A giant, modern luxury SUV is not a new idea for this group. This wasn’t conjured up a few years ago in order to take on Cadillac, Lexus and Lincoln.
Way back in 2011, Sergio Marchionne, then CEO of Chrysler and Fiat Group, Jeep’s parent company, made the announcement. He said to expect this upscale Grand Wagoneer in 2013.
But what about the Jeep Commander, at the time the brand’s recently retired seven-passenger SUV?
“That car was unfit for human consumption,” he famously said at the Detroit auto show. “We sold some. But I don't know why people bought them.”
After delays, mergers and Marchionne’s passing, for 2022 Jeep finally gets its Grand Wagoneer.
We tested the top-of-the-line Series III 4x4 model. Total price: $106,990.
On the plus side, the Grand Wagoneer Series III has a class-leading, 9850-pound towing capacity. It is also rather attractive for a behemoth SUV, and it is certainly well equipped and comfortable. The interior is gorgeous and more Land Rover- or Mercedes-like than what one would expect from a Jeep.
On the downside, with 13-18 fuel mileage ratings and an observed fuel mileage of closer to 13 mpg, it is way off the pace. Competitors from Ford and GM get closer to 20 mpg.
The Grand Wagoneer is also so soft, it was only confidently drivable in Sport Mode. In any other mode, the under-tired, under-sprung Grand Wagoneer bordered on frightening to drive.
The final strike against the new Grand Wagoneer is the price. In a world full of $80,000-plus full-size SUVs the Grand Wagoneer’s $106,990 price tag is a bit egregious.
2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer III 4x4 is a big no for me, dog!
It has a D-shaped steering wheel, so it must be a race car.
But the center stack’s buttons don’t all illuminate evenly, so maybe it’s an economy car.
No, wait, it stickers at $100 grand. It must be a luxury car.
Jeep, in fact, calls it a premium SUV. They even offer Wagoneer Client Services. No, sorry, you don’t get that kind of service with your clapped-out, 20-year-old Miata.
If the definition of luxury includes all the trimmings, yes, the Grand Wagoneer is loaded. Jeep boasts of American walnut and “authentic metal” surfaces and delivers. All of the touchpoints feel very nice.
And, despite its odd shape, the steering wheel feels good.
The engine pulls–despite its heft, it has all the grunt–but then you have to wait for the transmission to choose the next gear. It reminds me of the manu-matic MR2 Spyder in that you’re left hanging for a second. In a world where automatics have gotten so good, this one feels so off the pace.
And then you notice some other things lacking. Like, the turn signal feels a little low-end. A cheap shot? Change lanes in a Genesis and then get back to me.
The gauges are an all-digital affair, but could they be a little less plain? And why so small?
And what’s causing that weird harmonic at 60? Did I hear something clank in the driver’s door when going over some train tracks?
I’m not going to fault this for the price. Price a Lincoln Navigator or Cadillac Escalade. The big Jeep lands right in the ballpark. And for someone wanting an alternative to those other domestic luxury SUVs–no shame in wanting something different–the Jeep presents another choice.
But it just doesn’t feel as luxurious as a $100,000 vehicle should. It’s like a sorta close first attempt, yet it’s fully priced like an heirloom.
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