104
600
1 speed, Automatic
Electric
Four Wheel Drive
Jeep is executing a two-pronged attack on the midsize electric SUV market. The 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S is the first to arrive, a five-passenger vehicle with upscale styling and features. The second is the upcoming 2026 Jeep Recon, a rugged off-roader with a boxy design and Wrangler-inspired open-air driving capability. Together, they should appeal to almost any kind of electric Jeep buyer.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
While the Wagoneer S might be more suitable for driving on the pavement than off-road, it offers all-wheel drive (AWD) and Sand and Snow driving modes. In addition, the ground clearance measures 6.4 inches, more than a Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally but less than a Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT, two models people might cross-shop that provide extra off-roading capability. Jeep has shown a concept of a Wagoneer S Trailhawk that would rival the Rally and XRT but hasn’t confirmed it will build one.
As the smallest model in Jeep’s premium Wagoneer SUV lineup, the new Wagoneer S Launch Edition slots between mass-market EVs like the Mustang Mach-E and Ioniq 5 and luxury electric SUVs such as the BMW iX and Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV. That places Jeep’s new EV in direct competition with the Acura ZDX, Cadillac Lyriq, and Genesis Electrified GV70, each a distinctively designed and competitive alternative to the Wagoneer S.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
A clean design featuring classic Jeep cues characterizes the Wagoneer S. In addition, the SUV has a few details that recall the Grand Cherokee model, such as the rear windows, roof pillars, and taillights. Available paint colors are shades of black, white, and gray, a deep (almost black) blue, and an appealing red. Black 20-inch wheels are the only choice.
Inside, the Wagoneer S Launch Edition boasts a high-tech cabin in standard Global Black or optional Radar Red. The interior features sustainable and animal-free materials, including artificial leather, a simulated suede headliner, and fabric and carpets made of recycled materials. Jeep also wraps the steering wheel in an anti-microbial material.
When designing the 2024 Wagoneer S, Jeep found that many EVs have confusing controls located where people don’t expect to find them. So, the company strived to make the SUV’s interior familiar and easy to use, including retaining analog controls in traditional places where it made sense. Even the four screens and head-up display are easy to reference and operate as long as you’re comfortable with modern technology.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Because the Launch Edition comes with everything as standard equipment, it includes 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage. The rear seats are also heated and ventilated. Everyone aboard will find comfort and support, though squeezing a fifth adult into the middle rear seat might cause some complaining. The only things missing here are a triple-zone climate control system and rear window shades.
Storage space is good and includes a roomy cubby behind the climate control touchscreen. To access it, flip the screen up. You can hide valuables in the 3.0 cubic-foot front trunk (frunk), which can easily hold a backpack. The cargo area can swallow 30.6 cu-ft of cargo, impeded by a dramatically fast roofline hidden by the oversized rear spoiler. Fold the back seats down, and the Wagoneer S offers 64 cu-ft of maximum cargo room.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Jeep equips the Wagoneer S Launch Edition with four dashboard screens and a 10-inch head-up display. They include a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel, a 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 infotainment system, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger. Below the Uconnect display, a 10.25-inch touchscreen provides access to the dual-zone climate system and seat massage functions.
Aside from a hit-and-miss performance by the voice recognition system and digital voice assistant, Uconnect 5 is intuitive to use. It equips the Wagoneer S with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, expanded SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and Jeep Connect connected services with complimentary trial subscriptions of varying lengths. A 19-speaker McIntosh audio system is also standard on the Launch Edition, and it sounds terrific.
The main problem, which is true of all of the Jeep’s displays, is how dirty they get in seemingly no time at all. Also, on a sunny testing day, the glare and reflections from the angled winter sun made them hard to see and use. If you’re fastidious, you’ll want to keep an interior duster and a microfiber cloth in the Wagoneer S at all times. And you can cut down on glare by closing the dual-pane sunroof cover.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Additional tech features include front, side, and rear parking sensors, which ‘bing’ and ‘boop’ too much for my liking. A surround-view camera and automatic park assist are also standard features of the Launch Edition. The digital rear camera mirror provides a clear view of what’s behind the Jeep when the cargo area is packed full of gear. And if you attach a trailer to explore the SUV’s 3,400-pound towing capacity, the optional towing package expands the blind-spot warning system’s coverage to include it.
In addition to those items, Jeep equips the Wagoneer S with a long list of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). The usual suspects are present and accounted for, with enhancements including intersection turn assistance when turning left and a blind-spot warning feature that lets a driver know when another vehicle is rapidly approaching from the rear.
Jeep’s Active Drive Assist system is standard on the Wagoneer S Launch Edition. It combines the adaptive cruise control and the lane-centering assistance system to create a semi-autonomous highway driving technology. However, it’s important to note that drivers must keep their hands on the steering wheel. It is not a hands-off technology.
I used Active Drive Assist as much as possible while driving the Wagoneer S on the freeways of San Diego, California, and except for one braking event that seemed too abrupt, given the situation, it worked smoothly and accurately.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
In the Wagoneer S Launch Edition, front and rear 250-kilowatt (kW) electric motors and a 400-volt/100.5-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery provide propulsion. The motors generate 600 horsepower and 617 pound-feet of torque, and Jeep claims the Wagoneer S will accelerate to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. That’s faster than the old Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, which had a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 cranking out 707 hp.
The two electric motors create an AWD system, and the Wagoneer S has Auto, Eco, Sport, Snow, and Sand driving modes. You can also calibrate the braking system to provide maximum regeneration and activate a one-pedal driving system that can bring the SUV to a stop. Choose the Creep mode, and it won’t come to a complete halt and could feel more natural in some driving situations. You can also choose minimal regen and Creep for a driving character resembling a traditional gasoline-engine SUV.
According to the EPA, a Wagoneer S Launch Edition equipped with the standard Falken all-season tires should travel just over 300 miles on a full charge while consuming electricity at 35 kWh per 100 miles. During my evaluation drive, the test vehicle’s efficiency measured 37 kWh/100 miles, a little more than expected but still within expectations.
Jeep claims it takes 28 minutes to recharge the battery from 5% to 80% when using a DC fast charging station. The company offers $600 in complimentary charging credits with every Wagoneer S Launch Edition, or you can choose a free 48-amp home charging station (installation through Qmerit costs extra). Using that Level 2 home charger, it takes about seven hours to recharge the battery, according to Jeep. Plug the SUV into a typical wall outlet, and it takes more than two full days.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
As expected, the Wagoneer S Launch Edition is fast. I didn’t attempt a smoky burnout, but I observed that it’s possible. Instead, I got the Jeep rolling and then accessed the maximum power, which caused the all-season tires to struggle to maintain grip.
Jeep hasn’t installed an adaptive damping suspension on the Wagoneer S, but it doesn’t need one from a ride and handling perspective. It did feel characteristically choppy on city streets with heaves and dips, a common trait in EVs. The rest of the time, I was barely aware of the extra weight of the battery pack and electric motors.
I used the Wagoneer’s one-pedal driving function the entire time, but it felt natural underfoot whenever I needed to step on the brake pedal. Acclimation to the maximum regeneration system can take some time, and it seemed particularly aggressive in parking situations, halting the Jeep too abruptly when entering or reversing from a spot.
The steering needs some fine-tuning. In Auto mode, in urban and suburban driving situations, there isn’t an issue aside from how it provides almost no feel or feedback. On a twisty mountain road, while driving in Sport mode, the steering weighted up progressively as I turned the wheel and degressively when returning to center. Not only did this sensation feel artificial, but it was distracting when making mid-curve corrections on a road I’d never driven before. I preferred hustling the Jeep in Auto mode as a result.
Jeep did not provide an off-road driving experience, so I cannot comment on how the Wagoneer S behaves in sand or dirt. However, the limited ground clearance and pavement-biased tires mean you’ll want to stick to well-traveled trails in one.
