The Wagoneer S, a luxurious battery-electric on the STLA Large platform, runs from 0-60 in 3.4 seconds and has a range of over 300 miles. Compared with the concept, the production car is actually quite similar in style—which is pleasantly surprising.
The hood is longer in the production images, suggesting that some room was taken from the under-hatch area and moved up front (much of the under-hood area can probably be used for storage). One reason for that: the midpriced Jeep Cherokee is going to share the basic body structure.
The Wagoneer S will, like the Jeep Recon, be sold entirely as a BEV; unlike the Recon, it will have a gasoline powered sibling, the Cherokee. Its target range was originally 400 miles, but is now 300 miles. The price, very well optioned out in the Launch Edition, will be $72,000 including shipping. Jeep claims it is the most aerodynamic car they ever made (cD = 0.29).
Peak power is, as projected, 600 hp and 617 lb-ft, with a quick 0-60 time of 3.4 seconds (slightly better than originally proposed). The top speed is estimated at 124 mph. Economy is “up to 99 estimated MPGe”—up to 107 in the city.
A selectable terrain system will be controlled by a knob, as shown in the photo above; the color of the accent LEDs is up to the owner. The transfer case is a single-speed unit; torque split is variable and full-time. Axle ratios are 11:1. The front suspension is as MacPherson strut design and the rear is an “integral link.”
A high-end McIntosh sound system will be available either as an option or standard on the top model, along with a degree of autonomous driving. McIntosh is still exclusive to Jeep, and the cost of this system may be one reason why the Launch Edition tops $72,000.
The car uses two Stellantis-engineered electric drive modules, one for the front wheels and one for the rear wheels. Each “EDM” has the motor, gears, and power electronics in a single unit; the front EDM has wheel disconnects to save power when they are not needed. Cooling is provided by an OHX condensor, LT radiator, and electric fan.
Current reports have the Wagoneer S being made at the Toluca, Mexico plant. It will have body code KM49, while the Jeep Cherokee, on the same platform, will have body code KM74. The Launch Edition includes either a 48-amp Level 2 home charger or public charging credits through Free2Move. Its battery runs on 400 volts and has 100 kilowatt-hours of capacity. DC fast charging takes 23 minutes to go from 20% to 80% full (from 5% to 80% takes 52 hours at 120V regular-outlet voltage, 7 hours at 240V house high voltage, and 28 minutes on DC fast charging; 100 miles can be added in ten minutes from many public fast chargers).
The Wagoneer S is completely unrelated to the bigger “just plain Wagoneer.” It is much smaller, for a start. It is quite like the concept car, with the seven-slot illuminated grille, 20 inch wheels, dual-pane panoramic sunroof, and 45 inches of screen space with a segment-exclusive interactive front passenger screen. The McIntosh stereo has 19 speakers and 1,2000 watts. The front seats are heated and ventilated and the rear seats are ventialed. (This may not be true of all Wagoneer S models, but it is true of the Launch Edition, and explains some of its price.) The screen space includes a 12-inch center display and 12-inch driver cluster. Dynamic range mapping visually shows expected distance to “empty.”
| Dimension | Wagoneer S | Wagoneer | Grand Cherokee* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 192.4 | 214.7 | 193.5 |
| Wheelbase | 113 | 123 | 116.7 |
| Height | 64.8 | 79.7 | 70.8 |
| Width | 83.6 | 94 | 84.6 |
| Weight | 5,667 | 6,431 | 4,784 |
| Approach** | 19.2° | 21.5° | 20.5° |
| Breakover | 14.0° | 18.5° | 19.1° |
| Departure | 23.4° | 21.1° | 26.6° |
| Legroom (2 row) | 79.3 | 81.3 | 79.5 |
| Front hip room | 55.4 | 63.0 | 57.4 |
| Cargo behind seats | 30.6 c.f. | 64.5 | 37.7 |
| SAE total volume | 130.1 c.f. | 206.6 | 144.6 |
| F/R weight | 50.2/49.8 | 51/49 | 53/47 |
* Not Grand Cherokee L. ** Standard, not air, suspension; not off-road package.
The chart above shows that the Wagoneer S is much smaller than the Wagoneer in every way, and has somewhat less capability as measured by approach and departure angles. It is quite similar in size to the Grand Cherokee, though lower and somewhat narrower; the Grand Cherokee is around 900 pounds lighter, less than one would expect given the Wagoneer S’ batteries. The Grand Cherokee has better apporach, departure, and breakover angles, similar legroom, around two inches more hip room, and about seven cubic feet more cargo volume. The Wagoneer S does have the best front/rear weight distribution.
The Wagoneer S will include Jeep’s Selec-Terrain system with automatic, sport, economy, snow, and sand modes.
The Wagoneer S almost seems as though it was patterned on the Telsa Model Y dimensions, but it’s longer, yet has a bit less legroom. The wheelbase is almost the same. The main reason for the difference in length and interior space is likely the Wagoneer S’ less-optimized design. The Model Y was never going to be anything but an electric car, while the Wagoneer S will share quite a bit with the later Jeep Cherokee KM. This almost certainly added length and reduced interior-space optimization.
| Dimension | Wagoneer S | Telsa Model Y |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 192.4 | 187 |
| Wheelbase | 113 | 113.8 |
| Height | 64.8 | 64 |
| Width | 83.6 | 83.8 |
| Weight | 5,667 | 4,398 |
| 0-60 mph | 3.4 | 3.5 |
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