First Look: 2022 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer

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Before the term “sport-utility vehicle” entered the automotive lexicon, there was the Jeep Wagoneer. Seven years before Land Rover debuted the Range Rover, touted as the first luxury sport-ute, there was the premium Wagoneer. The first four-wheel-drive vehicle to be fitted with an automatic transmission, power steering, and an independent front suspension was the, you guessed it, Wagoneer.

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And, personally, the first vehicle I ever drove, literally taking my driver’s test in it, was a Wagoneer — my parent’s 1966 model, one of at least four (possibly five) that served as family transportation over the years.

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The full-size, body-on-frame Wagoneer, assembled by Kaiser, American Motors, and finally Chrysler over its 29-year production history (almost completely unchanged), debuted in late 1962 as a 1963 model. Jeep’s renowned Quadra-Trac automatic full-time four-wheel-drive system, was introduced on the SUV in 1973.

The addition of the Grand Wagoneer variant in 1984 marked the beginning of Jeep as a purveyor of premium SUVs, the Grand giving buyers an unheard of — for the time — combination of standard features, such as leather upholstery, air conditioning, AM/FM/CB stereo radios, added sound insulation and wood-grain exterior trim. Considered “the gold standard of the SUV market,” Grand Wagoneer also offered a 360-cubic-inch (5.9L) V8 with increased horsepower and torque, and the segment’s highest towing rating.

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By the time production stopped in June 1991, it was about as expensive as a Cadillac, only, as it turns out, with far greater collectability these days.

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With such a history — and dismissing Chrysler’s misuse of the name on the smaller Cherokee XJ during the 1980s — the company is resurrecting the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer names, with large-and-in-charge three-row models touted as “classic and premium American icons” with “a standard of sophistication, authenticity and modern mobility.”

“We know who they [customers] are and what they want,” says Christian Meunier, Jeep brand CEO. “They live life to the fullest and they enjoy every little bit of it. When you lead such a full life you choose a vehicle with personality. That’s what Wagoneer is for.”

First the basics: The 2022 Wagoneer is available in Series I (late availability), Series II, and Series III. Grand Wagoneer offers Series I, Series II, Series III, and Obsidian. With prices ranging from $69,995 to $85,995 for the Wagoneer; and $100,995 to $120,995 for the Grand Wagoneer, it will be discerning, well-heeled clientele eyeing these uber-Jeeps — so forget the fake wood panelling. The plan, says Meunier, is for Wagoneer to ultimately become a portfolio of SUVs, “a distinct and very unique brand within the Jeep brand.”

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The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will “cover the large utility vehicle market from the heart of the segment to premium,” says Meunier.

The exterior design is formal, imposing even, using “timeless, iconic, legacy” elements from the old Wagoneer, notes Tim Anness, director of Jeep interior design, such as the long linear roof line, the forward-slanting grille and the trapezoidal wheel arches. And, unlike the new and smaller 2021 Grand Cherokee, which is a rear-drive-based unibody SUV, the Wagoneer and Grand ride on the Ram 1500 pickup’s body-on-frame architecture. On the outside, they are bright, shiny and laden with chrome touches, the detailing involved just in the grille itself particularly noteworthy.

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In terms of external dimensions, the two models are identical, with a length of 5,453 millimetres (214.7 inches) and a wheelbase of 3,124 mm (123 inches), slightly longer than both the Lincoln Navigator and Cadillac Escalade, which are clearly the competition. Engine-wise, Jeep is sticking with traditional and proven Chrysler powertrains. The Wagoneer will be powered by a 392-horsepower, 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with the eTorque mild hybrid system. The Grand Wagoneer, meanwhile, is fitted with a 471-hp 6.4L V8. Both Jeeps will need every one of their horses; all versions bend the scale’s needle with at least three tons of tarmac-crushing weight.

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The engines are paired with a TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. When equipped properly, Jeep claims best-in-class towing capabilities of up to 10,000 pounds with either engine. Four-wheel drivetrains only for the Canadian market; buyers are offered a choice of Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II, or Quadra-Drive II setups. Throw in Selec-Terrain — standard with Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II — and its five settings (Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow and Sand/Mud) and clearly the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will be able to tackle more than a shopping mall parking lot. Wagoneer models with the available Advanced All-Terrain Group even come with steel skid plates to protect the front axle, transfer case, fuel tank and rear stabilizer bushing. Due to their generous dimensions, which would make bush-bashing a tad problematic, neither will be blessed with Jeep’s vaunted Trail Rated seal of approval.

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Seating for up to eight is available on all models and include a third row — a first for the nameplate — one not just for kids. Getting to the back is via the second-row seat’s power release Tip n’ Slide function, which creates more space for passengers to get to their seat. Configuring the third row for passengers or cargo is easy, as the seat can both recline and fold flat. Front- and second-row captain’s chairs — another first time offering — are available on Wagoneer and standard on Grand Wagoneer.

As formal as the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are on the outside, inside is a lavishly appointed and spacious cabin rife with the finest woods, leathers, and shiny trim bits. Wagoneer models feature 12-way power front seats swathed in Nappa leather and with memory settings, power lumbar support, and four-way manual headrest. Grand Wagoneer comes with 24-way power front seats, including memory settings and massage, power lumbar support, and four-way powered headrests. Passenger memory seats are also standard. Other modern-yet-familiar options include first and second row heated/ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, memory steering column and adjustable pedals.

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Wagoneer features a one-piece instrument panel, while Grand Wagoneer get a two-piece design, with an optional piano black mid-bolster that integrates the SUV’s advanced technology and connectivity. Ah, yes, “technology,” as in “how much gadgetry can we possibly stuff into 179 cubic feet of passenger space?”. Grand Wagoneer is available with up to 75 inches of total digital touchscreen area, Wagoneer with 50 inches. With up to seven screens throughout, Vince Galante, chief designer for user experience, says this provides “the opportunity to create a personalized and immersive experience for every single passenger in the vehicle.”

As an example, an available 10.25-inch passenger screen provides the front passenger with dynamic touchscreen control at their fingertips. This screen has four major functions: Co-Pilot (navigation, device management), entertainment (via HDMI or rear-seat entertainment control), Fire TV for Auto and the ability to view the exterior vehicle cameras. Passenger screens in both the front and rear feature an HDMI plug, which lets occupants connect their phone or tablet, turning the touchscreen into a mirrored extension of their device, allowing internet searches, music and app use to project through the new and more powerful Uconnect 5 system.

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When the original Wagoneer was retired 30 years ago, the full-size luxury sport-ute segment was much different than it is today. Back then, German automakers were still building cars, not SUVs. Neither the Navigator nor Escalade had made it to the drawing boards, and Lexus was a new nameplate from Toyota struggling to gain recognition. Clearly, the competition is much stronger and far more established today, and Jeep is moving away from its traditional fan base in order to reconnect with upscale customers.

Yet, Meunier is far from worried, exuding positivity and sounding, perhaps, even a little boastful about the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer’s prospects in such a competitive environment. “This very popular segment over the years has become plain with nothing new to say. Most premium SUVs on the road today have become invisible. On the contrary, Wagoneer has a spirit all its own … it will bring a soul to the segment.”

Deliveries of the all-new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are scheduled to begin in the second half of 2021.

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