Last week, loyal Jeep fans rejoiced as the Wagoneer name was reborn after a 29-year hiatus when Stellantis unveiled the 2022 Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. While the new versions of the iconic brand come with Jeep’s latest examples of power, drivability, and off-road capability, the Wagoneer’s connectivity, UX, and infotainment systems are real attention-grabbers and serve to add a luxury experience to the vehicle’s utility.
“Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are born from the Jeep brand, but they have a flair of their own, building on a rich heritage of craftsmanship and refinement while offering new levels of sophistication, comfort, and legendary 4×4 capability, as well as a new level of customer service,” said Christian Meunier, Jeep Brand Chief Executive Officer.
Bigger and longer than its two main competitors, the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer take advantage of the extra space by providing passengers with new levels of interactive technology. The amount and size of display screens and touchscreens in the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are the first features to catch the eye as you enter the vehicles’ cabins.
Nearly 45 inches of total screen span the length of the instrument panel: a 12.3-in driver information display behind the steering wheel, a 12.1-in horizontal touchscreen serves as the main display screen in the center console, with a 10.25-in horizontal comfort display touchscreen and structural aluminum wing that control the seats and the four-zone climate control. Additionally, a first-in-segment 10.25-in touchscreen provides the front passenger with dynamic control at their fingertips.
Second-row passengers have 30 inches of total screen space with a 10.1-in comfort display screen housed on the center console located between the two captain’s chairs. Each second-row passenger also has access to their own 10.1-in entertainment touchscreen. Those screens enable passengers to control navigation and media, monitor external cameras, and play content via Google Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
Passengers can also stream video using Amazon’s Fire TV for Auto with Alexa, with access to Amazon’s library of Prime Video shows. Games, apps, and access to Alexa on the road are all available through Amazon Fire TV for Auto.
The two new Jeep SUVs feature Uconnect 5, the Stellantis UX (user experience) system, which was introduced at CES 2021 and featured on Futurride earlier this year. According to Stellantis, Uconnect 5’s operating speeds are five times faster than its predecessor, and the new system is more connected, helpful, content-rich, and adds greater personalization than previous versions.
The Grand Wagoneer, which is targeted for the higher-end luxury SUV market, includes the only vehicle audio system in the world powered by McIntosh—another classic American luxury brand known for offering distinguished home audio systems that deliver the ultimate experience in music and film. McIntosh is supplying two systems: the MX1375 and MX950, the number denoting wattage. The Grand Wagoneer exclusive 1375-W McIntosh audio system features 23 custom-designed speakers connected to a 24-channel amplifier that provides an immersive audio experience with adaptive 3D surround processing. The audio elements are designed in aluminum and gloss black, true to the design aesthetic of McIntosh’s high-end home audio systems.
“When we were developing the MX1375 Reference Entertainment System, we set up a McIntosh Reference room next to the Wagoneer team’s facility to ensure the best parts of the home system experience made it into the Grand Wagoneer,” said Charlie Randall, President of McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. “It was fascinating to hear the progression as the vehicle started to take on qualities of the Reference Room itself.”
Jeep says that sustainability was a clear goal for the designers of the Grand Wagoneer. The interior of the vehicle features sustainable, fully recyclable glass made from natural raw material; sustainable raw aluminum on the door speakers, shift knob, and vent surroundings; a headliner made of Vyva Fabrics’ Dinamica fully recyclable premium microfiber suede; and premium carpets made from Universal Fibers’ Thrive fiber, which is comprised of recycled content using pre- and post-consumer materials. PUR, a sustainable synthetic material, was chosen to upholster the seating, console, door, and instrument panel surfaces.
Emissions reduction technology is another highlight of the Grand Wagoneer. It features a plug-in hybrid electric powertrain system, in line with the Jeep brand’s plans to offer electrification options on all models in the next few years.
The Wagoneer marries a 5.7-L V8 engine with the next-generation 48-V eTorque mild hybrid system as standard equipment. (The Grand Wagoneer gets a 6.4-L V8.) It is the first vehicle with the new hybrid system, which features enhancements to several fuel-saving features.
The system replaces the traditional engine-mounted alternator with a belt-driven motor generator unit that works with a 48-V battery pack to provide engine start/stop, engine torque addition, and brake-energy regeneration. The system adds up to 130 lb·ft (176 N·m) on initial throttle tip-in, adding to the V8’s 392 hp (292 kW) and 404 lb·ft (548 N·m). The eTorque motor generator feeds energy to a 390-W·h 12-cell lithium-ion battery using (NMC) Nickel Manganese Cobalt Graphite chemistry. The small-suitcase-size, air-cooled battery pack mounts to the floor inside the Wagoneer’s cabin.
Enhancements for the latest eTorque system include a motor that provides electric assist to the engine from launch until the battery pack reaches a minimal state of charge, with the duration determined by throttle input from the driver. The system completely shuts off fuel delivery to the engine while the Wagoneer coasts down from highway speeds and under braking, enhancing fuel economy. With no-delay stop/start, the SUV anticipates rolling stops, shutting down the engine as soon as vehicle speed reaches 0 mph, enhancing fuel savings. Engine restart with the eTorque motor is said to be seamless and instant. Vehicle accessories are powered by the battery pack while the engine is stopped.
The 5.7-L V8 engine with eTorque hybrid assist features an 850-W electric cooling fan using PWM (pulse width modulation) to tailor the fan’s energy draw to the cooling demand. Eliminating the traditional fan blade mounted to the front of the engine reduces fan noise and helps improve fuel economy by reducing parasitic losses.
According to Stellantis, electrification will modernize the Jeep brand as it strives to become a leader in eco-friendly premium technology. Aiming to create “the most efficient and responsible Jeep vehicles ever,” Jeep says it will continue to offer 4×4 capability and a fun-to-drive experience with electrified powertrain systems.
The Wagoneer starts at $59,995 and the Grand Wagoneer at $86,995, with availability this summer. Customers can go online to reserve 12 available pre-configured models, which will be assembled in the Detroit area.
Kevin Jost contributed to this article.
