After Fiat took over Chrysler in 2009, it announced a five-year plan to help bring the brand up to date and offer more of the vehicles that consumers are buying, including new Jeep models. Part of this plan involved a number of upgrades to the Jeep brand, including the return of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. While it was originally rumored to be released for the 2016 model year, the latest information points to a more realistic debut of 2017 or 2018. The return of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer will offer buyers a full-size SUV that will blend luxury and capability and provide a versatile alternative to the minivan.
Jeep Grand Wagoneer will be a premium SUV
While we can only guess what the new Jeep Grand Wagoneer will look like, Jeep is designing it to be large, luxurious, and capable of competing with both Range Rover and BMW. Based on information from Jeep chief Mike Hanley, we do know that the Jeep Grand Wagoneer will be the new flagship SUV, larger and more luxurious than the current top of the line Grand Cherokee Summit. It will have three rows of seating with 7-passenger capability with an array of luxury and technology features. As of late, it is expect that the Grand Wagoneer will be built on an extended version of the same frame that is currently used for the Dodge Durango. It is also expected that the Grand Wagoneer will possess some of the finest materials that Jeep has ever used.What will power the Jeep Grand Wagoneer?
With not even a hint of a concept seen yet, we can only speculate what will power the largest Jeep SUV ever built. With the push toward smaller turbocharged engines and Chrysler possessing the most fuel-efficient diesel engine on the market, chances are that it will be available with one of the two, or a choice of either one. Pairing one of Jeep’s fuel-efficient engines with either an eight- or nine-speed automatic transmission will also boost its fuel-saving power.The Jeep Grand Wagoneer will not lose its off-road prowess
Just because the Grand Wagoneer will be large and luxurious, that does not mean it will stray from the true off-road capabilities that Jeep vehicles possess. The fact that it will be built on the same frame as the Durango means that it will be strong enough to handle off-road excursions and have the ability to be equipped with a variety of Jeep’s off-road suspension packages. While its towing ability cannot be determined as of yet, it has the potential to offer the same heavy-duty towing capability as other Chrysler full-size trucks. One thing is for sure, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer will make an off-road adventure comfortable with its luxurious features and appointments. While much of what the Jeep Grand Wagoneer is a mystery based on the information that is available, it is destined to be a big step up for the Jeep brand. With minivans slowly fading away and SUVs continually growing in popularity, the need for full-size models is on the rise. While fuel-efficiency is always a concern with any large vehicle, Jeep has the tools to be able to offer a full-size SUV with fuel economy comparable to the current fuel-efficient minivans and smaller SUVs. While the debut of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer is realistically a few years away, it is definitely one that we look forward to seeing.