Jeep has always been one of the first brands come to mind when it comes to the off-road worthy utility vehicles since the World War II. The good news for the Jeep fans is that they no longer have to look for the other 3-row alternatives for their growing families. The Wagoneer nameplate is revived from the brand’s past, built to compete with the other full-size large SUVs like the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe, with unique Jeep looks and off-road capability.
Like many modern Jeeps, the Wagoneer has the traditional Jeep design language with modern touches. Even though it is brand new model in its second year on the market, the modern Wagoneer looks like a Jeep from a mile away. However, it is missing a critical feature, there is no “Jeep” logo inside and outside. The reason is, Jeep decided to take different branding strategy and placed Wagoneer as a luxury sub-brand like the other American entries.
The boxy silhouette is undoubtedly the Wagoneer, but that’s also where you realize it is so much bigger than the Grand Cherokee. At the end of the day, it is a full-size body-on-frame 3-row SUV for large families. Even the rear door design is quite boxy and the roofline is extremely high, allowing large adults to get in our much easier. The wheelbase is also quite long, not only offering comfortable ride for everyone, but it also allows more space in the second row. The Wagoneer is so big from the outside, it makes the huge 22″ aluminum wheels look tinier than what it actually is.
Like the rest of the vehicle, the rear end is also huge and boxy. It has a very wide opening for large items. The taillights look relatively smaller compared to the overall size, and a chrome piece physically connects both taillights for more elegant look. Like the front end, there is no “Jeep” logo, and the Wagoneer logo also looks huge. There aren’t any fake exhaust or design gimmicks, and the rear bumper has a huge unpainted surface for extra protection and more rugged look.
The interior design is just like the exterior. It’s huge, it looks elegant, but most importantly, it carries over traditional Jeep design language without the Jeep logo. It is not a driver-centric interior design, therefore you might need to move your head a bit to see the center screen. The interior has lots of leather, soft-touch plastics, and other glossy plastic trims. I found the glossy black trims are placed in the worst place possible, the rotary shifter knob area where you touch all the time. Other than that, I have no complaints behind the steering wheel. Considering it is technically the base Series II trim, it is pretty impressive the materials used in the interior.
The 2022 Jeep Wagoneer comes with a 10.1 inch infotainment system with the latest Uconnect 5 infotainment system. As always, the Uconnect system is one of the most intuitive options especially when you compare it with the other full size American entries. The center console does not have many buttons, but the dashboard has a nice balance of haptic-feedback and physical buttons around the infotainment screen for the essential features, but you still have to rely on the infotainment screen for the most part.
Speaking of tech, the Adaptive Cruise Control system also comes with Active Lane Management system that works more like a lane keeping system that usually warns when you are almost out of the lane. The Adaptive Cruise Control system works well in most cases, but I was expecting to see an actual lane centering system like we see with General Motors’ Super Cruise system.
The Wagoneer also comes with a 10.3 inch fully digital dash cluster that provides a lot of useful information. The screen is customizable and you can choose the layout the way you want, but I just wish the speedometer was bigger when you try to see the driving information. The steering wheel also have 2 spoke design that also have fake wood piece trim, that enhances the luxury feeling. The 2022 Wagoneer gives you the premium feeling all around the interior, but if you are looking for extra luxury, the Grand Wagoneer is also available.
The 2022 Jeep Wagoneer offers a lot flexibility and interior space for the rear seat passengers. The second row offers 3 full size seats and each seat can be adjusted individually. It also means you can place a rear facing child seat in the middle for the maximum safety while two large adults can still seat on each side. The second row seats can also be folded forward with the front facing child seat, meaning that you don’t have to remove the child seat to access to the third row. As expected from a big 3-row SUV, there is absolutely no issues when it comes to the overall legroom and headroom space.
Unlike most 3-row SUV, we have a quite usable third row seating area here. In fact, if you need a lot of space and hate minivans, the Wagoneer might be the ideal choice. It is very easy to get in and out even for the third row passengers, and three big adults can seat comfortably. At 6’1″ I had zero issues and I would be perfectly fine even at long trips. There are USB ports, extra air vents and an additional sunroof. The third row seats are folded manually, which doesn’t sound luxury, but it saves a lot of time. Our tester is the Series II trim, which comes with a 8-seat configuration.
Speaking of folding down the third row, the Wagoneer offers tons of cargo area even without folding them down. It might not be the class-leading if you are just comparing the spec sheets, but you can easily place a stroller horizontally behind the third row seats. On paper, it has 27.4 cubic feet (775 L) behind the third row, 70.8 cubic feet (2005 L) behind the second row, and 116.7 cubic feet (3305 L) with both rear rows folded down.
The 2022 Jeep Wagoneer is a huge body-on-frame platform like the RAM trucks, therefore it’s not surprising to see similar drivetrain layout. It has the 5.7L naturally aspirated HEMI V8 engine with eTorque mild hybrid system that offers 392 horsepower and 404 lb-ft of torque. The mild hybrid system not only offers extra torque at low RPM, but it also offers better MPG compared to the standard HEMI V8 engine. Jeep did a great job choosing the base engine with the eTorque mild hybrid system included, because it is just adequate from the acceleration standpoint.
As expected from a Jeep, the All-Wheel-Drive system is standard that also offers few different off-road modes, but our tester did not have the additional 2-speed transfer case. For many Wagoneer buyers, this might not be a deal breaker as it is not meant for hardcore off-roading, but it can be added as an option. Even without the extra off-road features, the Wagoneer is sure-footed in all types of surface, and the 8-speed transmission can accommodate different types of driving and road conditions. The Wagoneer offers 10.000 lbs of towing capacity when equipped properly, making the Wagoneer best-in-class when it comes to towing heavy stuff.
The Wagoneer is more likely to spend most of its time on pavement, and it is where it really stands out. It might share it’s platform with the RAM 1500, but that doesn’t necessarily a bad thing. When you look underneath the Wagoneer, this is where it shows it is a luxury SUV. The double wishbone suspension can offer exceptionally comfortable ride quality. Our tester comes with the air suspension system, most suspension components, including the knuckle, lower control arms are made of aluminum for extra refinement. I wish the air suspension came with more customizable options, you can only change the pre-set options through the off-road terrain modes.
The new Wagoneer offers a nice balance of premium feeling, traditional Jeep design, and off-road capability in a huge 3-row SUV format. With the starting price of $83,290, it is very clear that the Wagoneer is targeting different audience compared to its rivals. The pricing ramps up quite significantly depending on which trim you choose, but clearly the new Wagoneer is the most premium 3-row American entry with much refined interior and ride quality, significantly more towing and cargo capacity.
| Engine | 5654cc naturally aspirated HEMI V8 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 8-speed automatic & 4-wheel-drive |
| Max power | 392 hp @ 5600 rpm |
| Max torque | 404 lb-ft @ 3950 rpm |
| 0-100 km/h | 6.8 sec |
| Curb Weight | 6244 lbs – 2832 kg |
| Fuel Economy (Combined) | 15 MPG – 15.6L / 100 km |
| Price (as tested) | $93,375 CAD |
