Forward-looking: Jeep had its fun stuffing 707 horsepower, 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat engines into Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawks, but the auto industry is firmly on the path to electrification, and Jeep is tagging along. The Stellantis-owned automaker’s first official EV is the Wagoneer S, a premium battery-electric vehicle (BEV) boasting a range of over 300 miles on a single charge.
The electric powertrain generates 600 horsepower and more than 800 Nm of instant torque, capable of propelling the SUV from zero to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. That is impressively quick, especially for a large and heavy luxury SUV.
Elsewhere, owners can look forward to Jeep’s proprietary Selec-Terrain traction management system with five dedicated driving modes: sport, eco, snow, sand, and auto. Jeep says the Launch Edition (destined for the US only) will feature amenities such as a seven-slot illuminated grille, 20-inch gloss black wheels, gloss black and dark neutral gray exterior elements, and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof.
The grille has been completely redesigned, as it no longer needs to channel fresh air to a massive engine under the hood. Regarding the trim, Jeep mentioned avoiding chrome in favor of more environmentally friendly processes and materials in the build.
Inside, owners will have access to 45 inches of usable screen space – a metric that Jeep claims is the best in its class. Premium ventilated and heated seats in the front and rear are also standard.
The sound system is impressive as well, with the Wagoneer S equipped with 19 speakers, including a 12-inch subwoofer and an amplifier pushing 1,160 watts courtesy of McIntosh Audio.
The Wagoneer S is equipped with a 400-volt, 100-kilowatt-hour battery that can charge from 20 percent to 80 percent in just 23 minutes using a DC fast charger. Each Wagoneer S Launch Edition includes a 48-amp Level 2 home charger or public charging credits of equal value via Free2move Charge, Stellantis’ charging ecosystem.
Jeep stated that the EV is being built on the STLA Large platform, which is also expected to support the upcoming all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona SRT. It is not a direct fit, however, requiring engineers to adjust the length, width, suspension, and powertrain components specifically for the Wagoneer S. The team also improved body torsion stiffness by 35 percent compared to earlier mid-sized Jeep SUVs for a smoother ride.
For those interested in the technical details, the Wagoneer S has a coefficient of drag of 0.29, the lowest for any Jeep ever, which is roughly 15 percent better than the average SUV.
The Jeep Wagoneer S will launch initially in the US and Canada in the second half of 2024 before eventually reaching more global markets. Pricing starts at $71,995, including the destination fee.
