Jeep unveils long-awaited Grand Wagoneer SUV for $ 111,000

DETROIT – Jeep’s long-awaited Grand Wagoneer SUV will push the quintessential off-road brand in luxury vehicles with a fully loaded model surpassing $ 111,000 when it goes on sale later this year.

The new three-row SUV will test whether Jeep can expand its product line in the lucrative luxury SUV segment and attract new customers such as Cadillac, Lincoln and Land Rover. Jeep has made its mainstream SUVs into a full line of vehicles in recent years amid an influx of new competitors.

The Grand Wagoneer will be the premium sibling of a cheaper SUV called the Wagoneer, which will start at $ 57,995. Both vehicles are the same size, but the Grand Wagoneer – starting at $ 86,995 – features a slightly different exterior design, a more powerful engine, and exclusive amenities inside. Both vehicles are expected to be unveiled online Thursday.

“Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer were born from Jeep, but their character is different from the rest of the brand,” said Christian Meunier, CEO of Jeep, during a press briefing before the unveiling. “They are modern and forward-looking. We rely on pure DNA to make these products absolutely unique.”

While the exterior of the Grand Wagoneer is unmistakably a Jeep, the interior of the SUV may seem unrecognizable to current owners. It has up to 75 inches of screens, including a 10.25-inch touchscreen available in front of the passenger that can stream videos and Amazon Fire TV and control certain functions such as navigation and exterior cameras.

The interior of the vehicle also features premium materials such as satin American walnut wood, aluminum, and the 24-way power seats trimmed in Nappa or Palermo leather.

“You can test this Grand Wagoneer interior against anything on the market,” Jim Morrison, Jeep’s North American operations manager. “I’m not just saying any SUV, you can take on anything on the market.”

Overall, the Wagoneer has fewer standard features and premium materials than the Grand Wagoneer. For example, the cheaper Wagoneer offers up to 50 inches of screens compared to 75 inches. Some screens are smaller and do not offer touch screens for comfort settings. Amazon Fire TV is available both with a passenger touchscreen, which is blocked from the driver’s view by a filter.

Jeep said both Wagoneer models would eventually offer a hands-free driver assistance system on “approved roads,” but a spokesperson declined to provide further details. The vehicles will be launched with a driver assistance system that will be able to control vehicle speed, braking and the spacing between other vehicles, but drivers will need to keep their hands on the wheel.

The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are expected to hit dealerships in the second half of 2021, including a top-of-the-line Grand Wagoneer Series III that starts at $ 103,995. Jeep is taking refundable deposits of $ 500 for both vehicles on the Jeep website starting Thursday.

Jeep dealers must be certified to sell models. Certification includes training and an undisclosed investment. They must keep 10 “promises” for Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer owners that range from free Wi-Fi and car washes on service visits to a “high-tech and efficient sales and service experience”. The automaker will also offer 24-hour customer support for owners.

“Customer satisfaction with both the product and the way it is treated throughout the purchasing process is paramount to the entire Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer experience,” said Meunier.

The names Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer were previously used by Jeep for large SUVs from 1963 to 1991. The company had promised to resurrect the Wagoneer name for nearly a decade to better compete in the highly profitable large SUV segment.

The seven- or eight-passenger vehicles are largely based on a concept version of the vehicle the company unveiled last year. The concept featured similar design elements along with much of the interior features and displays. Notable missing elements from the concept include an illuminated grille, glass roof, and a plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid engine.

Jeep has announced that all of its new models will offer some form of electrification, like the plug-in hybrid system, but executives declined to comment on alternative powertrains for the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. Meunier said the brand “has an electrification plan”.

Jeep’s new parent company, Stellantis – the product of a $ 52 billion merger between automakers Fiat Chrysler and Groupe PSA – plans to offer a range of fully electric or hybrid vehicles through 2025.

The Wagoneer comes standard with a 5.7-liter mild-hybrid V8 developing 392 horsepower and 404 pound-feet of torque. The Grand Wagoneer comes standard with the 6.4-liter V8 engine producing 471 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque. Each engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The hybrid engine includes a 48-volt battery for better fuel economy and faster acceleration as well as other benefits.

Jeep has not released fuel consumption estimates for the vehicles.