by the in-car tech, or with different questions concerning the car, “Wagoneer Ambassadors” are standing by to assist. These devoted customer support reps can be found to reply questions throughout and after the acquisition course of and are a part of Jeep’s push to raise the possession expertise with a purpose to compete with Cadillac, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, and different six-figure SUVs. Jeep can also be providing car pickup and dropoff for service, with the automobiles washed and cleaned upon return.
Sellers will equally have to up their recreation, as pricing for these autos pushes the boundaries for the Jeep model. Beginning costs, together with the $2,000 vacation spot cost (!), are $59,995 for the Wagoneer Collection I (with delayed availability), $69,995 for the Collection II and $75,590 for the Collection III. The Grand Wagoneer is available in Collection I, Collection II, Obsidian (darkish exterior trim), and Collection III grades, and right here beginning figures vary from $88,995 to $105,995.
As followers of the basic Grand Wagoneer, we would have favored if this new model drew a stronger line to the unique (although stopping wanting plasti-wood siding). For many patrons, although, the mixture of stretch-out house, a luxe inside, a nice driving expertise, and stout towing functionality are definitely sufficient to earn this Jeep its share of the profitable market. We simply can’t assist however surprise: What took so lengthy?
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