Have You Heard the Good News? The New Jeep Wagoneer Is Officially Official
If we were to imagine a world wherein automotive enthusiasts formed their own religions, the Church of Jeep would likely have the most fervent devotees. They’d be those solid-built people with mid-century hairdos and a loud “Amen,” handling venomous snakes and always holding services as far off the main road as possible. Even in this world, many people feel Jeepers’ faith is so unflappable that it borders on zealotry. And official news of the return of the long-lost prodigal SUV son—the new Jeep Wagoneer (and Grand Wagoneer)—has got the comments sections and the message boards just fallin’ to the floor, so to speak, convulsing uncontrollably when the almighty seven-slot spirit gets ta’ runnin’ through their bodies. They have foretold of this second coming for generations.
That’s an exaggeration, of course. (But just barely.) The historic Wagoneer has been resurrected, and Lazarus himself didn’t cause this much of a stir with his comeback. Production won’t even start until early 2021. Forget waiting for three days—we’re still two whole years away.
But all this premature fervor for the new Jeep Wagoneer is not without merit. It certainly is headed back out into the work force with an impressive 29-year resume. From 1962 all the way until 1991, it was a staple figure in America’s burgeoning four-wheel drive culture. And for nearly three decades, the Wagoneer existed without a single significant change to its body structure.
The New Jeep Wagoneer Has A Lot To Live Up To
Initially marketed as a station wagon, the beloved model has the distinction of being known as the world’s very first SUV, as Jeep used the phrase “sport utility vehicle” to describe the Cherokee version of the Wagoneer in 1974. Repeat buyers loved the Wagoneer for its comparative luxury. Most competitors in its segment were offering no-frills, bare-bones work vehicles, while the Wagoneer’s well-appointed interior was ideal for a family riding in style. Changing national tastes in the late 1980s, along with surging gas prices (the Wagoneer got a staggering 11 miles per gallon—yikes), led to a steep decline in sales. Until finally, the body-on-frame beauty was mothballed for good, replaced by the still-beloved Jeep Grand Cherokee.
That is, until now.
The American Public is still happy with the Grand Cherokee. Yes, we love the Grand Cherokee, with its sleek-yet-sizable capability on and off-road and multitude of model configurations. It continues to win awards and its sales figures are as strong as ever. But if we’re honest with ourselves… we never really got over a past love, the Jeep Wagoneer. That timeless silhouette. That goofy roll-down back window. Bench seats! And of course, the iconic wood paneling that became its trademark. It is truly an American classic, emblematic of a very specific time in our national history.
What We Know…
The Jeep brand is in the midst of its most successful run of all time, so this comeback will look to add the new Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer to the top of the lineup, not to replace anything. But will it be the one we’ve come to know? Or will it be a Wagoneer in name only, a terrestrial spaceship designed solely to cut into Range Rover’s piece of the pie? We may have to wait a while longer to find out, but the rumor mill has been churning ever since Obama was president.
The Jeep Wagoneer will compete at the top of its line in the full-size SUV market. The ill-conceived three-row Jeep Commander has been dead for nearly a decade, and the company has made no attempts to go larger than the Grand Cherokee ever since. (Although a separate, three-row SUV that’s not a Wagoneer is in the works for 2020.)
The production dates have been whispered and delayed for years now, but we can finally say for certain that early 2021 will be when the Wagoneer makes its comeback, according to an official press release from last month. But save for the fact that they’ll be built in Warren, Michigan, that’s about the only thing we know for certain. Experts have been more than eager to make some educated guesses, however, and let their hopes be known for what the new Jeep Wagoneer could look like.
What We Predict…
Because the Warren plant currently constructs RAM 1500 Classics, those who are in-the-know are practically certain that they will be body-on-frame vehicles. (Consider that a win for off-road fans.) Although, with a price tag estimated to be at least $60k to start, jumping well into six figures for fully-loaded models, it has yet to be determined exactly who will be taking their new Jeep Wagoneer out to the trails.
We expect the Grand Wagoneer to be nearly identical to the new Jeep Wagoneer, but with a longer wheelbase. And in keeping with the times, both new models will likely come in an optional electric-powered version. (It’s probably safe to say that Jeep will improve quite a bit on that old 11 miles-per-gallon statistic.)
What We Want…
And what else would the hardcore Wagoneer faithful hope to see?
Well, those off-roaders we mentioned are holding out hopes for a solid front axle. (So are we.) Unfortunately, folks with their ear to the ground claim that the likelihood of that is practically nonexistent. Basically, if Jeep wants to fetch top dollar and take a significant chunk of the full-size luxury SUV market, they’ll need to deliver classic Wrangler off-road chops, with plenty of ground clearance—but wrapped in a perfectly smooth ride on pavement.
Obviously, we want to see something that’s ripe for aftermarket customization. As the overlanding lifestyle continues to pick up steam, we could see the new Jeep Wagoneer being a prime choice for “adventurers with fat wallets.”
And, of course, we hope beyond all hope for a strong, boxy profile dominated by angles and wood paneling.
Lots of wood paneling. ALL THE DAMNED WOOD PANELING. Will that actually happen? It’s far too early to tell. Although, most folks close to the Wagoneer’s inner circle of scuttlebutt think that we shouldn’t hold our breath. That’s it’s simply ‘too dated’ and ‘just won’t work’ with the liquid contours of today’s SUVs. (Blah. Blah.Blah.)
But others are still holding out hope, and solidly keeping the faith. If there’s one thing we know about the Church of Jeep, they are a faithful, faithful people.
