Jeep is going to great lengths to extend Wagoneer line-up — 12 inches to be exact — as the brand expands its premium SUV line-up to compete with the Lincoln Navigator L, Cadillac Escalade ESV and the forthcoming long-wheelbase Range Rover Autobiography and SV.
The new Wagoneers debuted this week at the New York International Auto Show.
The new Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L feature a 130-inch wheelbase that’s 7 inches longer than the standard Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. Overall length is up as well, expanding to 226.7 inches, a full foot longer than its shorter stablemates.
“We’re always striving to give customers even more of what they want,” said Jim Morrison, senior vice president and head of Jeep brand North America.
And it starts with more space.
L means more space — for cargo
The new models’ added length doesn’t affect either Wagoneer’s passenger space, with the Wagoneer L offering the same 179.3 cubic feet as its shorter sibling. Yet the Grand Wagoneer L only offers 172.9 cubic feet of passenger space, mostly as a result of its reduced headroom in all three rows, just as in its shorter siblings. Both the Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L provide more cargo space than their non-L compatriots, with the Grand trailing its less-expensive relation.
The Wagoneer L provides 50.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind its third row, as opposed to 27.4 cubic feet in the standard Wagoneer. Fold down the second and third rows, and that expands to 130.9 cubic feet in the Wagoneer L and 112.9 cubic feet in the Grand Wagoneer L, a 14.2 cubic foot and 18.7 cubic foot gain respectively from the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer.
Payload is rated at 1,330-to-1,550 pounds depending on model, about the same as the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer’s 1,360-to-1,560-pound rating.
A revised architecture
To accommodate the extra space, engineers revised the Wagoneer’s standard-wheelbase architecture, which is derived from a modified Ram 1500 body-on-frame pickup platform. (Given Wagoneer’s premium-priced market segment, this allows for healthy profit margins.)
Jeep went to work by redesigning the rear floor, rear ladder structure, third-row seat brackets and reinforcements, frame center rail and rear rail extension, rear tub and load floors. Engineers keep the Wagoneer’s overall weight by down by using lightweight, high-strength aluminum for the hood, doors and composite liftgate.
Similar to their shorter stablemates, the Wagoneer L’s front independent double wishbone suspension components are composed of composite upper control arms, aluminum lower control arms and a front stabilizer bar. Out back, you’ll find an independent multi-link, coil-spring suspension on the Wagoneer L, while the Grand Wagoneer L uses an air suspension system with electronically controlled semi-active damping, although it’s optional on the Wagoneer L.
More power under the hood
Given its larger size, the Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L get more power as well thanks to a new engine. Dubbed the Hurricane, a classic Jeep engine name, the new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 generates 420 horsepower and 468 pound-feet of torque on the Wagoneer L. A second version of the same powerplant, the high-output version Hurricane 510, produces 510 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque on the Grand Wagoneer L.
According to Jeep, both engines return an estimated one-to two-miles per gallon improvement in combined city/highway fuel economy when compared against the standard Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer’s existing V-8 engines. The new Hurricane engines mate to a TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission.
As with the standard wheelbase Wagoneer, the stretched models can tow as much as 10,000 pounds.
The Wagoneer L is offered in Series I, II , and III trim with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. The Grand Wagoneer L is available in Series I, II , and III trim with all-wheel drive. Wagoneer models can be fitted with one of three 4×4 systems, Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II as well as and Selec-Terrain traction management.
The finishing touch
In addition, buyers can also choose the new Wagoneer L Caribe, a murdered out Wagoneer L with a panoramic sunroof, and wearing black grille rings, grille texture, lower front and rear fascia and door flares, roof rack, badges, window moldings and headlamp, mirror and sill cladding appliques. Inside, the Carbide features something unique dash trim, a black headliner, smoke accent stitching, and black seats, instrument panel and door trim.
The Carbide package is now available on 2022 Wagoneers and on 2023 Wagoneer and Wagoneer L models in the second half of this year when the new SUVs are slated to arrive at Jeep dealers.
