By Michael Kinney
The Wagoneer brand has been absent from the market for more than three decades. As JeeP focused on other products and styles, the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer seemed to be a forgotten relic of the past.
But that is about to change this summer. JeeP has unveiled the 2022 Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer at the Houston Auto Show My 19. Suffice to say, it’s not your parents Wagoneer.
When JEEP discontinued the Wagoneer line in 1991, there was no reason to believe they would return to them at any point. But according to Jeep Spokeswoman Rachel Fellrath, 2021 was the right time to reintroduce the SUV to this generation of JeeP customers and fans.
“So we saw a market opportunity to fill the gap, right? So the Jeep brand spans the SUV segments in the mainstream, but where we saw an opportunity in the gap in our portfolio was both in the large SUV segment and the premium large SUV segment,” Fellrath said. “And we thought that we had an opportunity to fill that gap and what better way than to bring back an original and bring back an iconic nameplate. So we brought back Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer.”
But JeeP didn’t just bring back a new version of the old Wagoneer. It introduced what they believe the SUV should be going forward.
“We’re really just bringing back this American icon as a premium extension of the Jeep brand,” Fellrath said. “So we’re leveraging the rich tradition and the craftsmanship that you get from the original premium SUV, and then we’re taking it up a level with more advanced technology, more premium materials, added comfort and capability.”
The 2022 Wagoneer has a V-8 under the hood and has 10,000 pounds of towing capacity. With three rows, it can seat up to eight passengers as well. The Wagoneer’s going to be available in both 4×2 and 4×4 configurations.
The Wagoneer will come in six different models. The base model is the Series I, which has a price tag of $59,995. The price goes up all the way to the fully loaded Series III Offroad, which will sell for $88,665.
“It’s really designed with your family in mind. So it has best-in-class overall passenger volume, best-in-class total passenger volume, best-in-class cargo behind the third row,” Fellrath said. “So really it’s there to support active lifestyles.”
For those who are looking to take their game up another level, JEEP is also offering the 2022 Grand Wagoneer. Premium luxury may be the two best words to describe the high-end SUV.
At 214.7 inches in length, 83.6 inches in width, and 75.6 inches in height, Grand Wagoneer gives off the vibe it can be lived in. It’s bigger than the 2021 Lincoln Navigator and the 2021 Cadillac Escalade, which would make it the biggest SUV on the market. Almost like a luxury house on wheels.
Some of it’s key features include the Tri-Pane Panoramic Sunroof that stretches from the front seat to past the middle row. The seats or covered in Palermo leather trim and lush suede.
It also includes the McIntosh MX1375 Reference Entertainment System, a state-of-the-art sound system that was exclusively designed and tuned specifically for the Grand Wagoneer. With 23 speakers throughout the vehicle, it feels like a small concert taking inside.
“I think one of the things that really stand out to people and that they’re super excited about, is when you step into the Grand Wagoneer, there are 75 inches of screen,” Fellrath said. “So you have a 12-inch cluster, you have a 12-inch radio, you have an industry-first front passenger screen, you have rear-seat entertainment. And then there’s a control, comfort screens, both in the front and the back that controls the four zones. So there’s a lot of technology, but it’s integrated so well. And if you just look at the design, I mean, the designers did a fantastic job.”
The Grand Wagoneer will come in 10 color and color combinations. They will include Bright White, Diamond Black Crystal, Silver Zynith, Velvet Red, Baltic Grey, Bright White and Black, Silver Zynith and Black, Velvet Red and Black and Baltic Grey and Black.
Base price for the Grand Wagoneer comes in around $87,000. The fully loaded Series III will hit at $111,000. I will include the Obsidian trim
While that is a lot of money, Jeep officials believe what they have constructed a machine that is worth the price.
“It has character. I think a lot of things that we’ve seen in this segment, there’s a lot of nameplates that have been there for a significant amount of time, and these are new entrants, and I think that they add character,” Fellrath said. “While it has a higher price tag, it’s not afraid to get dirty either. I really think that this is a vehicle that’s meant to be lived in.”
Copy & Photos by Michael Kinney Media