What Is the 2021 Jeep Wagoneer?

The Jeep enthusiasts out there know the Jeep Wagoneer (and Grand Wagoneer) as one of those classic Jeep models that they wish were still around. It had a classic boxy frame that we haven’t seen much since the 1990s in the automotive industry. Today, vehicles are created with more rounded edges, aerodynamic features, and futuristic tech. With the announcement of this model’s rebirth, what can we expect with the comeback of the Jeep Wagoneer, especially since models like the Wrangler still have design elements from their original versions?

What Is the Jeep Wagoneer?

When you see the term “wagon” anywhere near the name of an automobile, your mind inevitably wanders into the realm of station wagons. If you know anything about station wagons, then you know there was a fairly recent time when people just thought they were out-of-date and maybe even a bit ugly. There has been a resurgence with manufacturers creating modern station wagon-esque vehicles, particularly from companies like Audi, Volvo, and Volkswagen. Now, it seems like Jeep will be joining that crowd, but with its own unique twist on the whole affair.

The Wagoneer name is tied to the familiar station wagon design that was popular when it was released. From a modern perspective, it seems like an ingenious move to market the best off-road vehicle around with a style that’s known for its interior space and, surprisingly, its luxuriousness. Yes, those wooden panels on the side were really popular back in their heyday, but I wonder if we’ll see them on the upcoming Wagoneer. Now, that would be quite the throwback.

The Jeep Wagoneer was last seen among the Jeep models lineup in the year 1991, almost 30 years ago today. It had an uninterrupted 29-year production run that saw almost no changes in the body structure during that time. For many, the Wagoneer was seen as the frontrunner of full-size luxury SUVs. The features are what set it apart from the vehicles of companies like Land Rover and Ford. Other 4WD vehicles didn’t come with automatic transmissions, power steering, or an independent front suspension. In fact, most other 4WD vehicles were more suited for working and acting like pickups than they were for taking your family out on convenient and comfortable adventures.

The Wagoneer was truly a vehicle that garnered thousands of fans because of its classic style and obvious Jeep off-road abilities.

Why Now?

Now, after almost three decades, the Jeep Wagoneer is once again going to be seen in car dealerships around the nation. People are wondering, though, why now? And the answer is fairly simple: this might be the best time in a long time for Jeep to make a move like this. The Wagoneer is slated for a release this year sometime in the summer season or middle of the year. The Grand Wagoneer will also make its debut, but perhaps not quite at the same time, although it shouldn’t be too long after. They should both be 2021 models, but the Grand Wagoneer could possibly be a 2022 model.

The sales of SUVs have been so popular in recent times that every manufacturer is trying to do its best to compete in an extremely saturated market. The thing is, even with all of the different models out there, people still want more! Hence the impending arrival of the two Wagoneers. Jeep enthusiasts have been happy with the lineup available at Jeep dealerships for a long time, but as Jeep moves to fill out that lineup, there are a lot of people who are starting to realize that Jeep has even more to offer. The Gladiator was released last year and has been very successful, showing everyone that the company can revisit old models and make a new but lasting impact. Now, it’s time for Jeep to move into the full-size SUV class with the Wagoneer and see if the brand can make a few more ripples.

Why the Wagoneer?

As was mentioned, this new Jeep SUV will be a full-size model. At the moment, there are no full-size SUVs among the Jeep models in the lineup. Also, you aren’t going to find any current Jeep that can seat more than five passengers. It’s actually a bit surprising that there are no six, seven, or eight-passenger Jeeps being sold in the United States right now, considering how popular those types of vehicles are. Still, that again makes this the perfect time to show the world the 2021 Jeep Wagoneer.

Even among the midsize Jeep SUVs, they still only go up to five passengers. You’d expect the Grand Cherokee to have options for more, but what you get is just a bigger cargo area. Larger families can now rejoice because the Wagoneer is coming, and it has all the space you need to pack everyone in, along with all your adventure gear.

Will It Compete?

If the recent debut of the Jeep Gladiator and the stellar performance of all Jeep vehicles are anything to go by, you can bet that the Jeep Wagoneer is going to be a competitive force in its segment. There’s no doubt that other manufacturers are worried about Jeep continuing to fill out its lineup, as there isn’t a company out there that has the same unique style and off-road pedigree that Jeep has. Every automaker has cars that are pretty similar to each other, but there will be certain differences that will draw people in and create lifelong fans. With Jeep, it’s the versatility that comes along with the name. Every Jeep will function superbly on the highway, but every Jeep will also outperform all the other vehicles once you hit the trail. Now, that’s some healthy competition.

Although it’s now only a few months away, we’re ready to see both the Wagoneer and the Grand Wagoneer in action already. It’s always nice to see a nostalgic bit of car history reimagined as a modern machine, and we think it will definitely be the same with the Wagoneer. The jury’s still out on whether we’ll see any wood paneling, though. Maybe as a limited edition model?

Looking Towards the Future of Jeep

Here at Faricy Chrysler Jeep in Colorado Springs, we’re a family-owned and operated Chrysler Jeep dealership that likes to think differently. We believe in integrity, loyalty, and love above all else. We try to impress those core values into every employee and display them to every customer that we come into contact with.

We get just as excited as the next person when we see a new Jeep model being released. We just had the Gladiator come out, and now we can look forward to the Wagoneer making its triumphant return. We can’t wait because we know every Jeep comes with a promise that it’s going to be a high-quality and reliable vehicle. To set up an appointment to test drive your ideal Jeep on our Off-Road Jeep Test Track, just give us a call today, and one of our friendly sales staff members will be glad to help you out.

2023 Updates on the Wagoneer

One of the more interesting developments since the return of the Wagoneer and the Grand Wagoneer is the decision to make these models part of a stand-alone brand. That’s right, we found out in the past three years that the Wagoneer is not really a Jeep and is instead a stand-alone brand. This is similar to the decision to make Ram trucks separate from the Dodge label. In a way, it is a good sign since this shows that the folks at Stellantis, the parent company of both Wagoneer and Jeep, are confident that this newest brand has the ability to stand on its own two feet.

It makes sense that this has happened. The Wagoneer is being marketed as a lineup of premium full-size SUVs with a strong emphasis on luxury features. This puts it in the same class as the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and BMW X7––full-size luxury SUVs with seating for up to eight passengers. However, the Wagoneer has a key difference. Unlike those others, it leverages the off-road capabilities that harken back to the original Wagoneer models of the past. It also combines the innovations from Jeep with a styling all its own. As a result, the Wagoneer is not only its own model. It is also its own brand.

Taking Size and Performance to the Next Level

When most automakers come out with a new model, they are content to let the features of the debut model play out in the marketplace. Rather than innovate, the brand will keep the same basic features and options in place for the first few years to see how the market reacts before making any substantive changes. Stellantis decided that this was the wrong approach with the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. As a result, the 2023 model has come out with a number of new choices for drivers, giving you the ability to get the most out of this vehicle.

The most stunning move was to introduce a model with a longer wheelbase for 2023. Dubbed the Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L, these new options add a full seven inches to the wheelbase, as well as an extra foot of length. As a result, these two L models offer an insane 130.9 cu.ft. of cargo space behind the driver. This is significantly more than the 94.2 cu.ft. of space in the Grand Wagoneer and the 116.7 cu.ft. of cargo space in the Wagoneer. Wagoneer has, in effect, allowed drivers to supersize their full-size SUVs.

Another option on the 2023 Wagoneer can be found under the hood. When it was introduced for the 2022 model year, the Wagoneer sported a standard 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with eTorque. This engine delivers 392 hp and 404 lb-ft of torque. However, the folks at Wagoneer decided that drivers might desire a smaller but more efficient engine. As a result, the 2023 Wagoneer is now offered with an available 3.0-liter Turbo I-6. This engine delivers an incredible 420 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. It is also surprisingly fuel-efficient, with an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 20 MPG combined, regardless of whether you choose rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.

The Grand Wagoneer originally came with a 6.4L HEMI V8 producing 470 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque. However, it has been updated with a new 3.0-liter Turbo I-6 engine called the Hurricane 510. Why the number? It represents the incredible 510 hp produced by this engine with its twin turbochargers. The engine also delivers 500 lb-ft of torque. This engine is standard on all trims of the 2023 Grand Wagoneer L, and the 3.0-liter available on the 2023 Wagoneer also comes standard on the Wagoneer L. As the Wagoneer lineup continues to evolve, we expect the powerful and efficient new 3.0-liter Hurricane engines will displace the older HEMI V8 options and become standard on all Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models.

New Looks and Trims

Not all of the new features on the Wagoneer relate to performance or design. One of the most significant is a new trim called the Carbide. Built on the Wagoneer Series II trim, the Carbide adds 20-inch Gloss Black wheels, a Black Onyx grille, and Gloss Black seats with Smoke accent stitching on the leather. Wagoneer has also made a blacked-out Obsidian trim available for the top-of-the-line Grand Wagoneer Series III.

Like the Carbide, the Obsidian features a Black Onyx grille and roof racks, 22-inch polished wheels with Lights Out pockets, Dark Onyx chiseled metal aluminum dashboard trim, and the choice of a Blue Agave, Global Black, or Tupelo interior. In addition, the Grand Wagoneer Obsidian has premium tinted glass, so you can feel like an A-list celebrity when you cruise the town in this model.

Finally, Wagoneer made a small change to its trim levels. When the brand’s two SUVs were re-introduced to the world in 2022, the entry-level trims were called the Series I. The brand has decided to change this, calling the base models simply the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. Altogether, the growing list of trim options helps the Wagoneer lineup appeal to a wider range of drivers, cementing its position as the most exciting full-size SUV on the market.

You Can Find the Wagoneer Here at Faricy Chrysler Jeep

When you go looking for a premium model like the Wagoneer, you may find yourself encountering some difficulty locating one. This is because many run-of-the-mill dealerships won’t carry a model like the Wagoneer, or if they do, will only keep a few vehicles in stock, choosing instead to try to order one when a customer comes in for a visit. You are not going to have these hassles when you work with Faricy Chrysler Jeep. We have plenty of Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models in stock to choose from, including the supersized Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L.

With a variety of trims for the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, the brand has done a great job of providing different levels of comfort, convenience, and entertainment features. This allows drivers like you the ability to choose what they would like when buying a Wagoneer. When you factor in the option of the extended wheelbase L models, you are given even more choices for a Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer than most other three-row full-size SUVs. With that in mind, you want to know that your dealership will be able to get you behind the wheel of the Wagoneer you desire. This is where we come in, giving you that capability.

Come to Faricy Chrysler Jeep today and get the Wagoneer or Grand Wagoneer of your dreams. Our team will work with you to choose one with the features you require and will go over all of your different options. We have experience and expertise with all of the vehicles we sell, including the Wagoneer. We look forward to seeing you and helping you enjoy the luxury, performance, and capability that can only be found in a Wagoneer!