10 Things to Know About the All-New Wagoneer Family

Rebirth of an Icon

After 30 years of Jeep enthusiasts and the greater automotive community begging and pleading, Jeep has finally revived the Wagoneer nameplate in the form of a family of contemporary, full-size SUVs. After revealing the near production-ready, luxury-focused, Grand Wagoneer Concept in September, mixed feedback has clouded the icon's much-hyped comeback. Despite the negativity, it is hard to deny the Grand Wagoneer Concept features some cool stuff. Here are 10 things to know about the upcoming Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer.

Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer

Jeep pulled out all the stops to make sure the Grand Wagoneer Concept shows customers the level of luxury it is expected to compete with. We will touch on the short and long-wheelbase variants later, but essentially, the Grand Wagoneer is positioned to compete in the six-figure price range against the likes of Cadillac's Escalade, Lincoln's Navigator, and Land Rover's Range Rover.

The cheaper, non-Grand, Wagoneer will start somewhere around $60,000, which will compete against Chevrolet's Tahoe and Suburban and Ford's Expedition/Expedition MAX.

>>Join the conversation about the new 2021 Wagoneer models right here in our forum.

No Wood Panels

There will not be wood panels. Sorry. FCA chief designer Ralph Gilles told Gear Patrol the idea was floated briefly, however, him and his team concluded it would be "almost too retro". While this may come as a disappointment, the aftermarket is sure to swoop in to provide Jeep customers with what they want.

>>Join the conversation about the new 2021 Wagoneer models right here in our forum.

Plug-in Powertrain

Jeep has not confirmed powertrain choices for the Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer, however the Grand Wagoneer Concept was revealed with what looks like a plug-in port below the driver's-side mirror for an electrified powertrain. Other available Jeep engine options to choose from include the 3.6-liter V-6, 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, 6.4-liter HEMI V-8, 6.2-liter Supercharged HEMI "Hellcat" V-8, or the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6.

>>Join the conversation about the new 2021 Wagoneer models right here in our forum.

RAM 1500 Based Platform

In a surprising move, the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will sit on a modified version of the RAM 1500 platform. Despite concerns that the body-on-frame architecture could hinder its luxury feel and competitiveness, designers feel confident the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer packages will look and feel justified among buyers.

>>Join the conversation about the new 2021 Wagoneer models right here in our forum.

No 24-inch Rims

The 24-inch multi-spoke aluminum wheels with an Obsidian (shiny black) finish seen on the Jeep Grand Wagoneer Concept will probably not end up on the final production model. MotorTrend says to expect the production models to ride on wheels ranging from 18 to 22 inches.

>>Join the conversation about the new 2021 Wagoneer models right here in our forum.

Panoramic Sunroof Featuring map of Detroit

One of the coolest easter eggs found on the Jeep Grand Wagoneer Concept might be the single-pane glass panoramic roof with a map of Detroit imprinted on it. The map shows the metro Detroit area, including where the Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer and RAM 1500 are assembled in Warren, Michigan. The map may not end up on the final production model, and it remains to be revealed if the glass roof will include a retractable sunroof. 

>>Join the conversation about the new 2021 Wagoneer models right here in our forum.

Three 4x4 Systems

The production version of the Grand Wagoneer Concept will feature three available 4x4 systems and an optional independent front and rear Quadra-Lift air suspension. MotorTrend states the plug-in variant will include the ability to rock crawl while running on electric power.

>>Join the conversation about the new 2021 Wagoneer models right here in our forum.

Body-colored Roof Pillars

In another surprising move, FCA designers opted out of the floating roof trend in favor of body-colored roof pillars. The FCA team says, "If we made blacked-out C- and D-pillars, it would be like everybody else's vehicle,...The C- and D-pillars are color-keyed. They're not any thicker than they need to be. Believe me, I think we've got class-leading visibility."

>>Join the conversation about the new 2021 Wagoneer models right here in our forum.

Uconnect 5

Infotainment will be powered by FCA's all-new Uconnect 5 system, which the automaker claims will be five times faster than the prior generation. FCA also says the Android-based operating system will be more connected, helpful, content-rich, and add greater personalization.

>>Join the conversation about the new 2021 Wagoneer models right here in our forum.

Short and Long-wheelbase

Last but not least on these 10 things to know about the all-new Jeep Wagoneer family, both the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will come in short- and long-wheelbase. The short-wheelbase Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models will be close in size to Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Tahoe, Ford Expedition, GMC Yukon, and Lincoln Navigator, whereas the long-wheelbase Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will compete against the extended wheelbase counterparts of the models listed above.

The Wagoneer family is expected to go on sale in mid-2021, so be on the lookout for details about the final production model to emerge soon. 

>>Join the conversation about the new 2021 Wagoneer models right here in our forum.

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