Jeep has decided to jump in the expensive end of the SUV pool with the truck-based Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. By now you’ve read Tim’s reviews of the brutes and had time to make up your mind if Jeep is on the right track or not with its ‘different lengths of sausage’ approach to styling. Hey, it works for Audi.
Drilling down into the minutiae of trims and features is always fun. Let’s see if we can parse The Right Spec from the maze of options on offer in this segment’s newest player.
And, before you bleat, we are including both models in this assessment. The differences are largely mechanical, unlike when the Grandest of Cherokees dropped way back in 1993 as a completely separate vehicle. At this fork in the road, one simply needs to figure out if they want to be in command of a V8 with 5.7L or 6.4L of displacement; this will guide their decision-making path.
By the way, it’s worth noting GM will be offering the mighty 6.2L V8 in more trims of the Tahoe and Yukon in 2022, including the Z71 and AT4. There’s more than a hint of a suggestion that the appearance of the big Hemi in Grand Wagoneer forced their hand in this decision.
Nevertheless, if you can bear to fathom the haughty looks from your neighbors once they discover your Wagoneer is less than Grand, there’s a lot to like in the 5.7L model. For those who care about towing, the smaller engine is actually rated to haul more weight than the 6.4L, peaking at a burly 10,000 pounds when equipped with the right gear. That’s about 150 lbs more than the beefiest Grand Wagoneer.
So there’s the hook – but how about the reel? At launch, there are two trims of Wagoneer: Series II and Series III. Presumably, there will be a lower-buck Series II at some point down the road, with these trims serving as high(er)-profit ways to get the model out of the gate. A two-wheel-drive variant is offered but a rear-drive Jeep is about as useful as a bladeless pocketknife, so we’ll stick with the 4×4. This pushes the starting price just north of $70,000.
It’s a $5,000 walk to the Series III, most of which is eaten up by the existence of the brand’s Quadra-Lift air suspension and a two-speed transfer case. While the vast majority of buyers don’t know (or care) about the function of those features, your off-road addled author is a proponent of selecting the most capable variant of any given Jeep. This explains why there is a Cherokee Trailhawk in his driveway. The argument that no one will take a $70,000+ SUV off-road is well-founded, by the way.
It’s for this reason I’d select the Series III and add the Advanced All-Terrain Group ($1,095) which brings skid plates, a rear locker, and better tires to the party. Leaving all other packages on the table could be a wise decision, including the expensive Premium Group which largely consists of a huge sunroof and 19-speaker McIntosh audio system. The HD trailering package is worth a look at $995 and includes a trailer brake controller and different reversing camera views. Even if you don’t tow much, the heavy-duty engine cooling never goes astray. Choosing to spend an additional $1,195 on an interactive touchscreen display dead-ahead of the passenger (just like in certain Ferraris) would provide a dandy party trick; go for it.
Please note the prices listed here are in United States dollars and currently accurate for base prices exclusive of any fees, taxes, or rebates. Your dealer may (and should) sell for less (obscene market conditions notwithstanding). Keep your foot down, bone up on available rebates, and bargain hard.
[Images: Jeep]
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I have always advocated that if a vehicle, any vehicle, has an optional stand-alone trailering package, and it comes with more than a hitch and wiring harness, it is worth every penny.
A combination of beefier cooling, transmission cooling, alternator, better brake pads/rotors out of the box (depends on make/model what you get) is cheap extra insurance.
Only compromise with towing package is lower gear ratio resulting in lower gas mileage?
Depends on the manufacturer. For unibody SUV/CUVs that are FWD/AWD based probably not a factor.
I haven’t bought a BOF truck in 10 years so maybe the landscape has changed. With GMT900 you could get the towing package stand-alone and pick your gear ratio independently.
So you could get the tow package with the standard 3.73 gears (or was it 3.53, don’t hold me to that) or you could add the 4.10 gears as an additional option.
Agree. If a tow package includes any brake and/or cooling improvements, always get it, whether you have the slightest inclination to tow or not.
We even got the tow package on the minivan. Still got an average of 29mpg driving form the midwest to CA. Got 19mpg on the way back with a 3000# trailer. The trans temp ran about 8* warmer going up the mountains around Sedona/Flagstaff and the oil temp stayed in the normal range but the coolant temp got warmer than I would like. the digital readout was in the 213/215 range but the temp tape on the side only moved a little but. Normal temp on the digital is 197*.
The 2000 Durango also has a tow package with the trans cooler, heavy duty cooling etc. That has the 3.73 rear end but the taller overdrive. That got 13mpg average from CA to the midwest with a car on back and averages 17mpg normally.
I agree that even if you don’t tow it is a good option if it has more than just the hitch. It can even offer additional protection from inattentive drivers.
The right trim would be a flawlessly maintained 1990 version! This bloated, slabsided truck totally misses the mark.
I’m in the opposite camp. I’m only interested in a $70k vehicle at this price-point if it’s electric and will likely last until I retire.
The stainless steel electric truck is kinda ugly, but at least you get rust-resistance at this price point.
I won’t be buying a 1991 SUV for $70k, either the antique or the 2022 version with a more-refined version of the same powertrain.
But, then again, nobody asked me. [shrug]
Interestingly, GM is now playing catch-up with “Chrysler.”
I think one thing that would set this, and other Jeep vehicles apart would be a TAILGATE OPTION.
Interestingly, GM is now playing catch-up with “Chrysler.”
I think one thing that would set this and other Jeep vehicles apart would be a TAILGATE OPTION. I would LOVE to be able to buy a truck (other than a Range Rover) with a real tailgate.
No fake woodgrain paneling? I’ve seen renderings on-line.
There is way too much solid matter between the side mirrors and A-pillar. I’ll have to sit in it to make a final decision but it looks like the forward view is compromised – like through a tunnel. It’s why I don’t buy Fords. I think Subarus have the best non-intrusive A-pillars. Door mounted mirrors would have helped in the case of the Wagoneer.
Ugly overpriced bloated land barge. Who cares?
If the sales figures for such vehicles are any indication, a very large number of people.
A bilious bloated box barge for people who hate cars.
I don’t know, even if I had the money it’d be a tough sell to me.
B, C & D pillars look way too thick, windows too short and I’m not a fan of the rear end styling.
Interior looks nice but the exterior doesn’t look the part money-wise
B,C,D Pillars look too thick because they aren’t blackened out?
Wagoneer Series II 4WD : 70,995
Red velvet paint : 595
Trailering package : 1,495
Total before destination : 73,085
I skipped the off-road package because there is a 0% chance I’d ever off-road this thing and I didn’t want an air suspension.
In all honesty if I had the need for this sort of thing I’d just get an Armada S 4WD at $53K.
Grand Wagoneer Series II
Sea Salt interior, Premium Group, Trailer Tow.
$100,985.
Probably would buy the Yukon Denali though as I prefer the GM 6.2 to the Mopar 6.4, and the GMC is about $15K cheaper in the spec I want.
The styling doesn’t really work for Audi. Those cars are screaming I’m so basic.
Unless those seat cushions can articulate in amazing ways, they look uncomfortably flat.
Needs woodgrain.