Jeep has had a tough time keeping a three-row SUV in its lineup. In fact, it’s been 11 years since its last failed attempt when the Commander made its 5-year, single generation appearance. So, it’s interesting that Jeep will now have three different three-row SUVs: Grand Cherokee L, Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. And, what exactly does this mean for Wagoneer vs. Grand Cherokee L?
Jeep insists that the two vehicles are very different and will not attract the same customers, so we decided to take a look at the key specs below to showcase the differences side-by-side.
A few notables
The biggest difference, and we’ve known this since the launch of the Grand Cherokee L, is the fact that the Wagoneer SUVs will be body-on-frame and the Grand Cherokee L is a unibody construction. Thus, the Wagoneer duo will be larger, more powerful, more capable and have better towing capability.
It’s worth noting the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will be 10 inches wider and 10 inches longer than Grand Cherokee L. With that in mind, it makes sense the Wagoneer family will seat up to eight passengers, and the Grand Cherokee L only goes up to seven.
Price is also going to be a huge differentiator, as there will be a $20K price difference between Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee L. Want more lux-level amenities? You’ll add another $30K for Grand Wagoneer. While the idea of an $86K Jeep without a Hellcat engine might be tough to swallow, we have another shocker for you: Jeep execs have said there will be a range-topping Grand Wagoneer model that will be priced around $111K.
A final note on the Wagoneer vs. Grand Cherokee L before jumping to the spreadsheet: Only the 3.6-liter engine in the Grand Cherokee L recommends using unleaded regular fuel. The 5.7-liter engines in the Grand Cherokee L and Wagoneer recommend mid-grade fuel, and the 6.4-liter engine in the Grand Wagoneer recommends premium.
| Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer | Grand Cherokee L | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Type | Four-door sport-utility vehicle | Four-door sport-utility vehicle |
| Assembly Plant | Warren Truck Assembly Plant, Warren, Michigan | Detroit Assembly Complex – Mack Plant, Detroit, Michigan |
| EPA Vehicle Class | Multipurpose vehicle | Multipurpose vehicle |
| Platform | Body on frame | Unibody |
| Layout | Front engine, rear- or four-wheel drive | Front engine, rear- or four-wheel drive |
| Construction | Steel frame | Steel uniframe |
| Engines: | 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 with eTorque hybrid assist (Std. Wagoneer); 6.4-liter V-8 (Std. Grand Wagoneer) | 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 (Std. Laredo, Limited, Overland and Summit); 5.7-liter V-8 |
| Horsepower | 392 hp @ 5,600 rpm (5.7L); 471 @ 6,000 rpm (6.4L) | 290 hp @ 6,400 rpm (3.6L); 357 @ 5,150 rpm (5.7L) |
| Torque | 404 lb.-ft. @ 3,950 rpm (5.7L): 455 lb.-ft. @ 4,400 rpm (6.4L) | 257 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm (3.6L); 390 lb.-ft. @ 4,250 rpm (5.7L) |
| Fuel Requirement | 5.7L: Unleaded mid-grade, 89 octane recommended, Unleaded regular, 87 octane acceptable; 6.4L: Premium 91 octane recommended | 3.6L: Unleaded regular, 87 octane; 5.7L: Unleaded mid-grade, 89 octane, recommended; Unleaded regular, 87 octane acceptable |
| Transmission | TorqueFlite 8HP75 automatic, 8-speed overdrive | TorqueFlite 8HP70 automatic, 8-speed overdrive |
| Front supspension | Short- and long-arm independent with hybrid steel composite upper control arm, aluminum lower control arm, aluminum knuckle, coil springs with monotube shocks or Quadra-lift air suspension with semi-active damping, solid or hollow stabilizer bar | Multi-link independent front suspension, coil springs, gas-charged, twin-tube coilover shock absorbers, all aluminum arms and knuckles |
| Rear suspension | Five-link independent rear suspension, coil springs with monotube load leveling shocks or Quadra-lift air suspension with semi-active damping, solid or hollow stabilizer bar, cast aluminum links (tension, compression, camber, toe), high strength steel spring link | Multi-link rear suspension, coil spring, twin tube shocks (including load leveling for towing), all aluminum arms and knuckles (including extruded aluminum spring links) |
| Steering | Electric rack-and-pinion steering | Electric rack-and-pinion steering |
| Brakes: | Electronic power brakes (eBooster), anti-lock brake system (ABS) | Electric boost |
| Front rotor size & type | 14.88 x 1.18 inches; vented disc | 13.94 x 1.10 inches; vented disc |
| Rear rotor size & type | 14.76 x 0.87 inches; solid disc | 13.78 x 0.87 inches; vented disc |
| Wheelbase | 123.0 inches | 121.7 inches |
| Track, Front | 68.5 inches | 65.4 inches |
| Track, Rear | 68.3 inches | 65.4 inches |
| Overall Length | 214.7 inches | 204.9 inches |
| Overall Width (width at mirrors) | 94.0 inches | 84.6 inches |
| Body Width | 83.6 inches | 77.9 inches |
| Overall Height | 75.6 / 77.3 inches (at roof rail / at antenna) | 71.5 inches |
| Ground Clearance (with 275/55R20 tire and 5.7-liter engine) | 8.3 inches — standard suspension; 10.0 inches — air suspension (Pos#2) | 8.5 inches – standard suspension; 10.9 inches — air suspension (Pos#2) |
| Approach Angle (degrees) | 21.5 — standard suspension; 25.0 — air suspension (Pos#2); 25.0 (Off-road II with air dam on) | 20.6 — standard suspension; 30.1 — air suspension (Overland, Pos#2); 28.2 — air suspension (Summit, Pos#2) |
| Ramp Breakover Angle (degrees) | 18.5 — standard suspension; 22.0 — air suspension (Pos#2) | 18.2 — standard suspension; 22.6 — air suspension (Pos#2) |
| Departure Angle (degrees) | 21.1 — standard suspension; 24.0 — air suspension (Pos#2) | 21.5 — standard suspension; 23.6 — air suspension (Pos#2) |
| Seating Capacity | Standard — 2/3/3 (including 2nd row bench); Optional — 2/2/3 (including captain’s chairs) | 2/3/2 (second-row bucket seats or optional bench) |
| SAE Total Interior Passenger Volume, (cu. ft.) | 179.2 | 159.1 |
| Cargo volume behind first-row seats (cu. ft.) | 116.7 Wagoneer / 94.2 Grand Wagoneer | 84.6 |
| Cargo volume behind second-row seats (cu. ft.) | 70.8 Wagoneer / 70.9 Grand Wagoneer | 46.9 |
| Cargo volume behind third-row seats (cu. ft.) | 27.4 | 17.2 |
| Total passenger plus cargo volume (cu. ft. ) | 206.6 | 159.1 |
The bottom line on the Wagoneer vs. Grand Cherokee L
OK. We get it. These two vehicles will attract two very different customers. Other than the distinct family resemblance, there isn’t much else these three-row SUVs will share. And while they both look great on paper, we’re definitely curious about whether the market will support three three-row SUVs from a brand that has previously had a tough time with one.
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