Test Drive: 2023 Jeep Wagoneer L Series II

2023 Jeep Wagoneer L Series II 4X4

Class: Large SUV

Color: Baltic Gray

CG Report Card


Room and Comfort	A
Power and Performance	A-
Fit and Finish	B+
Fuel Economy	C-
Value	B

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide’s impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	A
Tall Guy	A

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. “Big” rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, “Tall” rating based on 6’6″-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	420-horsepower 3.0-liter
Engine Type	Turbocharged six
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Drive Wheels	4WD

Miles driven: 192

Observed fuel economy: 13.7 mpg

Driving mix: 70% city, 30% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 16/23/19 (mpg city/highway/combined)

Fuel type: Regular gas

Base price: $71,080 (not including $2000 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: Convenience Group ($4295), Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package ($1495), special paint ($495),

Price as tested: $79,515

Quick Hits

The great: Generous amount of passenger and cargo space, smooth and potent powertrain

The good: Ride comfort, cabin quietness, “value” Series II trim level

The not so good: Disappointing fuel economy, won’t fit just anywhere

Tom Appel:

Maybe Cadillac was a reach. But if Jeep hadn’t tried, we would never have known. New for the 2022 model year, the full-size Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer were positioned to pull customers from a wide range of full-size truck options, from the Chevrolet Tahoe, to the Cadillac Escalade, and everything in between.

Sales of the premium Grand Wagoneer have disappointed, however, reportedly accounting for less than a quarter of overall 2022 Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer sales. As we suggested above, maybe going premium was a bit of a reach for Jeep.

But while the Grand Wagoneer—with sticker prices reaching north of $120,000—may not represent the best value proposition for Jeep intenders, the less ambitious Wagoneer makes a pretty strong case for itself. Read on…

New for both the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer for 2023 are roomier, long-wheelbase variants, and an all-new “Hurricane” inline 6-cylinder engine. Let’s talk about the new body style first. The standard-length Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer was already big for the class. At 215 inches in overall length, the standard-length Jeep comes in 4-inches longer than a Chevrolet Tahoe, and 5 inches longer than the standard-length Ford Expedition. The Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L are fully a foot longer than the standard-length Jeep models, and come in an inch longer than the Chevrolet Suburban, and 4 full inches longer than the Expedition EL. In short, the Wagoneer L is long.

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Wagoneer’s new engine is a honey. A 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline six, the new Hurricane mill produces 420 horsepower in the Wagoneer, and a stout 510 horsepower in the Grand Wagoneer. Note that the base Series I Wagoneer still makes do with a 5.7-liter V8 rated at 392 horsepower.

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Consumer Guide recently spent time with a mid-level Wagoneer L Series II 4X4 in Baltic Gray. As equipped, our test truck comes close to being the least-expensive Wagoneer available with the new Hurricane engine.

About that L designation: With 7 inches of additional wheelbase, and the aforementioned 12 inches of additional overall length, the Wagoneer L boasts some serious cargo capacity. Behind the third row there’s a mammoth 44 cubic feet of space, up from 27 feet in the standard-length Wagoneer. With both the 3^rd– and 2^nd seating rows folded flat, cargo space increases from the standard Wagoneer’s already generous 117 cubic feet to a class-leading 131 feet. All that space is made extra useful by a flat, contiguous load.

And, how about that engine? Here’s the good news: The new Hurricane six is impressively smooth, and works very well with Jeep’s tried-and-true 8-speed automatic. There’s plenty of lag-free power from a stop, and a surplus of muscle for passing and merging. The engine is also quiet, and sounds refined when tasked with more aggressive chores. Additionally, engine-idle stop/start operation is silky smooth. Ah, but the mileage…

Though rated at an EPA-estimated combined 19 mpg, Consumer Guide observed just 13.7. Some of the blame for our disappointing mileage may go to the extremely cold Chicago weather during our evaluation period. Warm-up idle times can go a long way towards compromising mileage.

It’s worth noting that our evaluation of a 2022 Wagoneer equipped with the less-powerful 5.7-liter V8 yielded just 11.7 mpg. So, EPA numbers aside, the new engine seems to represent a real improvement in mileage as well as power and smoothness. Plus, Jeep recommends regular-grade fuel for the Hurricane engine; pricier midgrade gas was recommended for the V8.

Inside, though not “Grand,” the Wagoneer presents well, actually very well. Classy faux-wood trim and real leather are blended to give the cabin a clubby feel. The large touchscreen is easy to read at a glance, and what functions are manipulated via the screen are easily handled.

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Front-row seats are firm, supportive, and long-haul friendly. Rear-seat comfort is similarly excellent. As for the 3^rd row, even good-size adults will fit in the rearmost seats, providing they’re agile enough to make the trip back there.

Outward visibility is very good, even to the rear quarter, though shorter drivers will find it difficult to locate the front passenger-side corner of the vehicle. On the road Wagoneer feels like a luxury vehicle, serving up excellent ride comfort and impressive cabin quietness. Ride and handling are decent, though the Tahoe and Expedition feel better planted on highway ramps.

Though relative huge, the Wagoneer surprises with a tight turning radius, making the chore of parking a vehicle of this size a little less of a hassle.

Though our test truck was not equipped with the $3695 Convenience Package, we never felt like we were missing anything. That said, the package is chock full of safety and convenience equipment some consumers may want, including:

Automatic High-Beam Headlamp
Drowsy Driver Detection
Head-Up Display
Heated Second-Row Seats
Intersection Collision Assist System
Parallel and Perpendicular Park-Assist with Stop
Side Distance Warning
360 Surround-View Camera
Traffic Sign Recognition
2^nd-Row Manual Window-Shades

All told, at just under $80,000, the Wagoneer Series II represents what may be the best value proposition in the Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer lineup. We found the vehicle comfortable, functional, refined underway, and with the new Hurricane engine, a little easier on the gas. Should you have need for a vehicle of this size and capability, you’ll want to add the Wagoneer to your test-drive list.

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