Jeep already offers its Wrangler and Grand Cherokee as plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), but now the brand is adding full electrification, too. A battery-powered Wrangler-style off-roader called the Recon is coming, but right now, the news is all about previewing the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S.
It’s the brand’s first global electric vehicle (EV), and while Jeeps are usually launched on tough off-road courses, the Wagoneer S was unveiled as a static display in New York City – more appropriate for something that’s essentially a luxury liner with four-wheel drive, rather than a rough-and-tumble rock crawler. It goes on sale in Canada in the fall of 2024, although initially only in Quebec and British Columbia, with sales expanding to other provinces as production ramps up.
Most noticeable is its Jeep badge. The automaker introduced the gasoline-powered Wagoneer as a separate standalone brand in 2022, but that didn’t work out too well, and now every Jeep is called a Jeep. The 2024 Wagoneer S will initially go on sale in a single, fully loaded trim called the Launch Edition.
Built Electric from the Ground Up
This new Jeep is the first vehicle built on parent company Stellantis’ STLA large electric platform, which will also underpin the upcoming electric Ram pickup truck. The Wagoneer S uses a 400-volt, 100-kWh battery pack, and the initial estimate is more than 482 km on a charge. The Launch Edition’s price includes a 240-volt home charger or an equivalent in public charger credits through the automaker’s Free2move Charge app.
The vehicle’s front and rear motors make a combined 600 horsepower and 617 lb-ft of torque, enabling a run from zero to 96 km/h in just 3.4 seconds. Quick acceleration is a big selling point for several automakers, and Jeep recently unveiled a video of the Wagoneer S drag racing a Tesla Model Y. “Y” is the question because most buyers probably won’t be engaging in drag races, but at least it seems the Wagoneer S is no slouch, especially for something that weighs 2,570 kg.
To improve range, the front drive module disconnects when four-wheel traction isn’t needed. The Wagoneer S has full-time four-wheel drive (4WD) and selectable drive modes including sport, snow, sand or eco.
The company says the body is 35 per cent stiffer than other midsize Jeep SUVs, which should translate into a smooth and quiet ride.
On the Outside
While it shares a name with the large-and-boxy gasoline Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, the “S” is much sleeker-looking and closer in size to the current Grand Cherokee. The front end is closed in since there’s no need for engine cooling, but a seven-slot grille is a must for a Jeep, so an illuminated strip with dividers gives it that look. The rear finishes with a wing-style roof spoiler that improves aerodynamics, which improves range – and at 0.294 drag coefficient, this is the most aerodynamic vehicle Jeep has ever made.
The Wagoneer S Launch Edition will include 20-inch wheels, gloss-black roof and trim accents, hands-free liftgate, auto-dimming mirrors, and an openable dual-pane panoramic sunroof. There’s also an available towing package and maximum capacity is 1,542 kg (3,400 lbs).
On the Inside
The Wagoneer S doesn’t look like the gasoline Wagoneer outside, but the cabin design has a family resemblance. Unlike the three-row gas-powered version, the “S” handles a maximum of five occupants. Front passengers get 1,050 mm of legroom, while those in the rear get 965 mm, while the front seatbacks are designed to improve knee space for those behind. Cargo volume is 866 litres with the 60/40 second-row seats upright and 1,727 litres when they’re folded down. There’s also an 85-litre front trunk, or “frunk,” under the hood.
Rather than a giant centre tablet, the Wagoneer S has several screens – design chief Ralph Gilles prefers the functions “just be there” rather than in-your-face. The combined screen space is 1,140 mm (45 inches, comprising a 12.3-inch infotainment centre screen, with a second 10.25-inch screen below for climate functions; 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster; and 10.25-inch screen for the front passenger. Invisible to the driver, it can hook up to a device to broadcast entertainment or perform some vehicle functions, such as setting up a navigation route that can be sent over to the driver’s screen. There’s also a 10-inch head-up display.
Other standard features include heated and ventilated seats front and rear, 12-way adjustable front seats with massage, a digital rearview mirror, a wireless charger, and 19-speaker audio system.
The Wagoneer S was created by a team of young designers – the sketch that eventually led to the final product was penned by a 29-year-old – and they decided against “old luxury” touches. There are aluminum accents instead of wood, glossy “piano black” surfaces prone to fingerprints and scratches are gone in favour of ceramic coatings, and there’s no exterior chrome. Interior materials are recycled or sustainable, and the upholstery is a new vinyl that’s impossible to tell from leather.
2024 Jeep Wagoneer S Pricing
The Launch Edition will be the sole trim at introduction and will start at $91,790 with delivery and fees (the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, or MSRP, is $88,995). That price puts it over the eligibility limit for any federal or provincial rebates, and we’ll have to see if future lower-trim prices will qualify.
More to Come
At the event, the wraps also came off the Wagoneer S Trailhawk Concept. Unlike the regular Wagoneer S, this one is meant to earn Jeep’s Trail-Rated designation, with tough-stuff approach and departure angles, and deep-water fording ability. It’s only a concept for now, but it’s hard to imagine it not going into production. We’re looking forward to driving the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S out on the streets, and then we hope the Trailhawk happens so we take it out to the great outdoors to see what it’s all about.
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