Jeep doesn’t always have to represent the Wrangler. Back in the day, we had the Grand Wagoneer, with optional wood paneling. Jeep has reincarnated the Grand Wagoneer name with its most luxurious offering to date: the Grand Wagoneer L Obsidian. This is the biggest and baddest Jeep you can get, meant to go up against the large-and-in-charge Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. But can Stellantis and the 2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offer the luxury of those worthy competitors? We won’t make you wait to say: Yes, it can!
Powering the Beast
The 2024 Wagoneer L builds on its legacy of premium American craftsmanship, heritage and refinement while offering unparalleled comfort and legendary 4×4 capability. The Grand Wagoneer L is a foot longer than the massive Grand Wagoneer. There are 44.2 inches of cargo space behind the third row. Luckily, getting in and out is easy with some of the slickest motorized running boards that gracefully deploy when you open a door.
You need a good engine to motivate something this large and comfortable – especially since it can tow up to 10,000 pounds. A new twin-turbo straight six-cylinder engine named the Hurricane powers the Wagoneer L. Power is slightly up from the older Hemi V-8 engine, and fuel economy is also slightly improved. No doubt about it, you aren’t going to get great fuel economy, but 16 mpg overall isn’t horrible, considering this behemoth’s size and all-wheel drive. Straight six-cylinder engines are known for their smoothness, and the Wagoneer does not disappoint.
Inside the 2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Where the Grand Wagoneer L Obsidian really shines is on the inside. The interior is as opulent and plush as you would expect from a massive luxury SUV competitor.
Jim Morrison, senior vice president of the Jeep Brand in North America, said, “The all-new Wagoneer L delivers on its mission of being the best large SUV on the market today. Designed by the same teams that created the Wards award-winning interior and user experience in the Grand Cherokee L and Grand Wagoneer, the Wagoneer L interior is the most spacious and user-friendly in its segment, offering premium features such as available Amazon Fire TV built in and exclusive McIntosh audio.”
When you add up all the screens in the Wagoneer L, you’ll have about 50 inches of total screen surface. The driver has the instrument cluster on a digital display, in addition to the heads-up display. Next you have the center infotainment screen. Below that is a screen dedicated to climate and the hedonistic luxury of the massaging seats. Moving to the right, a screen dedicated to the passenger makes it easy for a good co-pilot to input waypoints in the navigation system. They can also access musical options from that screen.
Second-row passengers can enjoy Amazon Fire TV built into screens mounted behind the driver’s seat headrest. The touchscreens can be operated by little fingers but can also be controlled with supplied wireless remote controls. They can be stashed in a receptacle between the two second-row captain’s chairs. The wireless connection for the TV can be supplied by an in-car hotspot or the connection from your smartphone.
With so much space, of course there are a few hidden gems. First is a refrigerated compartment in the bottom part of the center console to keep drinks cold for your guests in this luxury land yacht. To minimize driver distraction, Jeep also wants to keep your phone out of sight. The secondary ancillary screen motorizes up to reveal a compartment with a wireless charging pad. It then swallows your phone and links it to the infotainment system through wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
McIntosh Audio
Stalwart home audio manufacturer McIntosh helped develop the sound system for the Grand Wagoneer L. The system features 23 speakers that absolutely get the job done and look the part. According to McIntosh, the high level of authenticity and design language from the McIntosh home audio products are blended into the Grand Wagoneer cabin. The systems incorporate McIntosh’s iconic styling cues such as illuminated McIntosh logos, metal ridged control knobs, and aluminum frames that have made McIntosh instantly recognizable to fans around the world. You can even bring up the iconic dancing-needle blue meters on the infotainment screen. The system features 950 watts of McIntosh power and a 10-inch subwoofer. It really romps. The 3D surround sound is easy to toggle on and off, without a multitude of confusing settings. I preferred the effect of the 3D surround system that provided an immersive audio experience, so I left it on. It isn’t over-the-top like some systems where I immediately reach to turn it off.
The Jeep Grand Wagoneer is now a worthy choice in the mastodon-size class of luxury SUVs. You can keep yourself and your family highly entertained with world-class audio and visual options for passengers. The only downfall is that this much goodness comes with a price tag just north of $120K. A Cadillac Escalade ESV with all the goodies can come in around $150K. While this hardly makes the 2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer L Obsidian a bargain, buyers are rewarded with plenty of innovative features. The Escalade ESV and Navigator L are now not the only two options.
