Hard to believe, but Jeep has been without a three-row vehicle in its lineup since it discontinued the Commander back in 2010. That will soon change with the arrival of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer next summer.
Sitting on the same body on frame platform as the Ram 1500, the Grand Wagoneer debuted on September 3 as a near production ready concept. Dimensions and powertrain specifications were not announced, but it seems likely that V-6 and V-8 gas engines, a plug-in hybrid setup, and quite possibly a diesel engine will be offered. Standard four wheel drive is a given. In fact buyers will be able to choose between three 4x4 systems. Both short and long wheelbase versions will be built. Lower content versions will be called Wagoneer, while the Grand Wagoneer name will be used on the upper trim levels.
With prices expected to span from $60,000 to over $100,000, the Wagoneer / Grand Wagoneer goes toe-to-toe with a full spectrum of competitors from the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition to the Mercedes-Benz GLS and the Land Rover Range Rover. As such, the Grand Wagoneer is equipped with plenty of wood, leather, and screens to satisfy the modern luxury SUV buyer.
During the introductory presentation, Jeep President, Christian Meunier, stressed how the Grand Wagoneer is a different kind of Jeep.
"The Jeep customer," said Meunier, "loves travelling, camping, and fishing. The Wagoneer driver would rather go golfing on the finest courses or cruising on their sailboat. If Jeep was a house, it would be a cabin in the woods. The Wagoneer, a glass house on the ocean. In our vision, Wagoneer will become a portfolio of SUVs that will redefine American premium and deliver a unique customer experience."
Ralph Gilles, Fiat Chrysler Automobile's Head of Design, echoed this sentiment. "We look at what Jeep means to most people. A Jeep, of course, has this incredible overtone of adventure. And we look at what Wagoneer can mean and it's the same idea but executed in a much more artisanal way."
Gilles likened other Jeep models to rugged hiking backpacks, while the Wagoneer is more akin to a luxurious designer backpack. It certainly looks the part with plentiful chrome trim, 24-inch wheels, backlit badging on the front and rear of the car, and LED lights front and rear which also run between each of seven slots of the signature front grille.
With the on sale date of the Grand Wagoneer almost a year away, there is still plenty of time for car buyers to decide whether a $60K+ three-row Jeep is the right car for them. Jeep owners are among the most passionate and loyal people out there when it comes to supporting their brand, so current owners looking for a larger car will certainly be excited.
And if the notion of spending close to six figures on a Jeep seems strange, you may not have noticed that Jeep vehicles have been climbing steadily in price for several years now. It is not uncommon to spend more than $50,000 on a new Wrangler or a Gladiator. Even a fully loaded Renegade can crest $30,000. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk with its legendary 707 horsepower, 6.2 liter Hellcat V-8 already comes close to $100,000. When people pay for a Jeep, they are also paying for membership into an exclusive way of life. Jeep is betting big that the Wagoneer and the Grand Wagoneer will provide owners with a distinctly American luxury experience no other domestic or foreign SUV can match.
