The 2023 Jeep Wagoneer L allows the brand to compete in a lucrative segment in which it never had an entry. The full-size 3-row traditional SUV was always a bridge too far for Jeep. The brand had always drawn the line at midsize, with the current Jeep Grand Cherokee L being its first really adequate 3-row model. And Jeep introduced it as recently as 2021.
For those who want to get technical, the Wagoneer doesn't carry a Jeep badge, but that is more because of internal Jeep guidelines than anything that affects the consumer. The Wagoneer is sold by Jeep dealers, serviced by those same dealers, and it has the Jeep signature seven-slot grille. So, forgive me if, at times, I refer to it as a Jeep. Standing between it and true Jeepness, the Wagoneer L would find the Rubicon Trail an impossible task; thus, it isn't a Jeep. (Wink, wink.)
It is, however, a solid competitor for the Chevrolet Suburban—the dominant player in the full-size, full-length, conventional SUV space. The shorter-wheelbase Wagoneer, introduced for the 2022 model year, is an equally strong alternative to the Chevrolet Tahoe—the big dog in its segment. GMC is in both games with the Yukon and Yukon XL. And Ford has strong players with the Expedition and Expedition Max.
While it might be easy to count the 2023 Wagoneer L as simply a more extended version of the well-reviewed Wagoneer, there's more to it. The biggest news is the Wagoneer L is a lead model for the all-new "Hurricane" twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine family. In the Jeep tradition, the Wagoneer gives its buyers the choice of multiple 4-wheel-drive (4WD) systems. And the Wagoneer L's interior is one of the roomiest and most accommodating models targeted at general consumers. This baby is big for its age.
Jeep offers the 2023 Wagoneer L in three trim levels: base, Series II, and Series III. All three series are available in rear-drive (RWD) and 4WD configurations. A Wagoneer L Carbide sub-trim gives the vehicle the currently popular blackout treatment with gloss black wheels, roof rack, and interior. Jeep says the Wagoneer L will go on sale by the end of 2022.
The base Wagoneer L 4WD has a suggested retail price of $65,495. The Series II 4WD has a base price of $71,080. The price of the Carbide Edition 4WD is $74,775. The vehicle tested for this driving impression was a 2023 Wagoneer L Series III 4WD. It had a base price of $77,220 and came heavily optioned, including:
The test vehicle's suggested retail price was $92,645, including the $2,000 destination charge.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
The Wagoneer L is all about room. Its interior is much larger than the already big 2023 Wagoneer because Jeep research tells its executives and product planners that's what the buyers of these mammoth 3-row SUVs want. Blessed with a good platform that lent itself to being stretched, Jeep decided to give buyers precisely that with plenty of interior acreage.
To get there, they stretched the wheelbase 7 inches (to 130) and increased the overall length by 12 inches (to 226.7). That's longer than both the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban and the 2023 Ford Expedition Max, its key competitors. The Wagoneer L boasts a whopping 44.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row of seats. That bests key competitors, too, and it is nearly 16 cubic feet larger than the standard-length Wagoneer. Both second- and third-row legroom are excellent—not surprising since the Wagoneer L has best-in-class overall passenger volume of 179.3 cubic feet. That's equal to the interior space of two compact sedans.
But though size matters in this class big time, it isn't the only thing that matters. With a base price well north of $60,000, the Wagoneer L has to bring luxury and convenience to the party. Indeed, this is a vehicle that genuinely can seat up to eight passengers with two in front, three in a second-row bench, and three in a third-row bench. The third row offers 36.6 inches of legroom, which puts it on par with second-row seating in many vehicles. Jeep extended the rear doors to enable even easier access to the rear seats than in the Wagoneer. The standard coil spring suspension keeps the ride comfortable and controlled. And an air suspension system with electronically controlled semi-active damping is available on the Wagoneer L; it was standard on the Series III test vehicle.
In the Jeep brand pecking order, the automaker positions the Wagoneer L against mass-market competitors like the Chevrolet Suburban while it equips the more premium Grand Wagoneer L to fight the Cadillac Escalade ESV and Lincoln Navigator L. But that doesn't mean the Wagoneer L doesn't offer a luxurious interior. The base trim has Capri leather seats. The front seats power-adjust eight ways, and the driver's seat has a memory function, power lumbar support, and a four-way-adjustable headrest. Wagoneer Series II and Series III trims (like the test vehicle) upgrade to Nappa leather seats.
The dashboard and instrument panel are clean, attractive, and offer good ergonomics. The instruments and driver information are readily visible through the thick-section steering wheel. The mid-dash houses the large infotainment screen. And the center console contains the dial-type gear selector, mode selectors, and other 4WD-oriented controls. A covered area lies in front of the gear selector. Behind it is a handy open storage area, cupholders, and a truly giant storage bin with armrests for driver and passenger on top. In all, the interior is top-notch. The Grand Wagoneer L might outdo it for opulence, but for attractiveness and functionality at a price (okay, a $90K+ price), the Wagoneer's interior more than gets the job done.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
One aspect of technology is digital screen size. The Wagoneer L puts several checks in that box with as much as 50 inches of total digital display screen area. The instrument panel and dash hold the bulk of it. The instrument/driver information screen in front of the driver is a 10.25-inch display. The center-dash-mounted infotainment screen measures 10.1 inches. And an optional 10.25-inch passenger-side screen adds to the digital presentation. The optional rear-seat entertainment offers two 10.1-inch screens mounted on the backs of the front seats, plus fully functional USB/HDMI ports and Amazon Fire TV.
Of course, the screens are only as good as what's displayed on them. The 2023 Wagoneer L throws more checks into those boxes with its Uconnect 5 infotainment system. This is the latest iteration of a system that has become one of many auto reviewers' favorites for its clarity and intuitive operation. In the Wagoneer L, it features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L, Pandora personalized stations, and Amazon Alexa home-to-car functionality. Bluetooth offers simultaneous connection of two smartphones. TomTom powers integral navigation and provides natural-speak voice control, predictive search, and real-time traffic updates. You can update the map data over the air with the push of a button.
The good news about this laundry list of functionalities is that they are all easily accessible without flipping through an excessive number of screens. On top of that, they all work as advertised. For instance, AppleCarPlay pairs easily and reconnects wirelessly without driver involvement. The driver can also customize the home screen and other screens by setting up a user profile. Music preferences, app accessibility, seat position, mirror angles, and climate settings are all customizable. The 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot allows the connection of up to eight wireless devices.
While the standard audio system is more than adequate, the Wagoneer L Series III offers the option of a McIntosh MX950 system with 19 speakers, including a 10-inch subwoofer, and a 17-channel 950-watt amplifier. The system provides glorious sound throughout the cabin.
Another part of technology revolves around electronic safety aids. The 2023 Wagoneer L has a laudable number of standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The standard array includes such stalwarts as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and rear park-assist sensors. The standard adaptive cruise control has stop-and-go functionality. It worked well during my Interstate drives in the Wagoneer L.
Optional ADAS aid vision, highway driving, and parking. They include night vision with pedestrian and animal detection, as well as intersection turn assistance. Active Driving Assist, traffic-sign recognition, and a driver monitoring system aid highway driving. Parking efforts benefit from a surround-view camera system and an active parking assistance system Jeep calls ParkSense. While it was impossible to test all these systems, those that we could—Active Driving Assist, traffic-sign recognition, surround-view camera, and automated parking—all performed as one would hope.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
Interestingly, we have come this far in the driving impression while barely mentioning the all-new 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine family that powers both the Wagoneer L and the Grand Wagoneer L, as it is a vital portion of the Wagoneer L's value story. This pair of engines leverages twin-turbo tech and the inherent balance of an inline-6 to deliver the power, torque, and smoothness of a naturally aspirated V8 with significantly better fuel efficiency.
A 420-horsepower version of the engine resides in the Wagoneer L. It offers a stout 468 pound-feet of torque and teams with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Wagoneer L returns 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway/20 mpg combined fuel economy in RWD form. With 4WD, the numbers are 16 mpg city/23 mpg highway/19 mpg combined. Jeep says the fuel efficiency of the new engine beats the venerable Hemi V8 by 1-2 mpg over the various cycles. While that might not sound like much, in industry terms, it is a substantial improvement, and if you're paying California gas prices these days, you will definitely feel it in your wallet.
Another thing I haven't discussed at any length is the Wagoneer L's available 4WD systems. The base and Series II Wagoneer Ls have Quadra-Trac I full-time 4WD with a single-speed transfer case. The Series III has Quadra-Trac II active 4WD with a 2-speed transfer case and hill-descent control. The Quadra-Drive II system with an electronic limited-slip differential and hill-descent control is optional for the Series III. The Wagoneer L's sheer size, not its 4WD systems, is the limiting factor in off-roading.
On the highway, around town, and on rural two-lanes, the Wagoneer L performs just as a vehicle with a big, high-horsepower V8 would. At its length, the Wagoneer L is no canyon carver. Still, it is difficult to imagine a better vehicle if you want to make Interstate miles disappear behind you with seven others aboard. The Wagoneer L is smooth and quiet. It offers the excellent ride comfort that is the product of its suspension, long wheelbase, and separate body-on-frame construction.
In a segment where size matters, the Wagoneer L's big-time size vaults it to the head of the class. This vehicle has excellent interior room, massive cargo space, and accommodating seating for as many as eight full-grown adults. No, it isn't quite as grand as its Grand Wagoneer L twin brother (the one that spends a little more on his clothes), but the interior of the Wagoneer L justifies its price. The seats are comfortable and easily adjustable, and the instrumentation and infotainment are absolutely top-drawer.
The Wagoneer L's all-new twin-turbo engine and its various driveline offerings are also due for praise. Designing, engineering, and developing an all-new gasoline engine in this era is a big and costly step, and it has immediate benefits for the new model. The guess is that Jeep will hybridize this engine in the future to offer even more benefits in the future.
If you have a large family, a ton of tailgating friends, or just like space for everything and a little more, the Wagoneer L should be on your very short list. Comfort and convenience abound everywhere you look. And don't tell anyone there's a truck chassis under there because the 2023 Wagoneer L rides like a limousine with an interior where a billionaire could feel comfortable.
Jack R. Nerad has reviewed cars, trucks, vans, and sport utilities for over three decades. He managed the editorial efforts of Motor Trend magazine and Kelley Blue Book and currently is the host of the SportsMap Radio Network program America on the Road, which is available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Stitcher, and other outlets.
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