Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L each add a foot of length, Hurricane power, and gobs of luxury.
- Jeep created the L versions of the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer for 2023 by adding 12 inches in length and seven inches in wheelbase. The gain mostly benefits rear-seat passengers and cargo space.
- A new 420-hp, 3.0-liter direct-injection straight-six Hurricane engine powers the Wagoneer L, while the Grand Wagoneer L gets a 510-hp version of it. An eight-speed Torqueflite automatic is mated to both.
- Stickers start at $64,495 for the rear-drive Wagoneer L go up from there, with the Grand Wagoneer L starting at $93,495.
Rear legroom has steadily been disappearing since the glory days of the 1940s and 1950s, when the likes of Wilt Chamberlain could sit happily in the back of a Buick Roadmaster. Many of today’s coupes sacrifice passenger comfort on the altar of a sexy roofline. Indeed, some cars—the Jaguar E-Type 2+2 comes to mind—do look much worse in their stretched versions.
Now Jeep has stretched the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer for 2023 L Versions that gain 12 inches in length and seven inches in wheelbase (which now totals 130). The gain is almost entirely in the rear seating and load space, enabling the kids and adults to pack more gear and sit in the second and third row comfortably. Jeep brought journalists to Bozeman, Montana, to exercise the cars on ranch roads and on the 18,000 acres of Crazy Mountain Ranch—where an authentic Old West town, Deadrock, has been assembled.
In the marketplace, the Wagoneer L is up against the Chevy Suburban and Ford Expedition, and the Grand Wagoneer L the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. All of them are going all-in on luxurious interiors, big engines, and lots of load space.
2023 Jeep Wagoneer L.
Jeep
Jim Morrison, senior vice president and head of the Jeep brand in North America, said that sales overall are up 45 percent since the beginning of the year. The Wrangler 4xe is now the best-selling plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and for the first half of 2022, Jeep is number two (after General Motors) in the Total Large Utility Vehicle segment, chasing the Tahoe and Yukon.
At the Detroit Auto Show, Jeep unveiled a 30th anniversary edition of the Grand Cherokee 4xe (as a $4700 package) and a Willys version of the Wrangler 4xe, further expanding the PHEV offerings. The company will have four all-electric models by 2025.
“These new L Wagoneers will have more space for people and their stuff,” Morrison said, “as well as improved efficiency and extra range. When the turbos kick in, it just makes you smile.” There is now 44.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 88.8 behind the second row, and 130.9 behind the first row, enabling the movement of a four-foot-by-eight-foot sheet of plywood.
The Wagoneer L comes with a 420-hp (and 468 lb-ft of torque) version of the new three-liter direct-injection straight-six Hurricane engine, and the Grand Wagoneer with a 510-hp (500 lb-ft) upgrade of it. An eight-speed Torqueflite automatic is married to those power plants. Alan Falkowski, chief engineer for the Hurricane engine, declined to say what other vehicles might share the small bore, long stroke power plant, but it seems a natural for some Stellantis truck models.
Up to 24 mpg highway fuel economy is achievable, with a 2 mpg combined improvement over the Wagoneer V8s. The 420 has “recommended” premium fuel, and for the 510 it’s required, but company engineers said that regular won’t do any damage—it just won’t deliver peak performance.
The Wagoneer, in both forms, was almost preternaturally quiet on the highway. Falkowski said he likes the inline-six arrangement because it’s inherently smooth, and that was apparent. The Montana route included lots of curvy roads. To say the Wagoneer handled like a sports car would be inaccurate—you’re always conscious of that bulk when attempting quick maneuvers. The L models’ curb weight is between 6069 and 6704 pounds.
The Wagoneer Ls can tow up to 10,000 pounds. They were fine on dirt roads and an off-road course, but serious trail hounds will probably choose different models. The Quadra-Lift air suspension offers five heights, including two for off-road with up to 10 inches of lift. The cars can also be lowered 1.6 inches for easier entry, though the running board that shoots out when the doors are opened is also helpful.
An optional tri-pane panoramic sunroof that extends to the third row…
Jeep
…is available on either the Wagoneer L or the Grand Wagoneer L.
Jeep
The cabin feels airy and visibility is good all around, though the HVAC system didn’t always provide cooling quickly. Jeep’s navigation system is very good, but it didn’t play all that well with Apple CarPlay, which apparently prefers that you use Google Maps.
A Carbide package on both L models is mostly an appearance upgrade, though it does include a tri-pane panoramic sunroof that extends to the third row. Seating can accommodate up to eight passengers, though with the captain’s chairs in the second row there’s a plenty of storage between the seats. Legroom and headroom in both the second and third row are very good, as is access to that USB-enabled third row via a Tip ‘n Slide function on the second row. The third row also reclines.
The Grand Wagoneer L is a big step up from the Wagoneer L in terms of opulence, with American walnut wood and optional Palermo leather to rival the European competition. Occupants sit on 24-way seats with heating, cooling, and massage functions. Rear-seat passengers can control their own HVAC, and have individual screens with access to Amazon Fire programming.
The Wagoneer Ls really score with their available McIntosh infotainment, since it sounds great and mimics the brand’s iconic black-with-chrome-knob styling. The dancing VU meters don’t have any actual function, but they’re faithful to McIntosh’s highly prized home amplifiers.
The new models, bearing American flag badges, will be built at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan. Jeep has invested $4.5 billion in five Michigan plants, which it said would create 6500 new jobs. The L models, so far, will be sold only in North America and the Middle East. The Wagoneer L, in rear-drive form, starts at $64,495 and goes up from there—the test car, with several packages, was $92,645; the Grand Wagoneer L, available only with four-wheel drive, ranges from $93,495 to $113,990
Keyword: Stretched 2023 Jeep Wagoneer L Models Benefit Rear Riders and Cargo