Jeep Grand Wagoneer Update: This Could Go On for a While…

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Clearly deciding that the protracted teaser campaign leading up to the debut of the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon was a template worthy of another go-round, Fiat Chrysler continues dropping sly suggestions of its upcoming full-size Jeep. In the absence of a defined reveal date, this could go on forever.

It already feels like it has.

pic.twitter.com/wjCJU1Eh7S

— Jeep (@Jeep) August 14, 2020

Well, at least we know the upcoming Ram 1500-based SUV will feature its name somewhere on the outside of the vehicle. Interesting feature, that. Thanks to images tweeted out by Jeep on Friday, we can also see that the badging comes with an arguably gaudy gold finish, complete with a little American flag.

Make no mistake, this vehicle hails from Warren, not Mexico.

There’ll also be a way of starting up the engine from the inside of the vehicle. A push-button ignition will appear in this three-row vehicle, which is expected to top out north of $100k. Built alongside its lesser sibling, the Wagoneer, starting in the second quarter of 2021, the Michigan-built Grand Wagoneer is something Jeep should have had on the market at least a couple of years ago.

Still, better late than never, as the North American new vehicle market isn’t like Europe’s, where consumer trends are reversed almost overnight at the stroke of a lawmaker’s pen. As we told you already, the full-size SUV market in the U.S. is remarkably resilient.

While one could picture Jeep throwing out furtive glimpses and teasers for the rest of the year, the current week has already seen two such mini-reveals. That’s quite a pace to keep up. Expect a debut within the next couple of months, and perhaps a lot sooner than you think.

Of course, Jeep could choose to make its Grand Wagoneer the star of November’s L.A. Auto Show, but there’s no way that still-uncancelled show’s happening, given the virus situation.

[Image: Jeep]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Corey Lewis Corey Lewis on Aug 15, 2020

    As I've said before, Chrysler has continually dropped the large SUV ball. There should have been a Ram-based Suburban competitor in 1995. Here we are, TWENTY FIVE years later, and they still don't have a full-size SUV. The Wagoneer name has grown dust alongside the Grand, and Ramcharger which would be the Tahoe Sport entry. Shocking incompetence. But hey, at least we had all those other great Chrysler products 1995-2008.

    • FreedMike FreedMike on Aug 15, 2020

      Agreed 100% - they could have sold the living heck out of a full sized Ram SUV. Call it the "Ramcharger." Maybe the Aspen/Durango disaster gave them cold feet? It's ball-drop after ball-drop for these guys. Dodge Dart...Chrysler 200...Fiat...Alfa...Maserati... FCA should thank its' lucky stars for Jeep and Ram - it would have been dead LONG ago otherwise.

  • Whatnext Whatnext on Aug 15, 2020

    Uh, I hope the stars and stripes won't be on export market vehicles.

  • David Murilee Martin, These Toyota Vans were absolute garbage. As the labor even basic service cost 400% as much as servicing a VW Vanagon or American minivan. A skilled Toyota tech would take about 2.5 hours just to change the air cleaner. Also they also broke often, as they overheated and warped the engine and boiled the automatic transmission...
  • Marcr My wife and I mostly work from home (or use public transit), the kid is grown, and we no longer do road trips of more than 150 miles or so. Our one car mostly gets used for local errands and the occasional airport pickup. The first non-Tesla, non-Mini, non-Fiat, non-Kia/Hyundai, non-GM (I do have my biases) small fun-to-drive hatchback EV with 200+ mile range, instrument display behind the wheel where it belongs and actual knobs for oft-used functions for under $35K will get our money. What we really want is a proper 21st century equivalent of the original Honda Civic. The Volvo EX30 is close and may end up being the compromise choice.
  • 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. 😉
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