For me, it was love at first sight when Jeep released pictures of the 2022 Grand Wagoneer. Today, I bring this beauty for all to see and learn about.
Jeep went a different styling direction than Escalade and Navigator, no in your face grill, but a subdued one that gives the Grand Wagoneer a sleeker appearance in spite of its massive size. Jeep also laid off the bling, although it does have beautiful 22” wheels and just the right amount of chrome.
This is the range-topping Grand Wagoneer Series III. There are three more models of the Grand Wagoneer below this one, and you can move further down to the regular Wagoneer, where there are two model choices. Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are the same size, but Wagoneer has a 5.7-liter V8, where the Grand has the 6.4 V8.
Pop the big hood and you’ll find the aforementioned naturally aspirated 6.4-liter V8, and yes it’s a Hemi. It is putting out 471-horses and 455-pound feet of torque. It is mated to an 8-speed automatic and it will tow 10,000 pounds.
Make no mistake, although beautiful and luxurious, this is still a Jeep and it has all the 4 by 4 off-road capability we’ve come to expect from this storied brand.
Now we move to the inside, and I am at a bit of a loss as to where to even begin showing you everything. Let’s start with the fact that there are 7 different screens that total over 75” and 12 million pixels, something I’ve never seen before.
The wood that adorns the interior, including the door panels is simply beautiful. The 20-way adjustable front seats are inviting and oh so comfortable.
Things come to life when you hit the start button. A 12” digital gauge cluster can be configured any way you wish from the steering wheel.
The center stack is beautiful and has a round shift dial and this is also where you choose your drive modes and ride height. Just above that is a screen for the front seat massage and lumbar supports. A push of a button opens the screen for your wireless charger, USB, USC, and power supplies. The massage feature is the best I’ve reviewed on any vehicle.
The center glove box has a sliding door on top to store things, but then you open it to reveal a refrigerator which is more like a freezer. I’ve had these in other vehicles ,but this one is the real deal. A room temperature water bottle will get icy cold in under 5 minutes.
Moving higher up the center of the dash you find the incredible Uconnect5 12” screen that operates everything including Navigation, the 23-speaker McIntosh sound system, Bluetooth, comfort settings, vehicle settings, and a host of apps. There is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Alexa will respond to you.
I have to mention a couple of the apps I love. There is Fam Cam which puts up a view of the 2nd and 3rd row seats on the center screen to see what the munchkins are doing. Also, when in park, choose the Relax app to put tranquil settings on the screen, set to sounds. The fireplace is my favorite.
Right in front of the front passenger seat, there is yet another screen that can view the SUV's camera footage (including the Fam Cam), use the mobile phone connectivity to read and send texts, view a preview of the dual rear screens, and view a mirrored display of whatever's playing on one of the 2nd row screens. The driver cannot see this screen at all for safety purposes.
Moving to the second-row captain chairs, which are heated and ventilated by the way and they slide and recline, there is a huge center console with storage and more USB ports.
On the console is another 10.25” screen to control rear climate, and on the front seat headrests are two more 12”screens (#6 and 7 for those counting). When paired with the car's onboard Wi-Fi subscription, you can access Amazon Fire TV and stream from other apps such as Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Sling, HBO Max, Amazon Music, NBC, Peacock, and more. The screens can also access the car's navigation system and climate controls. There are also two TV remotes that have push-to-talk Alexa access. One screen, called “are we there yet?” shows where you are, where you are going, and the ETA. Gone are the days of kids asking the nagging question: “are we there yet?”
Access to the massive third row seat is easy with a power slide button on top of the 2nd row captain chairs. It is important to note that every seat in the Grand Wagoneer has at least one USB and a power outlet. 3rd row occupants can open a fixed moon roof above them, and their seats recline.
Cargo area is best-in-class with 27-cubic feet behind the 3rd row seat and there is a compartment under the cargo floor to hide valuables. 3rd row and 2nd row seats can be folded down with the push of a button.
The standard features and options list is endless. Let me just say that if you can imagine it, or want it, it’s there.
Most notable for me are the massive power panoramic moonroof, the digital rearview mirror, night vision, a head-up display, and very wide deployable running boards that are truly functional and helpful.
It also has all the latest and greatest safety features you could want including blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, park assist, surround view cameras, full speed emergency braking, lane assist and more.
The Grand Wagoneer rides fantastic due to air suspension, acceleration is strong, the exhaust sound is wonderful, and it handles surprisingly well for a 6450-pound SUV. Most of all, it’s Whisper quiet in the cabin.
Fuel economy is not good at 13 in town, 18 on the highway, but who cares?
You’re wondering about the price I’m sure. It’s steep at $109,580 but that’s in line with the Cadillac Escalade, BMW X7, and most of the Range Rovers and this SUV is comparable and excels in many ways. Even as hot as the new Escalade has been since its arrival, the Grand Wagoneer Series III is a contender and will be a worthy competitor.
Note: I want to thank Stellantis for the privilege of getting this much sought-after SUV to me so soon.