First Drive: Jeep Wagoneer S
Change was on my mind as I first drove the Jeep Wagoneer S along Southern California roads. It was the day after Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday. One hundred miles to the north, brave firefighters battled wildfires that were slowly extinguished as Los Angeles began the slow process of healing from devastation. Smaller fires erupted closer to our homebase in Carlsbad only to be quickly tamped back down. On the east coast an unprecedented snowstorm blanketed Southern states. Each weather-induced event was an alarming reminder of how climate change will continue to shock and impact people’s lives — it underscored the need for change.
One small way to make change on a personal level is to drive a car that doesn’t consume fossil fuels, and there are more options than ever. The Jeep Wagoneer S is the newest all-electric SUV to come the market, and the first by the Detroit-based Stellantis brand. Jeep introduces this transformational product against all odds at the time it perhaps is most needed to offset carbon emissions. What is most remarkable about the Wagoneer S is how effortless this change felt in action. It was smooth, confident, and powerful ride boosted by the zing of its battery-powered architecture.
“Just because someone wants to move into electrification shouldn’t cause frustration,” said Stellantis Alison Rahm Chief Vehicle Engineer who oversaw the innerworkings of the vehicle and was on site for the driving program that Jeep invited us to attend. “These are just words until you get to experience it.”
So we did just that. We spent a morning and afternoon driving and riding in the launch edition Wagoneer S. It’s a well-appointed low-key SUV priced squarely in luxe territory. Yet Wagoneer S is not flashy or ostentatious. Its exterior form is handsome, cast in a simple year-one color palette made up of simple black, red, and silver options. Familiar Jeep cues such as the pronounced trapezoidal element are paired with new design elements like a wing shaped rear roof panel, which contributes to the .29 drag coefficient, a boon for improved aerodynamic performance. The front end is distinct from other Jeep products. “The grille went from breathing to seeing,” said exterior designer Vince Galante. Galante said the Detroit-based Shinola Hotel lighting, designed by Gachot Studios, inspired the LED lights on the seven-slotted grille.
“Just because someone wants to move into electrification shouldn’t cause frustration.”
Throughout the vehicle, designers found new ways to offset carbon consumption in material choices. They chose chrome-free surfaces using eco-minded satin metallic trim. The Wagoneer S interior is lush and leather-free, framed by a flat bottom and flat top steering wheel that was made for practical purposes, and adds a bit of design flare. The front seats are comfortable and the model I tested had the optional radar red seats for a little extra spunk.
Cruising along winding So Cal roads, we found plenty of verve in this electric powertrain that produces 600 hp and 617-pound feet of torque. In quick bursts we experienced the whip fast 0-to-60-mile time. Jeep says the vehicle can clock it in 3.4 seconds. Jeep has done solid work to give this ride firm handling characteristics, and its easy to forget its battery powered.
The range is about 300 miles, which is more than what we drove, so charging was never a thing. Jeep says the 400-volt 100-kilowatt battery will take 23 minutes to charge from 20% to 80% on a DC fast charger found at public charging stations like Electrify America. Charging will vary and lengthen with other ports.
The Jeep alters between three driving modes. The eco mode improves consumption to alleviate range concerns. Sport mode has its purpose, which Rahm described in theory: “If you had a crappy day at work and you want to light it up.” We let this one rip for a short portion of our drive. Handling is steady, sure, and true to the Jeep spirit. It's equipped with a snow mode suited toward wintery conditions and a mode for sandy beach terrain, too. While most Wagoneer buyers will not head for the hills, the capability is there should they choose to do.
Like most modern cars, the digital experience sets the tone for the in-car vibe. The screens span across 45 inches divided across three screens. Two screens are stacked on the center consul and a third screen projects in front of the passenger seat. Many of the core settings and functions are housed in these panels, and powered by Uconnect 5, the newest version of the Stellantis-based infotainment system. This system is tailored to the electric experience and incorporates charging stations maps and range info. In the front consul, USB-C ports are stashed behind a lower screen that has “open sesame” function to reach. If you don’t know it’s there, it’s easy to miss. Two USB-C ports are also accessible in the backseat.
A sweet perk in the launch edition is the McIntosh sound system that has 19 speakers, a 1200-watt amplifier, and a 12-inch subwoofer, an absolute delight to blast on all ends of the bass and treble spectrum. We love this co-sign by friend of Le Car, Carl Craig, who raved over the McIntosh system. For mood lighting in the cabin, a color palette of 64 options set the tone in LED lights patterns.
Storage compartments are plentiful in this five-seater. Wagoneer S provides 30.6 cubic-ft and 61 ft total with seats down plus 3 feet of frunk space on the vehicle’s front end. The rear seats are ventilated. Jeep says it has over 170 safety features on board.
For its launch edition Jeep includes the Wave program for free maintenance and round-the-clock support. (Think, oops I ran out of juice.) Jeep Connect is included for in-car navigation and a Safety and Security package is available for a decade after purchase.
Jeep first chose to revive its legendary Wagoneer plate in 2022. The original Wagoneer dates back to 1963, a landmark year in American history. Martin Luther King Jr.'s gave the iconic “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C in August. The assassination of JFK and Medgar Evers rocked the country. Betty Friedan published “The Feminine Mystique.” “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan album” catapulted folk music and consciousness to the zeitgeist and the pioneering tour de’ force Julia Child published “The French Chef.” The 1963 Wagoneer was the first upscale SUV to hit the road. The new category meant that automakers were considering new ways forward for families, and the possibilities of new lifestyle choices blending comfort and rugged aesthetics. New products have always subtly reflected change in culture.
Six decades later, Jeep is focusing on the Wagoneer nameplate as a gateway for its next evolution. After reintroducing the gas-powered fancy Grand Wagoneer in 2022, the Wagoneer S, Jeep’s first all-electric product, is now on sale as customers took delivery on the first models. It comes at a time where the future is unknown and so is the path for alternative powertrains. For now, California is on track to go all on battery by 2035. Whether that timeline holds remains to be seen. The federal incentives to buy EVs have been cut and infrastructure challenges remain for those who can’t install home charging.
For customers that have access to home charging or drive multiple vehicles, the shift to battery power vehicle is pretty simple, and often a welcome timesaving perk. For drivers that aren’t able to install home charging, the public charging infrastructure comes with its challenges. In places like California, where EV adoption leads, the system is slowly getting better. Real change happens one small step at a time, and with Wagoneer S, Jeep has made a successful first step forward.