Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer revealed

The much-loved Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer badges have finally been dusted off with the reveal of an all-new extra-large flagship SUV range that will sit above the recently-revealed fifth-gen Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The nameplates previously ran from 1963-91, but Jeep has seen an opportunity to reprise them on all-new offerings that will take the fight to the likes of the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator and GMC Yukon.

The new-age 2021 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer go on sale in the US this summer but, sadly, the left-hand drive-only models aren’t destined for the Australian market, leaving Jeep without a rival for the incoming Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and the related Lexus LX.

During the online global reveal, company execs billed the 2021 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer as luxury all-terrainers that are meant to be exposed to the rough-and-tumble of an outdoors life.

“This is a luxury SUV that’s meant to be, at certain times, full of mud. It’s meant to be used,” said Jeep CEO Christian Meunier.

Unlike the recently revealed fifth-gen 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is underpinned by an Alfa Romeo-sourced monocoque platform, the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are built on the rugged RAM DT body-on-frame chassis.

Apart from the huge towing capacity this architecture provides (up to 4.5 tonnes), it also delivers the scale necessary to accommodate the big dimensions of the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, which measure 5453mm in length and 2388mm (including mirrors) in width.

The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer’s 3124mm wheelbase enables a generous three-row seating layout, with Jeep boasting of best-in-class legroom in the second and third rows, as well as class-leading headroom in the third.

Neither the Wagoneer nor Grand Wagoneer wear Jeep badges, as company execs say the pair are essentially positioned as a premium sub-brand.

Even so, the familiar Jeep design cues – such as the trademark seven-slot grille and trapezoidal wheel-arches – are all there.

Interestingly, there are no ‘Trail Rated’ badges to be found either, as Jeep execs say the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer don’t meet the criteria relating to dimensions and manoeuvrability required for this status.

Three 4x4 systems are on the menu – Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II – with the last of these providing active low range and rear electronic limited-slip differential.

The Selec-Terrain traction management system offers five terrain modes (Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud and Rock), and Jeep says the vehicle can wade through 610mm of water.

The Quadra-Lift air suspension (standard on the Jeep Grand Wagoneer) provides over 250mm of ground clearance, in addition to a supple ride, according to Jeep.

Propulsion for the Jeep Wagoneer comes from the US off-road brand’s trusty 5.7-litre HEMI V8, which sends its 292kW/548Nm to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Jeep Grand Wagoneer ups the ante to 351kW/617Nm, as it gets the larger 6.4-litre V8 as standard.

Count on high-performance Trackhawk variants coming further down the track, potentially with electrification.

Jeep execs are keen to emphasise the rugged, all-terrain nature of the newcomers, even though the Grand Wagoneer is pitched as an offering that’s claimed to set new standards for “premium American luxury”.

There’s a new digital instrument cluster, along with a 10.1-inch and 12-inch reconfigurable centre stack touch-screen for the infotainment system and vehicle settings.

The Jeep Grand Wagoneer is said to be stuffed with more “wood, leather and metal than imaginable”, making for a genuinely premium cabin ambience.

In a nod to their Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer ancestors, the new models are equipped with a two-spoke steering wheel.

The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are said to be packed with more than 120 standard and available advanced safety and security features.

Available driver assist technologies include a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, active driving assist, hands-free active driving assist, night vision, drowsy driver detection and traffic sign recognition.

Jeep also boasts of an industry-first McIntosh 1375W premium audio system featuring 23 speakers, including a 12-inch subwoofer with 3D Surround System to provide an immersive audio experience.