JEEP WAGONEER S EV DEBUTS WITH 600 HP, 300+ MILES OF RANGE, AND LOADS OF LUXURY

The 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S made its debut in New York City today as the first electric vehicle under the American Jeep umbrella and will be followed later this year by the smaller Recon. It not only expands the existing Wagoneer range but is the brand's first global EV. It's initially launching in the US and Canada before rolling out in other markets. This new vehicle is positioned to offer the capability of Jeep, the luxury of Wagoneer, and the performance and eco credentials of an electric vehicle. What's not to love? Well, the price starts at over $70,000...

EV Performance

This is a big SUV, but it should hustle. The Wagoneer S delivers as much as 600 hp and 617 lb-ft of torque and clams a 0-60 mph time of just 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 124 mph. By comparison, the Tesla Model Y takes an estimated 3.5 seconds, although its top speed is as high as 155 mph in Performance guise. The electric Wagoneer's power comes from a 100.5 kWh battery with a 250 kW/400-volt electric motor at each axle, the front of which can be disconnected from the steered wheels to optimize range during highway cruising. This contributes to a manufacturer-estimated range of 300+ miles per charge, making it a worthy road-tripper for families.

Using a Level 2 charger, the Wagoneer S takes 6.8 hours to charge from 5-80%, so plugging it in overnight at home does the job. If you are on that family road trip, find yourself a DC fast charger, where the luxurious EV can charge from 20-80% in 23 minutes. If you only have 10 minutes, that will add around 100 miles of range. The Launch Edition of the Jeep Wagoneer S includes a 48-amp Level 2 home charger, and Stellantis offers public charging credits through Free2Move Charge. This EV charging network features a growing number of charging stations, including ChargePoint, Shell Recharge, EVgo, Flow, and EV Connect. Instead of needing an app for each company, Free2Move lets you use a single app to manage it all.

A Fresh New Look

The Wagoneer S premiers in the Launch Edition, which gets dark exterior accents. There are 20-inch Gloss Black wheels with Gloss Black and dark gray exterior elements. There is no real chrome, as the Jeep team aimed to use more environmentally friendly materials, and chrome can be carcinogenic. Satin-painted trims and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof are part of the package, and there's a new version of the Jeep seven-slot grille. An EV doesn't need the airflow an engine does, so the grille is enclosed. Like the original Wagoneer concept from four years ago, this grille is illuminated to make it instantly distinguishable.

Another aero consideration is that the curvature of the hood and the angle of the windshield are said to provide optimal performance at highway speeds. At the back, the sloped roof and cantilevered rear spoiler further enhance aerodynamics while providing a sporty look. There are also flush-fitting door handles, fins integrated into the rear wing, underbody shields, three-dimensional front tire spats, and specially designed side sills that all help ensure smooth airflow. This is the most aerodynamic Jeep SUV ever, with a 0.29 coefficient of drag - reportedly some 15% better than the average SUV.

Off-Road Chops - Are There Any?

It's debatable just how many people are going to take the Wagoneer S off-road, but if you're so inclined, standard all-electric four-wheel drive should make the occasional dirt road easy enough to deal with. The Wagoneer S is built on the STLA Large platform, which is a Stellantis electric-vehicle platform that Jeep modified for the Wagoneer S. The width, length, suspension, and powertrain were all tailored for this vehicle, so it should meet the expectations of existing Jeep owners. There's also the Selec-Terrain traction management system, which offers Auto, Sport, Eco, Snow, and Sand modes for optimum handling in a wide range of conditions, albeit with a much greater focus on comfort than rock crawling.

A Premium Interior

The Wagoneer is a luxury SUV with a beautiful interior loaded with premium materials and features. The Launch Edition includes customizable 64-color LED lighting, a full-length center console with multiple storage bins, perforated Sicily leatherette seating surfaces, 12-way power front seats with 4-way power lumber and massage, and heated and ventilated seats for the first and second row. There's also a heated steering wheel and a suede headliner and pillars. Audiophiles will be pleased to learn the Wagoneer S has a segment-exclusive McIntosh audio system with 19 speakers, a 1,160-watt amplifier, and a 12-inch subwoofer.

A relocated start button features die-cast zinc metal with a textured surface, while a new electronic door release activated at the touch of your thumb makes opening the doors effortless and is a first for Jeep. The black interior gets pops of color from Wine Red accent stitching and chiseled metal trims in various textures and patterns. The stitching makes a second appearance on the flat-bottom twin-spoke steering wheel. If you need even more color, try the optional Radar Red interior that's so bright you may need sunglasses. As with the exterior, the Wagoneer S cabin makes use of sustainable materials, including a synthetic non-leather material on the seats, console, door, and instrument panel surfaces. The suede headliner and carpets include recycled pre- and post-consumer materials.

So Many Screens

The Wagoneer S has a decidedly high-tech look thanks to more than 45 inches of high-definition screens along with a 10-inch head-up display. First, the driver gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that has been redesigned based on customer feedback to show the information you want without being cluttered. It features integrated navigation, new dynamic road views, and details specific to an electric vehicle. These include charge level, battery health, and available power. Plug the Wagoneer S in, and the display shows the charging status anytime it senses the remote key nearby, should you want a quick peek inside for a status check.

Next is a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring Uconnect in the center of the dashboard above a 10.25-inch deployable climate control screen. Finally, there's a 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger that's also tied into Uconnect. This includes Jeep Connect services with the Jeep App, which uses dynamic range mapping to better estimate the vehicle's range based on the current state of charge.

The all-new, all-electric Jeep Wagoneer S is due to arrive this fall, starting at $71,995. You can't put your name down for one just yet, but order books will surely open soon. In the meantime, interested parties can sign up for updates at the Jeep website.

2024-05-31T11:11:56Z dg43tfdfdgfd