Preview: 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S Is a Quick Electric Luxury SUV With 300-Plus Miles of Range
This slicked-back EV is scheduled to arrive at U.S. Jeep dealerships in the fall
Jeep’s push into the electric vehicle market begins with the introduction of its Wagoneer S, a smooth-bodied, tech-stuffed, 600-horsepower SUV. This midsized model is built on a global vehicle platform, but it’s designed for buyers in the U.S. and Canada.
The name may evoke images of the large, blocky Wagoneer, but this model is scaled much closer to the Grand Cherokee at 192 inches, bumper to bumper.
- Jeep Wagoneer S: CR's Take Outside Inside What Drives It Active Safety and Driver Assistance
Photo: Jeep Photo: Jeep
CR's Take
The new Wagoneer S resembles the mammoth gas-powered Wagoneer in name only. The new EV is closer in size to the Jeep Grand Cherokee. It’s an expensive vehicle aimed at well-heeled buyers, and it promises to crank out the gobs of torque luxury consumers have come to expect from EVs.
It’s underpinned by the Stellantis STLA-Large global platform, the same one used in the 2024 Dodge Charger EV, as well as other forthcoming EVs, such as the Alfa Romeo Guilia II, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio II, the Chrysler Airflow, and the Jeep Recon.
Although the Wagoneer S is making its market debut in North America, it’s likely headed to foreign shores in the not-too-distant future.
Outside
Jeep says it focused particular attention on aerodynamics, and it shows in the Wagoneer’s exterior design, which is much smoother than most of the automaker’s bulkier models. Gone is the aggressively blocky look that characterizes the gas-powered Wagoneer’s profile.
A smooth hood slopes into a vestigial seven-slot grille (because, remember, EVs don’t need grilles, but Jeeps do) that’s lit with LEDs to announce the SUV’s arrival at the valet stand.
Perhaps more striking is the deep incline of the rear hatch and window, which is framed on each side by sail panels and a dramatic wing. The Wagoneer’s spoiler is huge, and Jeep says that it, along with recessed pocket door handles and other touches, serves to reduce the vehicle’s aerodynamic drag and improve the driving range.
Photo: Jeep Photo: Jeep
Inside
What do you get when you cross a Jeep interior with an Alfa Romeo’s? You guessed it: the Wagoneer S interior. Soft-touch materials abound and are overarched—literally and figuratively—by a suede headliner. But have no fear: No animals were harmed in the making of this Jeep, the automaker promises. The leather and suede upholstery are synthetic, and the carpets are made from recycled materials, too.
Photo: Jeep Photo: Jeep
A bladelike aluminum accent pierces the length of the dash, which also has several feet worth of screens. The center screen is a strapping 12.3-incher, flanked by the driver’s 12.3-inch instrument screen and a novel 10.25-inch interactive passenger display screen that allows the front-seat passenger to feed navigational instructions directly to the driver through the UConnect 5 infotainment system. Control buttons in the dash and console include haptic feedback to give the impression of actual buttons, and the interior features customizable LED mood lighting.
The dynamic map displays on the driver’s instrument screen, which also shows battery metrics including level of charge and battery health. When a destination is entered into the navigation screen, the vehicle’s computer factors in route details along with the battery charge level to calculate a more accurate range.
The steep slope of the rear hatch, while undoubtedly a boon to aerodynamic efficiency, will likely be a major drag on cargo space.
Photo: Jeep Photo: Jeep
What Drives It
The front and rear electric motors produce a combined 600 horsepower and 617 lb.-ft. of torque. The automaker says the electric Wagoneer’s all-wheel-drive system is designed to provide traction in a variety of less-than-stellar road and weather conditions. The front motor can disconnect from the wheels during cruising to improve efficiency. There’s no word yet from Jeep as to this model’s off-road prowess, but it has five drive modes: Auto, Sport, Eco, Snow, and Sand.
Photo: Jeep Photo: Jeep
Active Safety and Driver Assistance
A number of active safety and driver assistance features are standard equipment on the new Wagoneer S, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane keeping assistance (LKA). The AEB has an enhancement—available on the current, gas-powered Wagoneer—that detects hazards from oncoming cars at an intersection and applies the brakes if needed. Driver monitoring—to help prevent drowsy or otherwise inattentive driving—traffic sign recognition, and surround-view cameras are also standard.
The automaker has left the door open on potential future upgrades to the driver safety and assistance features, which can be added or improved via over-the-air software updates. Jeep will offer connected safety and navigation services to owners who sign on to a three-year subscription, with an option to extend services up to 10 years.
