Unveiling the style, power and luxury of the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer

First introduced in concept form in late last year, the luxurious Jeep Grand Wagoneer and its more affordable model Wagoneer made their official debut last month – unfortunately not in South Africa though! The Wagoneer competes against the likes of Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition while the Grand Wagoneer will take on high-end SUVs such as Cadillac Escalade, BMW X7, and Range Rover.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer will be accessible in four trim levels, including entry-level Series I starting at $88,995 (approximately R1.3 million) and Series II at $95,995. The other two variants - the Obsidian and the high-end Series III - will at least cost $100,995 (R1.65m) and $105,995, respectively. The automaker will offer five pre-configured models for Grand Wagoneer; the first three will have one variant only, while the Series III will have two versions. The model configuration feature will be available later on. (Prices correct at time of publication.)

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer carries a 6.4L V8 mill that mates to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The engine churns out 471 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque, beating its two biggest competitors - the 420-hp Escalade and the 450-hp Navigator.

The luxury SUV rides on a body-on-frame platform featuring an independent rear suspension for a softer ride and better handling. The optional adaptive air suspension allows the driver to increase the ride height up to 3.6 inches or reduce it by half an inch. With 10 inches of ground clearance, and up to two feet of water-fording potential, the SUV can tow up to 9,860 pounds.

Available with standard three-row seating and room for up to eight passengers, the opulent utility vehicle is more than enough for large families. It offers two standard second-row captain chairs and an available bench seat. The luxury bits are everywhere adorning the Grand Wagoneer. We are talking about a 12.3-inch fully digital gauge cluster, customisable ambient interior lighting, a head-up display, a camera-fed rearview mirror, and a rear-seat monitoring system. The boot space is 27 cubic feet, which owners can extend up to 71 cubics by folding the third-row seats.

What makes the Grand Wagoneer stand apart in its segment are its multifaceted infotainment system and various screens. Peek inside and we find a big 12.0-inch centre display placed above a 10.3-inch touchscreen featuring controls for the HVAC system. For the Series II model, we get another 10.3-inch touchscreen for the front-seat passenger.

Standard across the board is a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB ports for all passengers. Second-row passengers can also benefit from another 10.3-inch display between the captain's chairs.

Besides Jeep's standard driver-assistance systems, the 2022 Grand Wagoneer also comes equipped with a variety of additional assists such as adaptive cruise control, a self-parking function, and night vision with pedestrian and animal detection. The main safety facilities consist of forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist.

Unfortunately, Jeep has no plans yet to launch the Grand Wagoneer in South Africa, but buyers looking to purchase a bigger Jeep can get their hands on the new Jeep Grand Cherokee L. Be sure to also check out our regular reviews on the MotorHappy blog… you’re sure to find something you love there!