Close your eyes and imagine “a Jeep.” The mental picture that materializes is probably something like a sporty Wrangler or a popular Grand Cherokee. These iconic models are amongst the most well-known for the automaker. However, there`s more variety to the Jeep lineup than in past years thanks to outliers like the Gladiator pickup truck — and, even more recently, the high-end additions of the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. Keep reading to learn more about Jeep`s foray into the large, luxury SUV segment with the Wagoneer — including what experts are saying about this model.
The Jeep Wagoneer Yesterday: A Retrospective
Fun fact: Jeep unveiled the Wagoneer for the 2022 model year, but it`s not athe first Wagoneer that`s ever graced the roads. For nearly three decades, from 1962 until 1991, the Jeep Wagoneer “set a precedent” for modern luxury SUVs, according to Motor Trend.
History buffs may associate the original Wagoneer with its wood panels of the 1970s, but this model also offered many interior cabin touches that made it a deluxe ride for the whole family. It also pioneered capability and performance features, like being the first 4WD vehicle to give drivers a choice between automatic transmission or manual.
As they say, all good things must come to an end. Or do they? It may have lain dormant for decades, but Jeep revealed in 2021 that the Wagoneer would soon reemerge… with some major upgrades.
The Jeep Wagoneer Today: Reviews & Features
Maybe the most noticeable thing about the new Jeep Wagoneer: it`s large. Whereas many Jeeps are competitors in the midsize segment, the Wagoneer — with its three rows of seating for up to eight people — represents an entry into the large SUV segment. It also has the body-on-frame construction of a pickup truck rather than unibody construction of many smaller SUVs.
According to a review from an independent expert at J.D. Power, some of the highlights of the Wagoneer include:
- High seating provides good visibility without sacrificing ease of sliding in and out.
- The cabin lacks hard plastic, instead opting for soft and smooth materials.
- The Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10-inch HD touchscreen is easy to operate.
- The 5.7L V8 engine provides good acceleration while improving fuel efficiency a bit thanks to the eTorque mild-hybrid system for auto starts and stops.
- The Wagoneer can tow up to 10,000 pounds when configured with a towing package.
This expert`s takeaway? The Wagoneer is simultaneously roomier yet easier to handle than many competitors. He noted the cabin was quiet, spacious, tech-savvy and lush.
Another reviewer for U.S. News & World Report Cars, gave the 2022 Wagoneer a rating of 9.5 out of 10 — again citing the engine, ride quality, cabin quality, towing, and breadth of standard features as the highlights. This reviewer also mentioned the SUV`s ability to handle adverse terrain, like driving down a remote road to a camping site and the like. The cons he noted were a difficulty maneuvering in tight spaces — definitely an ongoing hallmark of large SUVs — as well as its high MSRP.
Especially for drivers who are expecting this vehicle to be priced in the ballpark of existing Jeeps, a bit of sticker shock may ensue. It makes more sense in the context of the class of large SUVs however, which are routinely priced within a similar range due to their capability as well as their luxury materials and tech features.
The Jeep Wagoneer is back, and experts everywhere are talking about it — especially because the 2023 model year is slated to offer a foot-longer version called the L for expanded cargo capacity.
