Don’t call it a Jeep: New Wagoneer a brand of its own, starts at $$57,995

It’s not rather the aforesaid arsenic the erstwhile Chrysler Corp.’s separation of the Ram pickup enactment from Dodge astir 10 years ago, but you get the picture. Rams are nary longer considered Dodge vehicles, and these caller Wagoneers are not officially considered Jeeps.

The Wagoneer was agelong a staple of the Jeep lineup, primitively introduced successful 1962 arsenic a full-size Jeep presumption wagon. It was a caller sanction for the Willys Jeep presumption wagon that had been successful accumulation since conscionable aft World War II.

That fundamentally was the archetypal full-size sport-utility vehicle, oregon SUV, though that designation for this genre of vehicles didn’t look until the 1990s.

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American Motors and past the erstwhile Chrysler Corp. continued to diagnostic a Wagoneer successful the Jeep lineup until 1994, when, successful its past year, it was the apical exemplary of the past astir caller Jeep Grand Cherokee line.

But the sanction has been gone since then, until this existent revival. This time, alternatively of it being connected the unibody chassis of the Grand Cherokee, the Wagoneer returns to its roots arsenic a body-on-frame vehicle, based connected the Ram 1500 pickup.

My archetypal Jeep was a Wagoneer, a 1965 exemplary that I bought successful the mid-70s to research the mountains of Appalachia, wherever I was surviving astatine the time. It was a rugged and dependable vehicle, but a spot excessively ample for galore of the alleged Jeep trails of the day. Mine had a Buick V-8 engine.

For 2022, determination are 2 versions of this caller seven- oregon eight-passenger SUV: the Wagoneer, starting astatine $57,995 (plus $2,000 freight) for the Series I entry-level exemplary with rear-wheel drive; and $86,995 for the Grand Wagoneer Series I with four-wheel drive.

These large household haulers are being promoted arsenic “a premium hold of the Jeep brand,” but due to the fact that they bash not person the Jeep sanction connected them, they are not listed connected the Jeep.com user website. You tin find and bid them astatine wagoneer.com.

The least-expensive four-wheel-drive Wagoneer is the Series II exemplary astatine $70,995 (which is disposable with conscionable rear-wheel thrust for $67,995). The (base) Series I exemplary is offered successful two-wheel thrust only.

There is simply a Wagoneer Series III exemplary that begins astatine $72,995 for the rear-drive model, and $75,995 for the four-wheel drive.

Stepping up to much luxury, determination is the Grand Wagoneer, which comes lone with four-wheel drive.                  

The Series II exemplary begins astatine $93,995, and the Series III astatine $103,995. Between the Series II and III models is the Grand Wagoneer Obsidian, starting astatine $98,995.

Our tester for this study was the Grand Wagoneer Series II, which had a fewer options that ran the full terms to $101,580, including freight. 

Prices this precocious enactment the Wagoneer and particularly the Grand Wagoneer successful the stratosphere occupied by luxury-brand SUVs from makers specified arsenic Cadillac (Escalade), Land Rover, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Audi and Infiniti. Parent institution Stellantis (formerly Fiat-Chrysler) says the Wagoneer is competing successful the “large SUV segment,” portion the Grand Wagoneer falls successful the “premium” SUV segment.

Because of its Ram 1500 roots, the Wagoneer comes with a 5.7-liter V-8 with 392 horsepower and 404 foot-pounds of torque, and the Grand Wagoneer with a 6.4-liter V-8 motor delivering 471 horsepower and 455 foot-pounds of torque.

Both engines are connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

On the Wagoneer, the 5.7-liter V-8 comes with the eTorque 48-volt mild-hybrid strategy that uses an electrical centrifugal powered by a lithium-ion artillery to springiness the conveyance an further 130 foot-pounds of torque connected start-up.

There are 3 disposable four-wheel-drive systems, and Stellantis boasts that they person best-in-class towing capableness of up to 10,000 pounds.

 Interiors are premium for the Wagoneer, but astir limousine-like for the Grand Wagoneer. 

The 2022 Grand Wagoneer has country for up to 7 radical with the modular middle-row brace of captain's chairs, oregon 8 passengers with the optional middle-row seat seat.

Stellantis

Wagoneer models travel modular with seating for 8 passengers, with 2 captain’s chairs up front, and three-person seat seats successful the 2nd and 3rd rows.

While the mediate seat spot is modular successful the Wagoneer, the Grand Wagoneer comes with a brace of captain’s chairs successful the 2nd enactment that alteration rider capableness to seven. 

But the Wagoneer has the enactment of getting the second-row captain’s chairs, cutting capableness to seven, portion the Grand Wagoneer tin beryllium ordered with the middle-row seat spot to grow seating to 8 people.

Leather seats are modular connected each Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models, but the benignant and prime alteration with price. Wagoneer models travel with Nappa leather seats, including 12-way powerfulness beforehand seats with representation settings, powerfulness lumbar enactment and four-way manual headrest. 

The Grand Wagoneer Series I besides comes with the Nappa leather seats arsenic modular equipment. But the Grand Wagoneer Series II and Series III models measurement up to the more-luxurious Palermo leather seats with quilting and accent stitching, arsenic good arsenic leather-wrapped instrumentality panel, consoles and doorway panels. 

Our Grand Wagoneer had 20-way powerfulness beforehand seats, including representation settings and massage, powerfulness lumbar enactment and four-way powered headrests. Passenger representation seats are besides included connected the Grand Wagoneer.

Other features see first- and second-row heated/ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, representation steering file and adjustable pedals, each of which came connected our Grand Wagoneer Series II tester. 

The shaper says the premium features successful the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer widen to much than conscionable the leather upholstery and trim. They see the company’s latest Uconnect 5 infotainment system, on with disposable integer rearview mirror, exclusive Rear Seat Monitoring Camera, head-up display, frameless integer instrumentality cluster, and a premium McIntosh audio system.

Our Grand Wagoneer Series II came with the premium Diamond Black Crystal Pearl-Coat exterior paint, ($595 extra) and the Global Black Palermo leather interior with massage seats.

We had 22-inch polished-aluminum wheels with Luster Gray pockets, a hands-free powerfulness rear liftgate, tri-pane panoramic sunroof, automatic power-deploying moving boards (a large assistance erstwhile entering this gangly vehicle), and LED projector headlights.

There was a agelong database of high-tech information and information features connected our vehicle, including Automatic Emergency Braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection; Adaptive Cruise Control, including Stop and Go; Active Lane Management; Blind-spot Monitoring; Rear Cross-Path detection; rear park-assist sensors with stop; and switch-activated electrical parking brake.

So-called “autonomous conveyance capabilities” included Active Driving Assist, ParkSense Automated Parking System, Night Vision with Pedestrian and Animal Detection, Intersection Collision Assist, and Drowsy Driver Detection.

The Digital Rearview Mirror strategy includes a 9.2-inch-wide LCD show displaying the representation from a rear-facing camera connected the rear exterior of the vehicle. Unlike with a accepted rearview mirror, determination is an unobstructed presumption to the rear. The regular reflector is besides disposable by utilizing a toggle switch.

Our on-demand four-wheel-drive strategy included an electric-shift two-speed transportation lawsuit for low-range gearing; the Selec-Terrain strategy to take the benignant of roadworthy aboveground the conveyance is on; physics limited-slip rear differential; and beforehand axle differential disconnect.

Other features included the Quadra Lift Air Suspension; hill-start assist; automatic precocious beams; a head-up display, projecting onto the bottommost of the windshield; and a remote-start system.

Extras included the Premium Group ($3,995), which brought ventilated rear seats, a foldable cargo shade, color-tinted glass, adjustable roof-rail crossbars, a front-console cooler box, and the McIntosh MX1375 audio strategy with 23 speakers.

We besides had the Heavy-Duty Trailer-Tow Package ($995), which added trailer brake control, chrome tow hooks, trailer-hitch lineup assist, removable rear tow hook, and heavy-duty motor cooling.

GPS navigation was included, and determination was a 12-inch show successful the halfway of the dash for navigation and audio.

What tin I accidental astir thrust comfort? This is simply a four-wheel-drive limousine, and cipher riding successful it tin legitimately kick astir thrust quality. It’s besides precise quiescent wrong astatine road speeds.

The large V-8 motor provided plentifulness of power, though we did not effort towing a trailer, and we ne'er filled the Grand Wagoneer with radical and/or cargo.

Total sticker terms for our Grand Wagoneer Series II was $101,580, including the $2,000 freight and $5,585 successful options.

The automotive columns of G. Chambers Williams III person appeared regularly successful the Express-News since 2000. Contact him astatine chambers@auto-writer.com oregon connected Twitter @gchambers3.

2021 Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer

The package: Full-size, five-door, seven- oregon eight-passenger, V-8 powered, rear- oregon four-wheel-drive truck-based sport-utility vehicle.
Highlights: The newest procreation of the Wagoneer revives a sanction not seen connected the marketplace since 1994, but does truthful successful expansive manner with a enactment of premium and luxury SUVs that are present considered abstracted from their archetypal Jeep brand.
Negatives: Quite pricey astatine the apical end. 
Engines: 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with eTorque hybrid assistance (Wagoneer, 2- oregon 4-wheel drive); 6.4-liter V-8 (Grand Wagoneer, 4WD only).
Transmissions: Eight-speed automatic.
Power/torque: 392 HP/404 foot-pounds (5.7-liter); 471 HP./455 foot-pounds (6.4).
Length: 214.7 inches.
Curb value range: 5.960-6,420 pounds.
Cargo volume: 27.4 cubic feet (behind 3rd seat).
Trailer towing capacity: Maximum 10,000 pounds with optional towing package.
Brakes, front/rear: Disc/disc, antilock.
Electronic stableness control: Standard.
Side aerial bags: Seat-mounted side, front; side-curtain, some rows.
Fuel capacity/type: 26.5 gallons/unleaded regular.
EPA substance economy: 18 mpg city/22 highway/16 combined (5.7-liter, 2WD); 17/20/15 (5.7, 4WD); 13/18/15 (6.4-liter).
Major competitors: Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Toyota Sequoia, Toyota Land Cruiser, Lexus LX 570, Lexus GX 460, Range Rover, Nissan Armada, Infiniti QX80.
Base terms range: $57,995-$103,995, positive $2,000 freight.
Price arsenic tested: $101,580, including freight and options (Grand Wagoneer Series II).
On the Road rating: 8.7 (of a imaginable 10).

Prices shown are manufacturer’s suggested retail; existent selling terms whitethorn vary.