TopSpeed’s Best Full-Size SUV Of 2024: Jeep Wagoneer

Summary

• The Jeep Wagoneer stands out as the best full-size SUV of 2024 due to its competitive pricing, offering comfort, performance, and off-roading abilities.
• The Wagoneer range excels in providing top comfort and performance on various surfaces, with features like air suspension and an intelligent 4×4 system.
• The Wagoneer’s towing capabilities, standard features like dual-zone climate control and electrically adjustable seats, and optional packages contribute to its value as a premium vehicle.

The Jeep Wagoneer is the American SUV company’s full-size SUV option. Unlike other Jeep products, the Wagoneer range is defined as a unique brand and does not feature any of the company’s logos on the exterior, signifying its exclusivity and premium reputation. The range is fairly young, having been introduced in 2021 as a long-awaited revival of the Wagoneer moniker that was officially put to rest back in 1991.

Jeep built the Wagoneer on the Ram 1500’s ladder-frame chassis, but with comprehensive refinements to improve comfort and on-road handling characteristics, without sacrificing off-roading prowess. The Wagoneer range consists of the base trim and a more luxurious Grand Wagoneer option, of which both can be had on an extended wheelbase, via the L trims. The Wagoneer may have been absent from the new car market for two decades, but it has enjoyed a dynamic re-entry into the hotly-contested full-size SUV market.

In order to determine the best vehicle in this category for 2024, our in-house experts have voted on a number of factors, including but not limited to value for the money, performance, and expected reliability and safety. The aggregate review score you see in the display card below is indicative of the average score (rated 1-10) between these factors and is based on real-world experience. Further information regarding our methodology of rating vehicles can be found on the TopSpeed’s methodology page.

Why The Jeep Wagoneer Is The Best Full-Size SUV Of 2024

The Jeep Wagoneer range goes up against some mighty contenders in the full-size SUV segment, but this pristine luxury model is a clear winner in its field for multiple reasons. Its biggest advantage is pricing, as it drastically undercuts some of its main rivals while still offering appropriate levels of comfort, performance, and off-roading abilities. The range starts at $62,945 for the Wagoneer and $91,190 for the Grand Wagoneer, with a generous list of standard comfort, convenience, and entertainment features, and plenty of optional packages catering to those who want to enjoy a more exclusive iteration.

This SUV stands out as the best full-size option primarily because every model excels in providing top comfort and performance on various surface conditions. The range features a comprehensive set of equipment, such as air suspension, and intelligent 4×4 system, intuitive traction management software, and impressive towing capabilities.

Adding value to the ownership experience is the standard Wagoneer Client Services, which includes the Wagoneer Ambassador concierge service, remote service booking and diagnostics monitoring via a smartphone app or web portal, and roadside assistance for 60 months or 60,000 miles.

The Wagoneer range leads the segment in many crucial factors, including value, performance, interior packaging, refinement, comfort, and safety. It’s a clear example of how Jeep is able to create truly aspirational products that build the brand’s reputation without having to sacrifice its adventurous off-roading heritage.

Performance Specifications

Jeep offers the Wagoneer range with two impressive powertrain options, as it phases out the iconic Hemi V-8 in favor of more efficient turbocharged six-cylinder options. Wagoneer models come standard with the Hurricane twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six unit with 420 horsepower and 468 pound-feet. The result is a claimed 6.3-second 0-60 MPH time, but tests reveal that you can bring this time down to about 5.5 seconds in the right conditions and when equipped with four-wheel drive.

The Grand Wagoneer takes this to the next level with the same Hurricane unit, but with an increased 500-horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, available only with all-wheel drive. Jeep claims a 5.9 second 0-60 MPH time, but tests confirm this to be very conservative, as reviewers have recorded times as low as 4.7 seconds. The entire Wagoneer lineup comes standard with the ZF 8HP75 eight-speed automatic transmission with electronic range selection with dedicated tow and haul modes.

Jeep Wagoneer Performance Specifications

Jeep designed the Wagoneer with towing and hauling in mind. Interestingly, the base Wagoneer boasts the best towing capacity at 10,000 pounds, making it a class-leader. The Grand Wagoneer tows an equally impressive 9,800 pounds. These capacities are only accessible if you specify Jeep’s impressive heavy-duty towing package for $1,270. This adds a 3.92:1 rear axle ratio, electronic rear limited-slip differential, heavy-duty engine cooling, trailer-brake control, trailer hitch zoom, chrome tow hooks, and a removable rear tow hook. The Grand Wagoneer’s package costs $1,870, but also includes a locking in-car safe.

The star of the show is the brand’s Quadra-Drive II 4×4 system, consisting of an electronic rear limited slip differential, and a 2.71:1 low-range gear ratio. An active two-speed transfer case and Selec-Speed control grants the SUV better incline and decline abilities. The Selec-Terrain Traction Management refines the entire drivetrain to adapt to a multitude of challenging surfaces, while Quadra-Lift air suspension aptly adapts the chassis for on-road, off-road, and towing conditions.

The most efficient model of the range is the base rear-wheel drive Wagoneer, which returns an EPA-estimated 17/24/20 MPG on the city/highway/combined cycle. The Grand Wagoneer returns an estimated 14/20/17 MPG on the same cycles. These are far more efficient than the older Hemi model, which returned 13/18/15 MPG.

Best Features of Jeep Wagoneer

• Dual-zone climate control with rear vents
• Heated, ventilated, and electrically adjustable front seats
• Combined 75-inches of digital display units powered by uConnect 5
• Standard 10-speaker or optional 23-speaker audio system
• Optional tri-pane panoramic sunroof
• Optional Convenience Group advanced driver assist suite

Being a premium vehicle, the Jeep Wagoneer comes loaded with a plethora of comfort, convenience, entertainment, and safety features, resulting in a comprehensive ownership experience. All models come standard with front electrically adjustable, heated, and ventilated seats and rear heated seats. A $1,195 Second-Row Seating Group package elevates the in-car experience by replacing the bench with a pair of heated and electrically adjustable captain’s chairs.

Stellantis’s uConnect 5 software powers a standard 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation and a comprehensive 10-speaker audio system as standard. If you want an even more dazzling in-car entertainment system, you can specify the $2,595 Rear-Seat Entertainment Group, which installs a pair of 10.1-inch screens on the headrests of the front seats, with Amazon Fire TV and video USB ports.

The Grand Wagoneer is the epitome of in-car convenience and entertainment by adding massaging functions to the front seats, a 19- to 23-speaker McIntosh audio system, depending on which trim you opt for, and a secondary 10.25-inch screen for the front passenger. The main infotainment screen is also larger, at 12 inches. Jeep upholsters the Grand Wagoneer with more premium leathers, metals, and wood, evolving the cabin into a truly plush setting.

You can specify the Convenience Group package on all Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer trims, to upgrade the already comprehensive safety specification. The Wagoneer’s $3,695 package includes active lane-management, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, park-assist, side distance sensors, and a 360-degree surround-view camera. The Grand Wagoneer’s package costs $4,495, but it adds night vision with pedestrian and animal detection, a digital rearview mirror, traffic sign detection, drowsy driver detection, and an intersection collision assist system.

The Wagoneer is a full-size SUV based on the automotive group’s spacious ladder-frame platform, so interior packaging is not a concern for even the tallest of users. The base Wagoneer accommodates 41.3 inches of headroom and 40.9 inches of legroom in the front and 40 inches of headroom and 42.7 inches of legroom in the rear. Third row users will feel only slightly more cramped with its 39 inches of headroom and 36.6 inches of legroom. With all seats in place, the Wagoneer still features an impressive 27.4 cubic-feet of cargo space with all rows in use. The long wheelbase option features an even more generous trunk, providing 44.2 cubic feet of space.

The Runners-Up

The Jeep Wagoneer tackles some impressive foes operating in the full-size SUV segment. These include the Toyota Sequoia, GMC Yukon, and Ford Expedition. The Sequoia is undoubtedly the Wagoneer’s toughest rival, as it enters the fray on an all-new platform with a compelling pair of efficient and powerful V-6 engine options, one of which happens to be an efficient MHEV. Where the Sequoia fails to match the Wagoneer is in performance, but only by mere tenths of a second. It’s also a competent hauler, but just about falls short of the Wagoneer’s impressive capacities. The Sequoia range is also significantly cheaper than the Wagoneer when excluding base trims, but the Japanese offering doesn’t match the American SUV’s plush interior setting, even in Capstone guise.

The GMC Yukon better matches the Wagoneer’s premium nature and features equally impressive safety, comfort, and entertainment equipment, particularly so when considering the $96,555 Denali Ultimate trim. GM still offers the full-size SUV with its 6.2-liter V-8, which is something that has become a rarity in the segment. However, this archaic engine fails to match the Wagoneer’s performance and efficiency. It rivals the Jeep’s interior packaging and offers an XL long wheelbase for those needing even more interior room.

The Ford Expedition is a fine example of a full-size SUV option, offering a practical and spacious interior, a broad level of well-priced trims with varying levels of comfort, convenience, and entertainment features. The ace up its sleeve is the EcoBoost turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 unit mated to the brand’s 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission, giving the SUV impressive performance and towing abilities. Like the Sequoia and Yukon, it just doesn’t have the same luxurious and occasional feeling to it. The Jeep Wagoneer stands out from its competition by prioritizing luxury and class without sacrificing abilities.

Final Thoughts And Predictions For 2024

The Jeep Wagoneer range demonstrates that capable full-size SUVs can be sophisticated and refined, not just rugged. The decision to steer clear of a monocoque construction is a logical choice for retaining versatile driving characteristics, but the challenge of curbing a bumpy ride and heavy driving characteristics still persists. The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer seamlessly integrate their adventurous and luxurious traits via innovative suspension and drivetrain technologies, making it a truly one-of-a-kind offering in a densely populated and competitive segment. With a fully electric powertrain rumored to be in development for the range, we can only expect the Wagoneer range to enjoy even more success in the new year.