Jeep's Grand Wagoneer Fast Approaching
Poised deliver a super-sized sport utility vehicle to a brand that doesn’t have anything in its lineup to compete with the likes of the Chevy Suburban, Ford Expedition or their more-premium alternatives, Jeep’s returning Grand Wagoneer is probably about a year from entering production. Eager to check on Jeep’s progress, our sister site AutoGuide spoke with brand head Jim Morrison this week.
Most of the interview centered around the new Gladiator Mojave and how important it was not to taint the Jeep brand by forgetting what it’s supposed to represent — getting groovy off the pavement. Morrison also touched on the Wagoneer, however, hinting that we’ll get our first official taste very soon.
The model is expected to go on sale in 2021 (possibly early 2022), with public debuts occurring this year.
“I think one of the things we like about the Jeep brand is that we pay attention to what our customers are saying,” Morrison told AutoGuide. “They’ve said they wanted a pickup truck? We’ve given the Gladiator. They’ve said they wanted a Wrangler with a diesel? We’ve given them EcoDiesel. So obviously we pay attention to them and close attention to what our customers are looking for. It makes a lot of sense to be next out of the chute with the Grand Wagoneer, but more on that soon.”
With room for at least seven, the returning Wagoneer and uplevel Grand Wagoneer will be the largest products in Jeep’s current lineup. The manufacturer has previously confirmed the existence of hybrid variants; Morrison hinted Wagoneer will have an electrified powertrain offered as an option — probably after it has been on sale for a while and potentially using the brand’s new “4xe” badging. While this might upset purists, shared bones with the Ram 1500 means body-on-frame construction and healthy off-road chops. No reason to panic.
Most powertrains should be familiar to Ram owners. While Jeep has yet to confirm everything offered with the Wagoneer, anything that fits into the pickup should be fair game — ditto for the 48-volt, mild-hybrid system that’s available on the 3.6-liter six-cylinder and 5.7-liter V8. As with all Jeep models, accessories will carry an elevated level of importance. Expect an impressively lengthy list in the Jeep Performance Parts catalog.
[Images: Jeep]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
More by Matt Posky
Latest Car Reviews
Read moreLatest Product Reviews
Read moreRecent Comments
- Mebgardner I test drove a 2023 2.5 Rav4 last year. I passed on it because it was a very noisy interior, and handled poorly on uneven pavement (filled potholes), which Tucson has many. Very little acoustic padding mean you talk loudly above 55 mph. The forums were also talking about how the roof leaks from not properly sealed roof rack holes, and door windows leaking into the lower door interior. I did not stick around to find out if all that was true. No talk about engine troubles though, this is new info to me.
- Dave Holzman '08 Civic (stick) that I bought used 1/31/12 with 35k on the clock. Now at 159k.It runs as nicely as it did when I bought it. I love the feel of the car. The most expensive replacement was the AC compressor, I think, but something to do with the AC that went at 80k and cost $1300 to replace. It's had more stuff replaced than I expected, but not enough to make me want to ditch a car that I truly enjoy driving.
- ToolGuy Let's review: I am a poor unsuccessful loser. Any car company which introduced an EV which I could afford would earn my contempt. Of course I would buy it, but I wouldn't respect them. 😉
- ToolGuy Correct answer is the one that isn't a Honda.
- 1995 SC Man it isn't even the weekend yet
Comments
Join the conversation
Crumbling interstates are the new off-road. Bring Dwight D. Eisenhower forward in a time machine and show him around the U.S. Interstate system in 2020. Now remember that look he just gave you.
The GC is an interesting vehicle. Most crossovers are so named becasue they share components with a car. The WK2 shares parts with more car like SUV's (Durango ML), but it's RWD and has low range which kind of seems to make it an SUV in my mind. As I recall when crossovers first came out 4wheeler magazine decided a two speed transfer case might be the best dividing line to use between the two classes. That said stock to stock my guess is that a GC would follow a 4runner down most trails without issue. I know you hate the Unibody thing but I had an XJ and that thing was a beast offroad. Much better traction and suspension offroad then any other 4wd I have owned. Now which would I rather beat offroad if I were paying for repairs as a long term owner the 4runner, but that doesn't mean the GC isn't capable of going offroad