First Drive: 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer L

The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer returned last year after a three-decade hiatus as a Jeep luxury sub-brand. Certainly, it’s fitting. The Wagoneer pioneered the idea of a luxury SUV years before Land Rover’s Range Rover appeared. 

And while an uber-large luxury Jeep may seem unusual to some, it’s proven popular, as Jeep has sold nearly 33,000 units since it went into production late last year. And as we first reported in April, it’s joined for the new model year by the Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L models, with the L standing for longer. 

Overview

At nearly 19 feet long, 7 feet wide and more than six-and-a-half feet tall, this is a sizable vehicle. Specifically, the Grand Wagoneer L’s wheelbase is stretched 7 inches, along with an added 5 inches in length for an additional 12 inches in length overall. The added space goes to the cargo hold, which holds 42.1 cubic feet of stuff, up from 27.4 cubic feet on the standard-length Grand Wagoneer. Legroom in the rest of the vehicle remains unchanged.

As in the standard Wagoneer line-up, the L models are offered in Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models in ascending I, II and III trim levels in 7- or 8-passenger configurations.

Exterior

Since Jeep is going to great lengths to improve the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer’s interior space, L models have an extended frame, added new rear doors and roof. In fact, except for the tailgate, all of the sheetmetal from the B-pillar rearward is new.

Riding on a modified Ram 1500 body-on-frame platform, the Grand Wagoneer L wears the same upright, boxy look as its shorter companions. It’s distinctive, lending a somewhat different visual vocabulary to the Jeep stable. Its strong vertical design orientation is off-putting to some, but proves to be a modern take on the first Wagoneer’s style. It lends itself particularly well to two-tone paint, which helps lessen its overall visual size. It certainly lends the SUV a regal bearing, which is apropos given its place in the luxury SUV market.

Interior

Like the standard Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, the Grand Wagoneer L provides an abundant 179.2 cubic feet of passenger space across three rows of seats. The added length all goes behind the passenger compartment, where you’ll find more than 42 cubic feet of space to stash lifestyle debris. 

As you’d expect, the seating is heating and ventilated, and the cabin is lavished in beautiful quilted leather and real wood trim. The indulgent, opulent ambience leaves little doubt as to how much money you spent. Clearly, it’s Jeep’s finest interior, one that’s stunningly well executed, with a surfeit of delightful detailing.

Legroom is generous, with second-row legroom of 42.7 inches, third-row legroom of 36.6 inches and 15.8 cubic feet more of cargo volume than on standard-wheelbase Grand Wagoneer. It’s so spacious, you’ll be tempted to nickname it the final frontier.

Powertrain

For the new model year, the Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L’s power comes courtesy of a new engine dubbed the Hurricane, a classic Jeep engine name. The all-new 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo inline 6-cylinder powerplant rated at 420 horsepower and 468 pound-feet of torque in the Wagoneer L, and 510 hp and 500 lb.-ft. of torque in the Grand Wagoneer L. Both mate to an 8-speed automatic transmission. It can be fitted with one of three 4×4 systems, Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II as well as a Selec-Terrain traction management.

Towing is rated at up to 10,000 pounds. Depending on the model, the Wagoner L and Grand Wagoneer L’s payload is rated at 1,330 to 1,550 pounds, which is comparable to the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer’s 1,360 to 1,560-pound capacity.

Suspension is fully independent; a Quadra-lift air suspension with semi-active damping, solid or hollow stabilizer bar is available. Ground clearance is 8.3 inches with the standard suspension, 10 inches with the optional air suspension.

Safety and Technology

Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has crash tested the 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer L. However, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross path detection, active lane management, electronic stability control, full-speed forward collision warning with active braking, hill-start assist, intersection collision assist, parking assist, and trailer-sway control, are among the driver-assistance systems. 

A 10.25-inch multimedia screen is standard on the Wagoneer L; a 12.3-inch screen is standard on the Grand Wagoneer L. There’s also a touchscreen for the front seat passenger, which can send information to the driver, if needed. It’s one of the Grand Wagoneer’s seven screens. There’s also eight USB ports (11 when equipped with Rear Seat Video Group), an auxiliary jack, two 12-volt auxiliary power outlets, and a 115-volt auxiliary power outlet. 

A nine-speaker Alpine audio system is standard on the Wagoneer, while a McIntosh 19-speaker, 950-watt premium audio system sound system with 10-inch subwoofer is offered on the Grand Wagoneer L. It’s truly one of the finest I’ve experienced in a car at any price.

Driving Impressions

The 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer L is pampering automotive pachyderm capable of coddling you in its cabin that’s free of any noise, vibration or harshness. It’s engine readily revs, providing the responsiveness you’d expect from a luxury coach. With the larger engine, acceleration is as effortlessly prompt as it would be from the huge, honking Hemi V-8s that powered Wagoneer models last year. In fact, you’d hardly know that you’re missing two cylinders. 

And for such an enormous beast, this rig proves effortless to drive, feeling smaller than its massive presence suggests. The steering is perfectly weighted for the perspective client base, although any concept of road feel should be banished from your brain. And stopping does take some time given this truck’s mass. But overall, you’ll find piloting this gas-consuming machine a very satisfying experience, especially when fitted with the Quadra-lift air suspension with semi-active damping. It transforms this elephant into a vehicle that feels far more athletic than you’d expect.

Fuel economy is a smidge better than last year, by one-to-three mpg depending on models. Is it great? No. But what did you expect?

2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer L Specifications

Wrap Up

The expanding Wagoneer line-up is finally fulfilling the destiny of a model’s lineage back to an era when the words luxury and SUV weren’t thought of in the same sentence. It provides the same incredible opulent ride as the standard-length Wagonner, but provides more storage space. That it doesn’t extract any enjoyment from the driving experience speaks to how well engineered and executed these new L models are. 

2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer L ­— Frequently Asked Questions