2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer

The all-new Jeep Grand Wagoneer is a direct shot across the bow of the high-end luxury SUV market. With this SUV, Jeep is taking the fight directly to the BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS, and Land Rover Range Rover. It's trying to beat the Europeans at their own game, offering luxury Nappa leather, tasteful styling, and more screens than an iStore. Every Grand Wagoneer is equipped with a naturally-aspirated 6.4-liter V8 engine producing 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and this entire ladder-frame car rides on a cushy air suspension. By aiming for the stars, Jeep also hopes to decimate local luxury giants in the US, too, like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. So how good is it, really?

There's only so much you can do with a box. The Jeep's slab-sided dimensions left the design department little room for flamboyance, and thank heavens for that. The large luxury SUV segment is currently dominated by massive grilles parading around as vehicles. Jeep's famous seven-slot grille is an adequate size and tastefully incorporated. We also like the thin LED headlights, contemporary chrome inserts, and distinctive alloy wheels. A tri-pane panoramic sunroof is also standard across the range.

The Grand Wagoneer shares its exterior dimensions with the standard Wagoneer. It has a length of 214.7 inches, is 83.6 inches wide, and rides on a 123-inch wheelbase. It stands 75.6 inches tall. The standard air suspension lowers the body when the car is parked. Both the load floor height and sill step height are lower than they are on the standard Wagoneer. Without the air suspension, the Wagoneer's off-road-related figures are not worth boasting about. The Grand Wagoneer can rightfully boast, as it has approach/breakover/departure angles of 25/22/24 degrees, respectively.

The Grand Wagoneer is quite heavy with the larger engine up front and a 4x4 drivetrain as standard. A Series I has a curb weight of 6,430 pounds and the Series III tops out at 6,420 lbs.

Jeep is famous for offering a wide selection of exterior colors with cool names like Snazberry. The Grand Wagoneer is too grown up for that, however. The color palette is very Germanic, otherwise known as a selection of gray, a grayer gray, and light gray. Even the names sound like they were made up in a corporate office park on a drab Tuesday morning in Munich. Every Wagoneer has a black clear-coat roof and A-pillars. You can combine it with Bright White at no cost or spend an extra $595 on the eight available color options. The options are Midnight Sky, Baltic Gray, Silver-Zynith, River Rock, Velvet Red, Ember Pearl, Rocky Mountain, and Luxury White. The Obsidian trim is limited to Midnight Sky, Baltic Gray, Silver-Zynith, Ember Pearl, and Bright White. This is to ensure that its Black Onyx exterior adornments don't clash with the hue.

For $595, Jeep will paint the entire Grand Wagoneer in Diamond Black Crystal Pearl.

For a car that's so technologically advanced in many areas, it's slightly disappointing to find a 6.4-liter naturally aspirated V8 under the hood. The old mule delivers an adequate 471 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque, enough to get it from 0-60 mph in six seconds. In isolation, it's a good engine and never feels underpowered, but the Grand Wagoneer does not compete in a segment of one. The Lincoln Navigator uses a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 that produces 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. The BMW X7 also has a V8 but with two turbochargers. It easily outguns the Jeep with 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. Four-wheel drive is standard across the Grand Wagoneer range. Jeep's Quadra-Drive II is a full-time 4WD system capable of sending 100% of the available torque to the wheel with the most traction. Most of its rivals still offer an RWD option, so well done to Jeep for making this standard. The figure most prospective customers will likely care about is the tow rating. A standard Wagoneer equipped with the 5.7-liter V8 can tow up to 10,000 lbs. The Grand Wagoneer is just 150 lbs behind, with a claimed towing capacity of 9,850 lbs.

Jeep uses an old-school engine mated to a modern gearbox. The Grand Wagoneer needs as many ratios as it can get because the powerband is exceptionally narrow. The peak power of 471 horses is delivered at 6,000 rpm, while the maximum torque of 455 lb-ft only arrives at 4,400 rpm. The maximum engine speed is limited to 6,400 rpm, which means you only get access to the full stable of horses for 400 rpm.

When cruising along, the gearbox ensures that you never reach peak horsepower. It will shift up before you get anywhere near the redline in pursuit of ultimate fuel efficiency. The transmission is much like a well-trained butler, quietly going about its business. But when you need a sudden burst of power, that butler is on hand immediately with a double shot of espresso.

The Quadra-Trac II 4WD system is standard on the Grand Wagoneer, and it has a two-speed transfer case. You can manually engage low range or select between Auto, Tow, Snow, Mud, Sand, Rock, or Sport, and the car will do everything for you.

Sport mode might sound tempting, but the Grand Wagoneer is at its best in Auto. In this mode, the car treats the engine like the big lazy lump it is, never quite reaching those final 400 revolutions. Auto mode is not only good for fuel consumption, but it also suits the nature of the car perfectly. Sit back, relax, and keep the engine just above tick over.

As mentioned earlier, the Grand Wagoneer comes standard with Auto, Tow, Snow, Mud, Sand, Rock, and Sport driving modes. These modes make it ridiculously easy to drive the vehicle in any of the corresponding conditions. You simply tell the car what you want it to do, and it does the rest. You just keep it pointed in the right direction and apply throttle. The only mode that doesn't do what it says on the box is Sport. The Grand Wagoneer is about as sporty as an obese donkey. But then again, what were you expecting from a 6,500 lbs box on a ladder-frame chassis?

The car feels massive if you try to force it to do anything beyond a standard leisurely cruise, but that's perfectly acceptable. The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer boast a fully independent suspension setup, and the Grand's ride quality is further enhanced thanks to a standard air suspension. It floats like a butterfly, but it does not sting like a bee. At all. The Grand Wagoneer simply does not allow bumps and undulations to find their way into the cabin. This is part suspension, part sheer bulk. It almost feels as if the SUV is beating the road into submission.

It works well at city and highway speeds. Another highlight is the adaptive steering system. At low speeds, the steering is incredibly light, but it firms up the faster you go. We wouldn't call it engaging, but it is at least direct.

If you are an off-road enthusiast, you'll be happy to learn that the Grand Wagoneer comes standard with an electronic limited-slip differential and hill descent control. Considering the impressive off-road angles, you could try some light adventuring, but an SUV of this size is simply too big to try to maneuver through a technical off-road trail. It's much better on gravel at medium to high speed.

You could try to modify it with chunkier tires, but if you have between $90k to $105k to drop on a high-end SUV, there's a good chance you can afford to spend $10k on a used Wrangler. Rather beat on that. There's no better off-roader than one that requires zero mechanical sympathy.

The 6.4-liter V8 has been updated with cylinder deactivation to improve gas mileage. This tactic did not work because the Grand Wagoneer has a nearly insatiable appetite for gas, regardless. According to the EPA, you can expect 13/18/15 mpg city/highway/combined. You can see the difference between the 6.4-liter V8 engine and the smaller capacity turbocharged units. The Lincoln Navigator 4WD gets 16/20/17 mpg, while the X7 M50i can manage 15/21/17 mpg. The latter has over 500 hp, remember? Thankfully, the Grand Wagoneer has a large 26.5-gallon tank, which means you can cover just under 400 miles between tanks.

For several decades, Jeeps had iffy interiors. Some of them still do. But the brand took a big step forward with the 2011 Grand Cherokee. It wasn't up to European standards, but it looked and felt better than anything Jeep had produced before. The new Wagoneers take a leap over this step. Every model comes standard with high-quality leather and real wood trim. The seats are superb, and the sheer amount of technology is staggering. In terms of tech, the Grand Wagoneer surpasses all of its rivals, both local and international. On quality alone, it beats both the Escalade and Navigator.

The standard seating configuration in the Grand Wagoneer is two seats in the front, second-row captain's chairs, and a third-row bench. We wouldn't try to squeeze three adults side-by-side in the third row, but it is more than capable of accommodating two. The first row has 41.3 inches of headroom and 40.9 inches of legroom. Even if you go for the optional three-row bench in the second row, the legroom remains 42.7 inches, while the headroom is claimed to be 40 inches. The third row has 39 inches of headroom and 36.6 inches of legroom. That's more room than you get in the second row of a BMW 3 Series.

Heated and leather-wrapped seats are standard on all Grand Wagoneers, as is front-seat massage and ventilation. In the Series I, you can choose between Global Black and Sea Salt/Black Nappa leather. The Series II upgrades to Palermo leather, available in Global Black, Sea Salt/Black, or Blue Agave. The latter also requires you to add embossed metal interior accents for an additional $795, or the natural walnut free of charge. You can also only have it paired with Bright White exterior paint. True to its name, the Obsidian is only available with Global Black Palermo leather and metal interior accents. The Series III trim comes standard with quilted Palermo leather, available in Global Black, Blue Agave, and Tupelo/Black. Older buyers will likely prefer the classic wood, as this trim has long been associated with luxury. Younger buyers will probably opt for the metal.

With all three rows in place, the Grand Wagoneer has 27.4 cubic feet of cargo space. That's more or less what you get in the average two-row midsize SUV, which means you don't need to fold the seats flat to complete the monthly grocery shopping. That's spacious enough to accommodate light luggage for a six-person weekend getaway.

Fold the third row flat, and you get 70.9 cubes to work with. If you're only a family of four or five, how much more space could you possibly need? You could go on a month-long safari with that much space. If you do need to transport a canoe or a small hatch like a Mini Cooper, you can fold the second-row flat to gain access to 94.2 cubes of space. It's worth mentioning that the standard Wagoneer offers even more space (116.7 cubes) with all the rear seats folded flat.

There are plenty of interior storage spaces for phones, wallets, drinks, and perhaps even a small European hatchback in the center armrest storage. No one should ever have need to complain.

When you include the word "grand" in a car's name, it had better be just that. Luckily, Jeep provides the goods to back up the claim. All Grand Wagoneers come with full exterior LED lights with auto high beams, power heated and automatically dimming side mirrors, remote start, and a tri-pane power sunroof. On the inside, you can expect a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, four-zone climate control with a comfort display, 24-way power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats, a memory function for the radio, driver's seating position, mirrors, and the power-adjustable steering column, leather heated and ventilated massaging front seats, heated second-row seats, and power recline for the second and third row. The Series II adds additional Palermo leather trim and a digital rearview mirror. The Obsidian trim is based on the Series II and adds mostly cosmetic features, an interactive display for the front passenger, a front console cooler bin, ventilated second-row seats, and black suede headliner. The Series III gets premium quilted leather-trimmed seats. On the driver assistance side, all Wagoneers are equipped with adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic assist, active lane management, full-speed forward collision warning with active braking, and Parksense automated parking assist. Series II trim adds traffic sign recognition and drowsy driver detection. The Series III comes with all the safety toys, including night vision with pedestrian and animal detection and intersection collision assist.

The entire Grand Wagoneer range is equipped with a 12.1-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5C with navigation. It has fully functioning USB inputs in the front and second row, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and over-the-air updates. In the Series I and Series II, the infotainment system is connected to a 19-speaker sound system. Obsidian trim adds a 10.25-inch touchscreen display in front of the passenger so they too can manage certain functions. This screen also lets the front passenger watch movies without distracting the driver. It also gains the Series III's 23-speaker sound system. If you want to treat the family, the $1,995 Rear Seat Entertainment Package is a must. It consists of two 10.1-inch entertainment screens that can play video and music from a USB. Both come standard with Amazon Fire TV for Auto, a giant leap forward from the now outdated Bluray systems still found in so many high-end cars.

The Grand Wagoneer is brand new and has no recalls issued against it. Jeep doesn't have the most outstanding reputation for recalls, so we expect a few to pop up over time. Likewise, when it comes to the J.D. Power Ownership Survey: The Jeep Grand Cherokee has struggled for years to breach 80%. And, despite a rough start, the Wrangler finally managed to score 80 out of a possible 100 points in 2021. Generally speaking, the Grand Wagoneer should be a decent car to own.

Each new model comes standard with a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and a complimentary three-year/unlimited mileage maintenance plan. Jeep is hitting the luxury SUV segment hard. With every Wagoneer purchase, you also get Wagoneer Client Services, which includes five years of oil changes and tire rotations, a 24/7 concierge support, a no-charge equivalent loaner, trip interruption coverage, access to selected VIP events, and vehicle pick up and delivery for services, including a thorough clean and a full tank of gas.

Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has had the opportunity to give a thorough review of the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, so there is no official safety rating. Considering the price, it's improbable this SUV will ever be tested. The driver-assistance features and the sheer bulk of the Grand Wagoneer will likely hold up well in a crash, however.

On the traditional side, the Grand Wagoneer has ten airbags, hill start assist, ABS, traction and stability control, a rearview camera, tire pressure monitoring, and rain-sensing wipers. When it comes to driver-assistance features, Jeep threw everything it had at the Grand Wagoneer. All models come as standard with adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic assist, active lane management, full-speed forward collision warning with active braking, and the Parksense automated parking assist. The Series II and Obsidian add drowsy driver detection and traffic sign recognition, while the Series III gets night vision, active driving assist, and intersection collision assist.

Thanks to over-the-air updates, Jeep will be able to update these systems as they improve. One of the first additions that will be made in the future is an autonomous highway assistant. Jeep did not provide a date, but we like the idea of updating safety features throughout a car's life cycle.

The Jeep Wagoneer is a superb luxury SUV. You just know Jeep spent an insane amount of time and money getting this model exactly right, which is exactly what it needed in order to compete with the established players. Jeep has surpassed the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator, but what about the alluring European rivals?

Nothing says you belong to the upper echelons of the suburban hierarchy better than a BMW or Mercedes-Benz SUV. The Jeep has them licked when it comes to standard features. The German rivals give you a lot as standard, but they still leave a lot on the options menu. There's only one problem. Because of the insane amount of development and all the excellent standard features, the Grand Wagoneer costs more than the BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS, Cadillac Escalade, and Lincoln Navigator.

The Grand Wagoneer is undoubtedly worth the money, but it's going to be hard to persuade brand snobs out of established, respected SUVs into something entirely new. You could make a good case for not wanting to buy European because you want to invest in the American economy, but the GLS and X7 are built in the USA. We like the VIP service package you get with the Jeep, which shows an almost Rolls Royce-like level of customer service. Only time will tell if Jeep has the brand cache to lure the wealthy out of their existing SUVs.

The Grand Wagoneer has a base price of $87,845 for the Series I, while the Series II starts at $94,845. An Obsidian, which is based on the Series II, has an MSRP of $99,845. A Series III comes with a base price of $104,845. Yup, it's a six-digit Jeep. These prices exclude the $2,000 destination charge.

There are four trim levels in the Grand Wagoneer range: Series I, Series II, Obsidian, and Series III. All are powered by the same 6.4-liter naturally aspirated V8 producing 471 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard, as is Jeep's Quadra-Drive II permanent 4WD system with low range and an electronically locking rear differential. The Grand Wagoneer also comes standard in the seven-seat configuration, with second-row captain's chairs. Jeep will happily put the second-row bench back at no extra charge.

The Series I comes with LED exterior lights, a power tailgate, a tri-pane power sunroof, four-zone climate control, 24-way power-adjustable heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, a power-adjustable steering column, Nappa leather upholstery, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with all the latest wireless connectivity features and real-time navigation, heated second-row seats, and power-recline for the second and third row. The standard sound system is a 19-speaker unit.

The Series II gains 22-inch alloy wheels, Palermo leather upholstery, a digital rearview mirror, traffic sign recognition, and drowsy driver detection.

Next, the Obsidian is an interesting car because it's mostly a cosmetic package added to a Series II. Jeep adds a Black Onyx grille, roof rack, and badges. The looks are also improved thanks to premium tinted glass. On the inside, it gains a black suede headliner, Dark Onyx aluminum dash trim, ventilated second-row seats, a 10.25-inch interactive display for the front passenger, and ventilated second-row seats. The highlight of the Obsidian trim is the 23-speaker Reference Entertainment System, also standard on the Series III.

As the halo model, for now, the Series III is equipped with model-specific 22-inch alloy wheels, premium quilted Palermo leather, and night vision with pedestrian and animal detection.

The standard safety kit is extremely impressive. All models are equipped with adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic assist, active lane management, full-speed forward collision warning with active braking, and the Parksense automated parking assist. The top-spec models also get drowsy driver detection, intersection collision assist, active driving assistant, traffic sign recognition, and a digital rearview mirror.

The Grand Wagoneer is already well-equipped, but a quick review of the options list shows that there is some room for improvement still. A Convenience Group for the Series I consists of drowsy drivier detection, night vision, a digital rearview mirror, and traffic sign recognition, all for $3,995. As mentioned earlier, Jeep will happily convert the Wagoneer back to an eight-seater at no extra cost. The $1,995 Rear Seat Entertainment Package includes dual 10.1-inch screens, wireless earphones, and Amazon Fire TV for Auto.

If you intend to tow with the Grand Wagoneer, the Heavy-Duty Trailer-Tow Package is a must. For $1,295 on the Series I, Jeep adds chrome tow hooks, heavy-duty engine cooling, a built-in vehicle safe, removable tow hook, trailer brake control, trailer-hitch line-up assist, and trailer-hitch zoom.

The Convenience Package for the Series II costs $3,595 and includes an advanced security alert system, a rear seat monitoring camera, intersection collision assist, and night vision. You can also buy it with the Series II Premium Group, which consists of the 23-speaker McIntosh sound system, adjustable roof-rail crossbars, a foldable cargo shade, a front console cooler, premium color tinted glass, and ventilated rear seats.

You can only order the Series II's Convenience Package on the Obsidian model at the same price. The Heavy-Duty Trailer-Tow Package is slightly cheaper on the Series II, Obsidian and Series III, retailing for $995. You can add rear-seat entertainment, the towing package and replace the second-row captain's chairs with a three-seat bench on the Series III.

The price of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer leaps up once you start considering the Series II over the Series I, and we're not sure there is enough extra value to warrant it. The additional driver-assistance features are excellent, as is the 23-speaker McIntosh sound system, but the 19-speaker system is exemplary, and the base-level safety systems are already excellent. Jeep has all the basics covered and then some. Are night vision, Palermo leather, and a display for the passenger necessary? We don't know about you, but we'd be pretty bummed if the front passenger spent every second of a long-distance trip watching Squid Game.

We would add the rear-seat entertainment system to keep the kids happy and go for one of the more elegant color options. Baltic-Gray seems to work well. There's no need to go up to 22-inch wheels because a 20-inch alloy with a larger profile tire is spot-on for a luxury SUV like the Grand Wagoneer. That's all we'd do to a Series I. This particular build retails for $92,435, which is still less than a Series II.

The Grand Wagoneers' two main rivals come from within its ranks. A standard Wagoneer Series III 4x4 has a base price of $76,845, and that's a massive saving for a car that's exactly the same size. It is only available with the older 5.7-liter V8 with mild-hybrid assistance, though. This produces 392 hp and 404 lb-ft, which is a big dip compared to the Grand Wagoneer's 471 hp/455 lb-ft of torque. Still, the standard Wagoneer has a higher towing capacity, rated at 10,000 lbs. The Wagoneer is also available in RWD if you don't want or need a 4WD system.

The biggest case in favor of the standard Wagoneer is that it doesn't feel cheaper than its supposedly fancier brother. The base Series II still comes with Nappa leather, heated and ventilated power-adjustable front seats, tri-zone climate control, and a smaller touchscreen infotainment system that has all of the functionality of the larger system. Opting for a base Wagoneer also lets you play around with the budget a bit more. You already get a decent number of driver-assistance features, so we'd only add the rear-seat entertainment ($1,995) and second-row captain's chairs ($995) to make life a little comfier in the rear. With all of this included, you're looking at an all-in price of $77,430, which is more in line with the average price in the segment. We'd much rather spend our money on the more affordable Wagoneer.

The new Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L are also stumbling blocks for the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, especially if you don't need the copious amounts of space provided by the larger cars. If you only have three kids and occasionally need the third row to ferry one of their friends along, the Grand Cherokee L is all you need. With prices starting at just under $40k, it's less than half the price of the Grand Wagoneer. To make it fairer, we should compare it to the $64k Summit Reserve model, however.

In Summit Reserve guise, you get Jeep's Quadra-Trac II permanent 4WD system, the quadra-lift air suspension, Palermo leather seats, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the same software as the Grand Wagoneer, and all the features that come with it. It also has driver-assistance features, intersection collision assist, drowsy driver detection, a surround-view camera, and traffic sign recognition.

The only real sacrifice you have to make is an engine downgrade. Grand Cherokee models are all equipped with Jeep's 3.6-liter NA V6, but you can upgrade to the 5.7-liter V8 for an additional $3,295. We wouldn't bother, however. While the V6 is far from the greatest engine ever, there is more than enough power on tap for any luxury SUV. If you want performance, rather buy a Ford Explorer ST. As a bonus, the standard Grand Cherokee L is a lot more frugal than the Wagoneers. The EPA claims it's capable of 21 mpg on the combined cycle, which is a lot more palatable than 15 mpg.