2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer is an all-new full-sized SUV from the utility-focused brand. It’s closely based on the similarly-new Wagoneer, and both revive famous names from Jeep’s past. This new machine earns its “Grand” moniker with more premium appointments on the inside and out, an armada of extra tech gadgetry, and a larger, more powerful V8 heart. 

As a premium SUV, the Grand Wagoneer steps into the arena with vehicles like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator and Mercedes-Benz GLS. There are four trim levels, the Series I, Series II, Obsidian and Series III but in all forms the Grand Wagoneer is a luxe machine. Leather-wrapped surfaces, walnut wood trim or optional metallic touches, matched with its performance would make the Grand Wagoneer a solid rival to the standard-setting Escalade. There’s plenty of tech, too, including passenger monitor cameras and a McIntosh sound system.

The aforementioned V8 is a 6.4-liter powerplant that generates 471 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque. It connects to an 8-speed automatic gearbox which sends power to all four wheels. As you’d expect from an SUV with a gross vehicle weight rating of 7,700 pounds being pulled by a very large, naturally aspirated V8, the fuel economy is poor, netting a combined 15 mpg in our testing.  

While it’s dressed to impress, the Grand Wagoneer is still a Jeep product, and as such has the chops to roll its sleeves up and get to work. It has the ability to tow up to 9,850 pounds of gear behind it, plus its 4×4 system gives it sure footing off the pavement. This is thanks to a limited slip differential, active transfer case, and a traction management system to put all that torque to work the right way. The adaptive air suspension makes it easy to transition from smooth highway cruising to vaulted off-road traversal. 

On the inside, three rows can accommodate 7 passengers, or 8 if the standard captain’s chairs in the second row are swapped with an optional bench. With every seat occupied, the Grand Wagoneer has 27.4 cubic-feet of cargo space available behind the third row, but that can be extended to 94.2 cubic-feet to meet maximum cargo needs. 

SUVs this big, like the Escalade and Navigator, can be a handful to maneuver and ponderous handlers. While not exempt from these troubles, this Jeep stands out on how well it eases the burden of driving such a big vehicle. All the while, there’s enough room to bring a multitude of stuff for all sorts of family-sized adventures. If this SUV can’t tackle it, you probably need a bus.

Performance: 15/15

The Grand Wagoneer’s 6.4-liter V8 is enthusiastic underfoot and has a surprising amount of grunt. It works well in tandem with the eight-speed automatic to keep the hefty Jeep from ever feeling as big as it is, in terms of straight-line acceleration. Pair that with standard four-wheel-drive and it’s a confident, capable do-everything wagon. 

An independent rear suspension and an adaptive air suspension give the Grand Wagoneer some flexibility depending on the terrain. It won’t be anyone’s first choice of off-roader or trick anyone into thinking it’s an on-road performance SUV like BMW’s X7, but the combined elements make it a surprisingly easy SUV to handle in all sorts of conditions. It feels particularly easy to drive compared to its plus-sized domestic competitors, which can be ponderous and a handful during day-to-day situations. 

Fuel Economy: 7/15

The naturally aspirated V8 of the Grand Wagoneer requires a great deal of fuel to perform as impressively as it does. Official fuel economy numbers come in at 13 MPG City, 18 MPG Highway, 15 MPG combined. 

It’s on par with the Infiniti QX80’s 13 mpg city, 19 highway and 15 mpg combined ratings while a comparatively specced Cadillac Escalade nets one extra mile per gallon in each measure. Cadillac also offers a much more frugal diesel option, however, for buyers demanding more efficiency. Lincoln’s Navigator performs slightly better than both, due to its turbocharged 6-cylinder engine and efficiency-optimized 10 speed transmission, as does the Mercedes-Benz GLS and its turbocharged 6-cylinder.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 12/15

As of this review, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer has not been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but we expect its rating to rise once those agencies weigh in. The Grand Wagoneer is a distant relative of the Ram 1500 pickup, which earns positive marks from both agencies. With its burly SUV body, the Jeep should do even better. 

Standard safety equipment includes a full suite of airbags for driver and passenger plus an overhead airbag for all three rows. Blind spot warnings and forward collision mitigation are also included. Other safety systems include a drowsy driver detection system, 360 surround-view camera, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, active lane management, and pedestrian emergency braking. The convenience package (to $3,795 to $4,195 depending on the model and standard on the Series III) adds optional safety functions that includes night vision with animal and pedestrian recognition, intersection collision assist, and rear seat monitoring cameras. 

Comfort & Room: 15/15

Passenger comfort is top notch in the Grand Wagoneer, particularly in the second-row captain’s seats. The traditionally cramped third row is expectedly tight but useable, not far off from the experience offered in rivals like the Escalade though much more accommodating than what you’d find in the Mercedes GLS. An abundance of optional gizmos for passengers are sure to keep them both comfortable and occupied, thanks to a dedicated rear comfort display and optional seat-back entertainment monitors. 

For the driver, it’s easy to settle in and command the burly utility vehicle for long hauls. In terms of interior quality, the Grand Wagoneer achieves the premium look and feel it goes for. Metal components feel substantial and the leather-wrapped surfaces feel pleasant to the touch while also durable. Walnut wood interior accents provide a more comforting setting while optional embossed metal touches give the Grand Wagoneer an upscale, executive feel. 

Infotainment: 13/15

One of the Grand Wagoneer’s big draws is its collection of convenience and entertainment options. Everyone gets a screen—the driver gets a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, the main 12-inch touchscreen adorns the dashboard and there’s an extra touchscreen below that’s dedicated to comfort settings. If that isn’t enough, two seat-mounted 10.4-inch screens with built-in Amazon Fire TV functionality provide entertainment options for rear passengers, who also get their own comfort setting screen. If it’s too much to keep track of, the driver side passenger can co-pilot with their own 10.25-inch dashboard-integrated screen. 

That adds up to a plethora of screens, and with so much to learn the cockpit is a handful that takes a bit of practice to get a handle on. For example, the Wagoneer’s 360-degree camera is a huge asset in a vehicle this big, but accessing it requires too many inputs. Important functions should be more readily accessible with either a dedicated button or a more prominent location on the touchscreen menu.

Cargo Space & Storage: 13/15

The Grand Wagoneer has a total of 179 cubic-feet of passenger volume, which is ample to house up to 8 persons in relative comfort. There are 27.4 cubic-feet of storage in the back, and can be expanded to 94.2 cubic-feet if needed. a roof rack is standard and optional roof-rail crossbars are available extras. That’s a big amount of room, but about 10 cubic-feet shy overall of the Navigator and 14.9 less than the class-leading Escalade. 

Overall, the passenger compartment is a very satisfactory place to sit, either to observe the world outside or to be distracted by in-car entertainment. A multitude of USB ports are littered throughout to satisfy multiple passengers’ charging needs. 

Style & Design: 7/10

With its beefy exterior, the Grand Wagoneer’s looks match its brawny underpinnings. A unique grille and other exterior touches set it apart from the standard Wagoneer. All told, its very reserved styling makes it appropriate for a multitude of functions; not too dressy for daily use but not too mundane to be used as a burly limousine. 

Color and trim choices go a long way toward conveying a particular attitude. Velvet Red exterior paint stands out amongst a predominantly cool palate of available exterior paint options. Pick that for a warmer approach, settle in with slick grays for a more business-focused look, or go full Darth Vader with the aggressively dark Obsidian trim. 

Is the Jeep Grand Wagoneer worth it? Which Grand Wagoneer is the Best Value? 

Out of all four trims, the $99,995 Series II looks to be the most desirable. It comes with all of the standard features as the base model but offers more interior color options, starts off on the 22-inch polished aluminum wheels, and opens up access to packages like the premium group that includes, among other things, the 23-speaker McIntosh sound system. It also allows for the selection of most options without having to go all-in as the Series III does. 

This isn’t a cheap SUV to start, but the Series II falls neatly between the best value trims on the Lincoln Navigator and the Cadillac Escalade. Be gentle with the options list, however. Adding equipment like the tech-laden Convenience group package, heavy-duty trailer-tow package and rear-seat entertainment can push the price uncomfortably close to $110,000. 

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the Jeep Grand Wagoneer? 

The Grand Wagoneer doesn’t come cheap and neither does its insurance bill, but it isn’t out of line with its competitors. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with clean record can expect an average annual premium of $2,640 though this averages all 50 states. That compares to $2,435 for the Cadillac Escalade, $2,507 for the Lincoln Navigator and $2,483 for the Mercedes-Benz GLS Maybach. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.