Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.It's Not the Commander, But StillRemember Jeep's first attempt at a three-row SUV? Oh, how the 2005-2010 Jeep Commander disappointed. Too square, too uncomfortable, and too much of a compromise to be competitive. Those days are gone, and the big Grand Wagoneer has replaced it a decade and-a-half later.The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer is enormous, richly equipped, powerful, and dressed up for Jeep. But after living with it for a week, several details began to grate on me, especially for a premium family SUV with a large price tag. A week behind the wheel showed that the Grand Wagoneer's imposing size, some exterior styling choices, and some interior materials keep it from feeling as polished as its luxury ambitions suggest. The biggest Jeep has some issues to iron out for the 2nd-generation effort.Its Gigantic ProportionsJeepThe Grand Wagoneer Upland is not merely a large SUV. It is a vehicle that feels as big as it looks. Yes, full-sized three-row SUVs are never diminutive, but the Grand Wagoneer measures 214.7 inches long, 83.6 inches wide (94.0 inches including mirrors), and 75.6 inches high, with a 123-inch wheelbase. That's on par with some competitors, but for some reason, the squared off corners and flat sides make it look much larger.Amos KwonEven getting the Grand Wagoneer into a well-sized parking space feels like a challenge. I had to park at a local high school for my daughter's swim meet, and I immediately questioned my parking skills with this beast. The high seating position helps with visibility, but it just felt so huge, and I had to resituate the Grand Wagoneer more than once even with the sensors and cameras. I don't enjoy doing that, and the size does not instill confidence in tight situations.The Body-Colored PillarsAmos KwonAdvertisementAdvertisementWhen the Grand Wagoneer debuted as a 2022 model, I didn't like the way it looked. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It looked like a fancy school bus. Then, I figured it out. The pillars were body colored. While that might not mean much to most folks, the look translates to a certain bulkiness because the tinted side windows don't have continuity. Just take a look at the Grand Wagoneer profile photo above and the Cadillac Escalade image below.2026 Cadillac EscaladeThe large Escalade looks leaner and visually lighter because of the delination between the greenhouse and the body. The Grand Wagoneer looks rugged, yes, but it also looks heavy because of the lack of visual separation. Blacked-out pillars can create the appearance of a more continuous glasshouse, reducing some of the visual bulk and giving the profile a sleeker, more modern look. By painting the B- and C-pillars (and D-, for that matter) to match the body, Jeep instead emphasizes the structure of the SUV's side profile. From the rear 3/4th's view, it looks positively massive.Amos KwonThe Grand Wagoneer already has a tall beltline, large doors, substantial fenders, and a very squared-off roof. Adding body-color pillars makes the greenhouse look smaller and gives the side view a leaner appearance. Rather than disguisishing the vehicle's mass, the design underlines it. The body-colored pillars are not a deal-breaker, but they make the Grand Wagoneer ook less elegant than it could. A darker treatment would better balance the sheetmetal and make the Jeep appear a little less towering.The Overuse of Piano Black PlasticAmos KwonPiano black plastic remains one of the automotive industry's most persistent bad habits in an effort to appear fancy, and the Grand Wagoneer does festoons its interior with the stuff. It's on the infotainment screen frame, the climate and driver assist buttons, and the entire shifter surround on the center console.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhen it is freshly cleaned, glossy black trim can look dramatic. It provides contrast against leather, metal-look accents, screens, and lighter-colored cabin materials. Unfortunately, that pristine appearance lasts for approximately five minutes in normal use. It picks up dust, dirt, fingerprints, food bits, and scratches like a magnet to metal filings.Amos KwonAfter a week of touching climate controls, adjusting settings, loading passengers, and just using the Grand Wagoneer in daily driving, the piano black trim was smudged and dusty. Under direct sunlight, every mark becomes more obvious. Even taking photos of the stuff presents a challenge to make it not look like an abused rental vehicle.That is particularly frustrating in a luxury-oriented SUV. The Grand Wagoneer has the price, size, and cabin space to use genuinely attractive materials: open-pore wood, textured metal, matte finishes, or durable soft-touch trim. Even a fine-textured satin-black surface would be easier to maintain and less likely to look worn over time.A Luxurious Premium Jeep Seems Like an OxymoronAmos KwonThe idea of a near-six-figure—Jeep still feels weird. Sure, the price has dropped by an astounding $20k, and the Upland starts and $73k, but a top trim Summit Reserve is $100,310. At this price, it doesn't even get a Hemi V8 like the Wrangler Rubicon, and the old 540-hp turbo six is no more. Yes, the interior is fancy and comfortable, but the perception of a Jeep this pricey doesn't feel right. The glaring issue is that it's hard to perceive a Jeep as a true luxury SUV against competitors from Cadillac, Lincoln, Lexus, BMW, and Mercedes.2026 BMW X7 xDrive40iJeep has built its reputation on ruggedness, accessibility, and utility. Yes, the Grand Wagoneer is tough, especially in Upland trim, but the combination of ruggedness and luxury seems to make more sense in a cheaper Lexus GX. If you pull up to a valet at a Michelin Star restaurant in a Grand Wagoneer, nobody's going to be wowed. At least a Land Rover Defender 130 will get some attention that the Grand Wagoneer couldn't even come close to.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Grand Wagoneer asks shoppers to view the Jeep badge differently. It wants to be a luxury SUV with real towing muscle, generous three-row space, premium materials, advanced technology, and enough brand presence to stand alongside the Germans. In the real world, however, the perception is not the same. It has rugged chops but very little street cred.Final ThoughtsNone of these issues erase the Grand Wagoneer's strengths. It's still a compelling option for buyers who need serious towing ability, three rows of seating, and a traditional full-size SUV experience. Do any of the Grand Wagoneer's issues make the vehicle intolerable? No, but they do detract from the experience, even in light of the drastically reduced base price. These issues might no bother most folks, and they may be acceptable compromises. For everyone else, they are reminders that bigger and more expensive do not automatically mean more polished.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Sep 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.