Late final 12 months, Jeep loaned us their shiny new Grand Wagoneer. With it’s beautiful inside, limitless choices record, and rugged beauty, we discovered it fairly Grand certainly. Then we started questioning what made it extra Grand than the bottom Wagoneer. After crawling all around the two fashions on the Chicago Auto Present this spring and never discovering an apparent reply, we determined that solely by spending some high quality time with the common Wagoneer would the variations turn into extra apparent. After somewhat begging, Jeep despatched over a Wagoneer L Collection 3 for us to spend a while with.
When it arrived, we instantly seen that one thing was totally different concerning the Wagoneer, design-wise. What was it? One thing about it made it look sharper than the Grand Wagoneer we’d pushed earlier than. Then it hit us. It was longer than the Grand Wagoneer we’d final pushed. Longer than any Wagoneers we’d seen on the highway up up to now. After checking the construct sheet, we seen that the Wagoneer was an “L” mannequin. The rear-most home windows on the Wagoneer have been longer than regular. There was an additional few ft behind the third row seats. The extra size actually improved the general look. Perched over the massive, daring 22” wheels it had a extra sporting look. We most well-liked it to the brief mannequin.
Inside is the place the Wagoneer is really distinguished from it’s Grand sibling although. Whereas nonetheless one of many nicest interiors we’ve ever been in, the supplies are somewhat decrease lease than within the Grand Wagoneer. The wealthy leather-covered sprint is changed with one coated in a rubbery vinyl plastic. The leather-based all through is a decrease grade as nicely. It’s nonetheless good, however not practically as good as within the Grand Wagoneer. Name it “utilitarian-plus.” Gone are the wealthy woods on the middle console, changed with cheaper, extra widespread woods and good plastics. Total, it’s nonetheless a incredible inside however it’s somewhat extra pedestrian (if I could use that phrase in such a pleasant inside) than it’s nicer sibling.
One stand-out factor concerning the L’s inside is the rear sunroof which, along with the complete panoramic sunroof above the entrance 4 seats, permits an amazing quantity of sunshine and makes the Wagoneer’s inside really feel very ethereal and shiny.
The Wagoneer additionally had one thing else in it that I’ve by no means seen earlier than in a car: Open up the middle console and also you’ll discover – ta-da! – a built-in metal secure with a 10-digit digital keypad lock. How cool is that? You may depart valuables in it when you’re day mountain climbing out within the wilderness, or lock your pistol in it whenever you go into the shop. Very cool concept.
Underneath the hood, as an alternative of a Hemi V8, breathes a brand new twin-turbo 3.0L Hurricane inline-6 engine, producing 420hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. It’s an awesome engine that makes nice noises. It’s obtained a pleasant snarl with some whispery whooshing that hints on the energy obtainable. How a lot energy? It’s able to towing 10,000 lbs. That’s some first rate energy. The engine permits the Wagoneer to step out into visitors and attain visitors velocity with little to no effort too. It’s acceleration is startling for such a big car. We didn’t anticipate it to point out up the V8 within the Grand Wagoneer, however it’s a formidable engine and did simply that.
It transmits all that energy by an 8-speed automated transmission to all 4 wheels. Together with that transmission, the Wagoneer is out there with three totally different 4×4 techniques: Quadra Trac I, Quadra Trac II, and Quadra Drive I. Ours was geared up with the Quadra Trac II system, which included the Selec-Terrain Traction Administration System and a low velocity switch case for excessive rock crawling. Nonetheless “Path Rated.” Thanks, Jeep.
The trip is comfy and well-composed. Bumps and potholes come by however are tremendously minimized by the suspension. The trip top is adjustable, dropping nearer to the pavement when touring at freeway speeds to scale back drag and rising up off-road to clear obstacles. Selec-Terrain permits you to select the driving situations – snow/ice, sand/mud, rock, regular, and sport. By choosing one, it tailors the traction management, trip top, and energy transmission to every situation and maximizes it’s capability.
The steering is mild – maybe somewhat lighter than we’d have preferred – however it’s intuitive and prefer it’s Grander sibling, it’s extremely straightforward to tug the massive truck into tight parking spots. It activates a dime and is straightforward to maneuver – no small feat whenever you’re that enormous.
The brakes are massive, robust, and able to stopping the heavy truck rapidly and with good management.
Federal mileage figures are 23mpg on the freeway and 16mpg within the metropolis. Our experiences appeared to again that up. The gas tank is big too. You may drive fairly a methods on single tank of gas however filling up at present fuel costs hurts.
The bottom worth of a Jeep Wagoneer is $77,000, however ours stickered at nearly $93,000 with the Comfort Group, the Heavy-Obligation Tow Package deal, Second-Row Seating Group, Premium Group, and the Rear-seat Leisure Group.
Whereas the Wagoneer could not have the panache and identical prime quality appointments that the elite Grand Wagoneer has, it’s not missing any Jeep functionality nor a better diploma of consolation than most different SUV’s in the marketplace. Whereas our first alternative could be the Grand Wagoneer, we wouldn’t be in any respect dissatisfied to personal a base Wagoneer. It’s nonetheless a incredible car.