Overview
Larger families who want to live the Jeep lifestyle have been out of luck since the Commander was discontinued, but the upcoming Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer look to change that. Wearing the brand’s unmistakable seven-slot grille and with three rows of seats, these full-size SUVs should shakeup an established segment that includes the Ford Expedition and Chevy’s Tahoe and Suburban. While Jeep hasn’t officially revealed anything about its soon-to-be-largest models, we’ve been anticipating their arrival for a while. With the company’s cachet, a pickup-truck chassis, and the likelihood of dedicated off-road hardware, the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are expected to be sought-after entries in a hugely popular class.
What’s New for 2021?
The Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will be all new when they eventually reach showrooms. So far, all we know for sure is that they’ll have three rows of seats. We also expect they’ll share a chassis with the recently redesigned Ram 1500 pickup truck. We can only make an educated guess about the Wagoneers’ potential powertrain choices, and we believe they’ll start production sometime in 2021.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
- Wagoneer: $45,000 (est.)
- Grand Wagoneer: $55,000 (est.)
Jeep hasn’t released any information on how much these three-row models might cost, but most full-size SUVs in this class start around $50,000. So, we expect the shorter Wagoneer and extended Grand Wagoneer to have prices around that neighborhood.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Since the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will likely utilize body-on-frame underpinnings derived from the Ram 1500, we also expect them to have similar engine and transmission options. This probably means the 3.6-liter V-6 with the hybrid system (called eTorque) will be the base engine. The more powerful 5.7-liter Hemi V-8—also with eTorque technology—will almost certainly be offered, too. There’s also a chance the revised diesel 3.0-liter V-6, which is optional on the half-ton Ram, could be in the mix. We expect every Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer to be equipped with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Of course, every model will surely be available with rear- or all-wheel drive as well as Jeep’s ubiquitous off-road-ready equipment.
Brian WilliamsCar and Driver
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Jeep’s fleet doesn’t have any especially fuel-conscious models, and we don’t expect the large Wagoneer and larger Grand Wagoneer to be any different. Based on EPA ratings for the rear-drive 2020 Ram 1500, we’d expect the V-6–powered Jeeps to earn around 20 mpg city and 25 highway. The V-8 versions will likely be rated near 17 mpg city and 23 highway. However, if the diesel V-6 is actually offered, it’ll probably be the most efficient engine with estimates up to 22 mpg city and 32 highway.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
These spy photos have given us a glimpse at the exteriors of the upcoming Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, but we haven’t a clue how their interior will appear. They should have a different design than any current Jeep model, especially the Grand Cherokee, which itself is set to receive a redesign. Still, both Wagoneer models will definitely have three rows of seats, with a set of second-row captain’s chairs more than likely. We suspect the Grand Wagoneer will be the larger of the two and offer more cargo space.
Infotainment and Connectivity
While it’s hard to predict what infotainment and connectivity features will be common a year or two from now, the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will more than likely offer most of them. This should include a large touchscreen—hopefully with some semblance of buttons and knobs for ease of use—and smartphone-integration courtesy of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Likewise, a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless phone charging, and at least one upgradable audio system should be standard or optional.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Obviously, neither the Wagoneer nor Grand Wagoneer have been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, we expect both body styles to offer a slew of standard and optional driver-assistance technology such as adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and more.
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Jeep currently offers a competitive albeit unremarkable limited and powertrain warranty. The company also offers an extra-cost extended warranty and complimentary scheduled maintenance on select models as part of the Jeep Wave ownership program.
- Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 50,000 miles
- Complimentary scheduled maintenance is available for two years on select models