These new SUVs, equipped with three rows of seats and plenty of leather and wood trim, will come in a variety of styles and with prices ranging from $ 68,000 for the Wagoneer to more than $ 100,000 for the most expensive and opulent version of the Grand. Wagoneer.
After being out of production for almost 30 years, these new models signal a long-awaited return for the Wagoneer brand. They put Jeep, a brand built on its relationship with the famous WWII off-road vehicle, in direct competition with models like the Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW. All of these recognized luxury brands manufacture full-size SUVs at roughly the same price range, although the lower-priced Wagoneer models are slightly more affordable.
The Grand Wagoneer will compete better against American rivals Lincoln Navigator and Cadillac Escalade, said Akshay Anand, an auto industry analyst at Kelley Blue Book. It could also attract customers of the British Range Rover, another brand known for off-road feats.
It will have a harder time competing with luxury SUVs like the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS, he said, because buyers of these SUVs value things like the brand’s prestige, in addition to the robustness built into the Wagoneer.
Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will also offer Amazon Fire TV Auto, a version of the Amazon Fire TV software customized for use in a vehicle. Passengers will be able to stream or watch previously downloaded movies.
The most fully equipped Grand Wagoneer, the Premium Series III version, it will come with 22-inch wheels, a 23-speaker McIntosh sound system, 10-inch screens for rear passengers and a central refrigerated storage console in the front, among other features.
The Wagoneer will be powered by a 392-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine with a moderate, fuel-saving hybrid system. A small electric motor will assist the gasoline engine in accelerating and restarting after a stop. The batteries of the electric motor are recharged during braking and by the motor.
Wagoneer’s appearance, however, closely resembles the concept version.
The interiors shown by Stellantis designers feature many wood finishes, for example. During a video presentation for journalists, Jeep executives boasted about the amount of wood and real metal – as opposed to metal-coated plastic – used in the Grand Wagoneer. Unlike the classic Grand Wagoneer, however, the new version will have no wood on the outside of the vehicle.
The controls for the front seats are on the door, so that the sides of the seat can bear the name Grand Wagoneer. The names of the vehicles are usually embossed on the so-called support plate on the floor, at the bottom of the door opening. But designers feared that if it were found there, the name would get dirty and muddy.
SUVs will be available with air suspension that can lift them up to 25 centimeters off the ground for off-road driving. They will be able to drive up to 60 centimeters in depth, said Stellantis.
The first Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs will arrive at dealerships in the second half of this year, according to Stellantis.
The original Wagoneer was launched in 1962. Although based on a truck frame, the Wagoneer was much more stylish and car-like than other previous SUVs, such as the Bronco and the International Harvester Scout. It was also the first four-wheel drive vehicle available with automatic transmission. He introduced the modern concept of an SUV as a family vehicle, rather than what something just for farmers and hunters. The Grand Wagoneer became a distinct model line in 1984. Production ended in 1991 in view of the increase in gas prices.