After years of planning and preparation, Stellantis is about to take orders for the new 2022 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer in the first big product launch by the new company built from the merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA.
The introduction of the three-row Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will “fill out the Jeep line,” says Christian Meunier, Jeep Brand chief executive officer. “It will be a brand within the brand. We are ready to start a new, exciting adventure with a model that wrote some of the most iconic pages in the history of the American automobile.”
Jim Morrison, vice president of Jeep North America, says the brand’s new flagship vehicles promise a more premium experience.
The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will be larger – 10 ins. (254 mm) longer overall – and more spacious than the popular two-row Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Wagoneers will come to showrooms this summer with loads of new technology, stylish features and luxurious appointments that until now have not been found in the Jeep line, Morrison says.
Neither vehicle will stress the Jeep name in marketing, to set it apart from the traditional Jeep lineup, and it will not carry the “Trail Rated” badging, Morrison says. But it will compete with other fullsize luxury SUVs such as the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator, he notes.
Morrison describes potential customers as affluent people who are “very proud of what they’ve done. They want to show they have the very best.”
Pricing for the Wagoneer will start at $57,995, while the Grand Wagoneer will begin at $86,995. Morrison says the MSRP for Grand Wagoneer Series III 4x4 will reach six figures at $103,995.
The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, built in Warren, MI, sit on a new body-on-frame structure rather than a unibody. The Wagoneer carries the 5.7L Hemi V-8 fitted with the next-generation 48V eTorque mild hybrid system as standard. The Grand Wagoneer gets the 6.4L Hemi V-8 and both engines can tow up to 10,000 lbs. (4,536 kg), says Mike Uhlmeyer, chief engineer of the Wagoneers.
Three different 4-wheel-drive systems are available with both vehicles, channeled through an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Tim Anness, director of exterior design-North America, says the overall exterior styling recalls the iconic shape of the original Wagoneer SUV when it debuted in 1962.
Grand Wagoneer with wood accents and Palermo leather.
Jeep designers used an “artisan level of craftsmanship” in places such as the front grille and the frames around the large side windows to separate the appearance of the 2022 Wagoneer and 2022 Grand Wagoneer, he says.
The Wagoneer comes with LED headlamps, fog lamps, accent badging and a standard sidestep. Grand Wagoneer features a two-tone black accent roof, distinctive hood and unique front end, premium LED lighting, fender flares and power retractable side-steps as standard.
The interior design emphasizes space and luxury, with a modern American style, careful attention to detail and elegant appointments, says Chris Benjamin, chief interior designer.
High-quality authentic materials are employed, including handcrafted Satin American Walnut usually found on yachts or in lavish homes, he says.
2022 Grand Wagoneer Series III.
The Wagoneer features a one-piece instrument panel, while the Grand Wagoneer features a two-piece design, with an optional Piano Black mid-bolster that integrates advanced technology and connectivity, Benjamin notes.
While the interior of both vehicles was designed to be “whisper quiet,” they also come with up to seven screens for entertainment and navigation, including a first-time application of Amazon Fire, which allows passengers to stream their own choice of television shows or movies.
Seating is for seven passengers with second-row captain’s chairs, or eight with second-row bench. Passengers in the second- and third-row seats will have access to entertainment choices, and the front-row passenger also has a dedicated screen on the instrument panel for helping navigate, says Vince Galante, chief designer for user experience.
The front-seat passenger can watch movies on the screen, but the driver will not be able to see it because of a special film to block visibility, Galante says. Jeep retained a designer with experience in computer gaming to help configure the system.
Front seats of '22 Jeep Wagoneer.
Galante says the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are equipped with the all-new Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which is five times faster than the previous generation.
By utilizing an Android operating system and over-the-air updates, Uconnect 5 brings flexibility that allows the system to continuously evolve to offer new content, features and services, he says.
The vehicles are equipped with driver-assistance features such as blindspot detection, lane-keeping assistance, automatic braking assistance and rear-cross traffic alerts. Stellantis engineers say active hands-free driving assistance and night vision also will be available on both vehicles.
On the customer-experience front, Stellantis executives say Jeep dealers wanting to sell the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer must receive J.D. Power certification and make “Ten Promises” to treat these new customers as special, with premium beverage service, free car washes, loaner vehicles when necessary and 24-hour customer support.
Unique font created for Wagoneer badging.
