The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are Jeep’s answer to the Chevy Tahoe and Ford Expedition - full-size, body-on-frame, three-row SUVs built for families who need all eight seats and a real tow rating. They are also the most expensive vehicles Jeep sells, and the gap between the two is close to thirty thousand dollars.
The surprising part is what happened under the hood. Jeep replaced the V8 in these trucks with a twin-turbocharged inline-six that makes more power than the engine it replaced. This guide covers both models, the trim ladder, what the Hurricane engines actually deliver, towing, third-row reality, and whether the Grand Wagoneer premium is worth paying.
Bottom Line: The Wagoneer is for families who need three genuine rows and 10,000 pounds of towing without stepping into a commercial-grade truck.
- Standard Hurricane twin-turbo six makes 420 hp - more than the V8 it replaced
- Genuinely adult-sized third row, unlike most three-row crossovers
- Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L add substantial cargo room behind row three
- Fuel economy and insurance both reflect the size - this is a large, heavy vehicle
What’s in This Guide
- Wagoneer Overview
- Trim Levels at a Glance
- Hurricane Engines Explained
- Wagoneer vs. Grand Wagoneer
- Wagoneer vs. Tahoe vs. Expedition
- Towing Capacity in the Real World
- Third Row and Cargo Space
- Five-Year Cost of Ownership
- Buying a Certified Pre-Owned Wagoneer
- Why Long Island Drivers Choose the Wagoneer
- Why Buy at Westbury Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram
- Frequently Asked Questions
Wagoneer Overview
Jeep revived the Wagoneer name in 2022 as a standalone full-size SUV, and it shares its body-on-frame architecture with the Ram 1500 rather than with any other Jeep. That is the key to understanding the vehicle.
Body-on-frame is why the third row is usable. Unibody three-row crossovers compromise the rearmost seats to package the floor; the Wagoneer’s platform gives it the length and height to seat adults back there.
The lineup splits four ways. Wagoneer and Wagoneer L, then Grand Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer L, where the L models add roughly a foot of length almost entirely behind the third row.
For 2024 Jeep dropped the 5.7L HEMI V8 in favor of the 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six, and the 2026 trucks continue with it. The replacement makes more horsepower and more torque than the V8 did.
The typical buyer needs seats and a tow rating simultaneously. Long Island families with three or more children, households towing a boat or a horse trailer while carrying everyone, and buyers cross-shopping a Tahoe who want a more distinctive interior.
Wagoneer, Wagoneer L, and the Extended Models
The L designation adds roughly 12 inches of overall length, and Jeep put nearly all of it behind the third row rather than in the passenger cabin.
Legroom in rows one through three is effectively identical between standard and L models. What changes is whether you can carry luggage for everyone sitting in those seats.
The trade-off is maneuverability. An L model is over 226 inches long, which is a genuine consideration for a Garden City driveway or a Roosevelt Field parking deck.
Is the Wagoneer Actually a Jeep?
It shares the badge and the seven-slot grille, but the architecture comes from the Ram 1500 rather than from the Grand Cherokee. Four-wheel drive is standard and the available Quadra-Drive II system is genuinely capable.
What it does not have is the Wrangler’s articulation or approach angles. This is a full-size family SUV that handles snow and a gravel launch ramp confidently, not a rock crawler.
Trim Levels at a Glance
Jeep restructured the naming to Series II and Series III on both models, with Obsidian as a blacked-out appearance package on the Grand Wagoneer.
| Model and Trim | Approx. MSRP | Key Content |
|---|---|---|
| ✓ Wagoneer Series II | $64,000 | Leather, tri-pane roof, heated seats, best value |
| Wagoneer Series III | $72,000 | McIntosh audio, ventilated seats, advanced driver aids |
| Grand Wagoneer Series II | $92,000 | Hurricane 510, quilted leather, passenger screen |
| Grand Wagoneer Obsidian | $100,000 | Blacked-out trim, unique wheels, dark interior |
| Grand Wagoneer Series III | $106,000+ | Every option, 23-speaker McIntosh, semi-aniline leather |
Wagoneer Series II is the value position in the lineup. It has the leather, the panoramic roof, and the seat heating most buyers actually want, without the jump into six-figure territory.
Read our full guide: Wagoneer Series II, III, and Obsidian trims explained
Hurricane Engines Explained
Two versions of the same 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six, both paired with an eight-speed automatic.
The standard Hurricane makes 420 horsepower and 468 lb-ft in the Wagoneer. That is more of both than the 5.7L HEMI V8 it replaced, and the torque arrives lower in the rev range.
The Hurricane 510 High Output in the Grand Wagoneer produces 510 horsepower and 500 lb-ft. In a vehicle this size the difference is felt as effortlessness rather than speed.
Losing the V8 bothered a lot of traditional buyers and stopped bothering most of them after a test drive. The six is quieter at cruise, pulls harder from low rpm, and returns better fuel economy - though “better” is relative in a three-ton SUV.
On Long Island, the low-end torque is what you notice. Merging onto the LIE from a short ramp with seven people aboard is uneventful.
Wagoneer vs. Grand Wagoneer
The price gap is roughly $28,000, and it does not buy you a bigger vehicle. Both share the same body, the same wheelbase, and the same seating.
What you buy is materials, power, and technology. The Grand Wagoneer adds the Hurricane 510, substantially nicer leather and wood, the front passenger touchscreen, a much larger McIntosh audio system, and a longer standard feature list.
For most Long Island families, the honest answer is that a Wagoneer Series II with options does everything a Grand Wagoneer does for tens of thousands less. The Grand Wagoneer is a luxury purchase, and there is nothing wrong with that as long as you know which one you are making.
Read our full guide: Jeep Wagoneer vs. Grand Wagoneer - what the price difference buys
Wagoneer vs. Tahoe vs. Expedition
These three own the full-size SUV segment, and each leads in a different area.
The Wagoneer’s advantage is interior design and third-row space. The cabin feels more distinctive than either rival’s, and the rearmost seats are among the best in the class.
Chevrolet’s Tahoe undercuts it on price and offers a V8 for buyers who still want one. Ford’s Expedition counters with clever cargo solutions and strong towing figures.
Where Each One Wins
Buy the Wagoneer for the best third row in the class, the most distinctive interior, and standard four-wheel drive across the range.
Buy the Tahoe if price is the deciding factor or you want a naturally aspirated V8. It is also the easier vehicle to find at a discount.
Buy the Expedition if maximum towing and cargo flexibility matter most. Ford’s independent rear suspension and cargo management are genuine advantages.
The Suburban and Expedition MAX compete directly with the Wagoneer L for buyers who need length. All three solve the same problem in similar ways.
Read our full guide: Wagoneer vs. Chevy Tahoe vs. Ford Expedition for Nassau County families
Towing Capacity in the Real World
A properly equipped Wagoneer tows up to 10,000 pounds. The Grand Wagoneer rates slightly lower at around 9,850 pounds because it weighs more.
Payload is the constraint families hit first. Seven passengers, luggage, and trailer tongue weight add up quickly, and the door-jamb sticker on your specific truck is the number that counts.
For Long Island duty - a boat out of Freeport, a horse trailer heading east on the LIE, a camper to the Hamptons - 10,000 pounds covers the overwhelming majority of what families actually pull.
Read our full guide: Jeep Wagoneer towing capacity - what you can actually pull in New York
Third Row and Cargo Space
This is where the Wagoneer separates itself from three-row crossovers. Adults fit in the third row without negotiating, and there is real cargo space behind it.
The standard-length Wagoneer holds roughly 27 cubic feet behind row three. The Wagoneer L extends that to about 43 cubic feet - the difference between a weekend trip for seven and a weekend trip for seven with luggage.
Second-row captain’s chairs reduce seating to seven and make third-row access far easier, which matters if children are climbing back there daily.
Car Seats and the Third Row
The Wagoneer has LATCH anchors in the second row and top-tether anchors in the third, which covers most family configurations.
Captain’s chairs are the right choice for car-seat families. They create a permanent walkway to row three, so you are not unbuckling a car seat every time someone needs to get back there.
Rear-facing seats fit in the second row without forcing the front passenger uncomfortably forward - a genuine problem in shorter three-row crossovers.
Technology Worth Knowing About
The Uconnect 5 system runs a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard. Response is quick and the menu structure is among the more sensible in the segment.
Grand Wagoneer adds a 10.25-inch front passenger display that can run navigation or streaming independently of the main screen. Rear-seat entertainment screens are available on both models.
Read our full guide: Jeep Wagoneer third row and cargo space - real numbers
Five-Year Cost of Ownership
A Wagoneer is expensive to buy and expensive to run. Fuel, insurance on a six-figure vehicle, and larger tires all carry a premium.
Depreciation is the largest single cost. Full-size luxury SUVs give up a substantial share of their value in the first three years, which is precisely what makes the certified pre-owned case so strong.
Model your payment and running costs with our five-year cost of ownership calculator before committing.
Read our full guide: total cost of owning a Jeep Wagoneer for five years
Buying a Certified Pre-Owned Wagoneer
A two- or three-year-old Wagoneer is one of the better values in the full-size segment, precisely because first-owner depreciation is steep.
Jeep’s certified pre-owned program adds a 125-point inspection and extends powertrain coverage. On a vehicle with this much technology, the extended warranty is worth more than it would be on a simpler truck.
Read our full guide: buying a certified pre-owned Jeep Wagoneer on Long Island
Why Long Island Drivers Choose the Wagoneer
Three rows plus a tow hitch is the local requirement. A Nassau County family with three children and a boat cannot solve the problem with a midsize crossover, and the Wagoneer solves both halves at once.
The Jericho Turnpike and LIE commute is the second consideration. These are quiet, comfortable highway vehicles, and the Hurricane six is noticeably more refined at cruise than the V8 it replaced.
Third is winter. Standard four-wheel drive and available air suspension handle a Nassau County snow day without drama, and the ride height clears unplowed side streets in Mineola and Hempstead.
If a Wagoneer is more vehicle than you need, our Jeep Grand Cherokee complete guide covers the midsize option, and the full CDJR lineup guide maps the rest of the range.
Why Buy at Westbury Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram
Westbury Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram serves Westbury, Hicksville, Carle Place, Mineola, and Hempstead from the Jericho Turnpike corridor. Wagoneer is a specialty line here with dedicated inventory across both models.
The VIP+ program includes lifetime complimentary oil changes and tire rotations for as long as you own the vehicle - a real recurring saving on a large SUV driven daily.
VIP+ also covers free loaner vehicles during service. When your vehicle carries the whole family, being without it for a day is a genuine problem, and we plan around that.
Our technicians are factory-certified on the Hurricane engine family and the Wagoneer’s air suspension and electrical systems. You will get a straight comparison between Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer rather than a push upmarket.
"Families come in worried that Jeep took the V8 out. They drive the Hurricane and the conversation ends - it's quicker and quieter than what it replaced. The real decision is Wagoneer versus Grand Wagoneer, and for most people the Series II with options is the smart buy."
General Manager, Westbury Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram
Browse our new Wagoneer inventory or contact us to schedule a test drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Wagoneer and a Grand Wagoneer?
Same body and same seating, different engine and materials. The Grand Wagoneer adds the 510-horsepower Hurricane, higher-grade leather and wood, a passenger touchscreen, and a larger audio system for roughly $28,000 more.
Did Jeep really remove the V8 from the Wagoneer?
Yes, as of 2024. The 3.0L Hurricane twin-turbo six replaced the 5.7L HEMI and produces more horsepower and more torque than the V8 did.
How many people can a Wagoneer seat?
Eight with a second-row bench, or seven with second-row captain’s chairs. The third row genuinely fits adults, which is unusual in this class.
How much can a Jeep Wagoneer tow?
Up to 10,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Grand Wagoneer rates around 9,850 pounds because of its additional weight.
Is the Wagoneer L worth the extra money?
If you regularly carry seven or eight people plus luggage, yes. The L adds roughly 16 cubic feet behind the third row, which is the difference between usable and not.
What does a Wagoneer cost at Westbury Jeep?
A Wagoneer Series II starts around $64,000 and a loaded Grand Wagoneer Series III can exceed $106,000. See current inventory for real pricing.
Is a certified pre-owned Wagoneer a good idea?
It is one of the strongest CPO cases in the segment. First-owner depreciation is steep and Jeep’s certified warranty covers the expensive technology.
How is the Wagoneer in snow?
Four-wheel drive is standard and the available air suspension raises ride height for deep snow. With proper tires it handles a Nassau County winter comfortably.
Find Your Wagoneer at VIP Automotive Group
Three Nassau County locations carry Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer inventory, and the VIP+ program - lifetime oil changes, tire rotations, and loaner vehicles during service - comes with every vehicle we sell.
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Browse new Wagoneer inventory, check certified pre-owned Jeep models, or contact us to schedule a test drive.