American Luxury, American Premium: Leveling up the SUV Game With Wagoneer

It’s 1963 in America. Martin Luther King delivers his “I Have a Dream” speech, the Oval Office faces tragedy with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, moviegoers flock to theaters to see The Birds, and sports fans watch in excitement as the Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series against the New York Yankees. The automotive industry enjoys several surprises of its own, including the debut of the Wagoneer.

The 1963 Wagoneer did something remarkable—it proved that luxury and capability were no longer mutually exclusive, at least not under the Jeep name. This effortless balance made the Wagoneer an American favorite until the 1990s when Jeep discontinued the model. However, that wasn’t the end of the line for the luxury SUV. Today, the 2022 Wagoneer proves that legends never die and levels up the SUV game to redefine the meaning of “American premium.” Here’s everything you can expect from this luxury SUV that’s no longer a Jeep but a brand entirely its own.

#1 It’s Not a Jeep

The Wagoneer, built from 1963 to 1991, was part of the Jeep lineup, but don’t make the mistake of calling the new Wagoneer a Jeep. It’s not, nor will it ever be. Instead, Wagoneer is a premium extension of the Jeep name and is a brand in its own right. Once you see the Wagoneer yourself, you’ll understand why the distinction is important.

#2 Legendary Capability = More Adventures

Stellantis, who owns Jeep and Wagoneer, wouldn’t be in business if they continuously reinvented the wheel. That’s why you’ll find the legendary capability of the Jeep lineup working behind the scenes on the 2022 Wagoneer. This capability comes in three available four-wheel-drive systems–Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II, and Quadra-Drive II.

Quadra-Trac I is a full-time four-wheel drive system likened to traditional all-wheel drive since it constantly optimizes the Wagoneer’s performance and efficiency using a single-speed transfer case. The Quadra-Trac II system is a two-speed transfer case that continually monitors the Wagoneer’s wheels for slippage. When it detects a loss in traction, the system sends all the available torque to the wheel or wheels with the most traction.

The Wagoneer with the Quadra-Drive II system is the most capable in the fleet and comes with a Rear Electronic Limited Slip Differential that delivers the best performance in the industry. The system anticipates tire slippage or low traction conditions and proactively takes action to limit or eliminate traction loss entirely. The addition of the limited slip differential makes the Wagoneer easier to maneuver in slippery conditions, whether navigating torrential rain, heavy snow, or a dirt trail.

#3 Selec-Terrain Gives You Effortless Control

With the class-leading Selec-Terrain traction control system, Wagoneer gives you enhanced control over how the SUV performs. The system equips the Wagoneer with five drive modes, Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow, Sand/Mud, that finetune the throttle, suspension, steering, and shift patterns to optimize the Wagoneer’s performance for the condition. For example, Sport mode delivers an engaging and fun-to-drive experience. In contrast, Rock mode tunes the transfer case, differentials, and throttle for greater low-speed control while using the Quadra-Lift air suspension to raise the vehicle to a maximum ground clearance of 10 inches.

#4 Quadra-Lift Air Suspension: Confidence to Go Anywhere

The Wagoneer is designed to give you the confidence to go anywhere, whether running errands in town or venturing down the trail with friends. Wagoneer engineers this confidence with the SUV’s Quadra-Lift air suspension system that raises or lowers the SUV to match the demands of the terrain. For example, Normal Ride Height (NRH) is optimal for in-town driving and positions the Wagoneer 8 inches off the ground. Park Mode lowers the vehicle by 1.6 inches to make entering and exiting the SUV easier. When navigating rocky terrain, you can use Off-Road 2, which gives you 10 inches of ground clearance.

#5 Information and Tools Always Within View

Wagoneer defines the American premium experience by delivering cutting-edge technology everywhere you look in the SUV. This technology starts with a 10.1-inch center touchscreen display home to wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Sirius 360L, Pandora, TomTom navigation, a WiFi hotspot, and Alexa “Home to Car.” Your co-pilot has a 10.25-inch screen with access to the camera system, device management, navigation, and entertainment apps like the first-ever Fire TV for Auto.

Wagoneer takes this technology further with the SUV’s full-color head-up display. Measuring up to 10 inches, the display can be configured in three layouts—simple, standard, and advanced, which puts everything from your speed and fuel level to driver-assist and safety alerts within your immediate view. In addition, a quick glance from the display to your rearview mirror gives you yet another tool—a real-time video stream of everything behind the Wagoneer.

#6 Confidence at Every Turn

Wagoneer’s American premium experience also delivers high-tech safety and driver-assist features that engineer confidence at every turn. The 2022 Wagoneer offers over 120 safety features that enhance your visibility, optimize your focus, and actively minimize the potential for collision. These features include advanced technology like Automatic Emergency Braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection that constantly monitors the traffic ahead and can bring the SUV to an emergency stop if a collision is imminent.

Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go will change your experience on the freeway by adjusting the Wagoneer’s cruising speed to maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead. The tool’s Stop and Go feature lets it easily navigate rush-hour traffic by bringing the Wagoneer to a controlled stop as needed and then accelerating once it’s safe. Other tools include Blind-Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path Detection, and Active Lane Management.

#7 Look Ma, No Hands!

The 2022 Wagoneer introduces drivers to a new experience where they can take their hands off the wheel and still navigate the road ahead. Active Driving Assist is a hands-on feature that relies on lane centering and adaptive cruise control to help you keep the Wagoneer centered in its lane. The tool’s hands-free version works on compatible roadways to predictively steer, accelerate, and decelerate the Wagoneer as needed based on the road. All you have to do is keep your eyes on the road ahead.

#8 Say Hello to Night Vision

Adventures don’t just happen during the day, and Wagoneer knows it. So Wagoneer equips its luxury SUV with Night Vision with Pedestrian and Animal Detection to give you all the tools you need to travel after dark. The feature uses thermographic technology and infrared sensors to detect the heat signatures of animals and pedestrians up to 109 yards in front of the SUV. Then, when the system detects something in your path, it alerts you by outlining the animal’s or pedestrian’s position relative to the vehicle on the driver’s digital instrument cluster, giving you plenty of time to respond.

Adventure Never Looked So Luxurious

The 1963 Wagoneer set a new precedent in the automotive industry by proving that opposites do attract, that luxury and rugged capability can coexist. Today, the 2022 Wagoneer continues that legacy with a modern twist. It redefines the American premium experience by delivering a new level of luxury that’s yet to be seen in the industry. Wagoneer isn’t just a brand—it’s a lifestyle, and with it comes opulence, adventure, and everything else you could imagine.