The Jeep Wagoneer S electric SUV had already been revealed inside and out and we already knew various key stats, but now the American brand has fully detailed its new Tesla Model Y rival.
Indeed, Jeep has made it very clear what it sees as the competition, having released a video showing its new electric SUV beating a Model Y Performance in a drag race.
The Wagoneer S is debuting with a Launch Edition, which Jeep is unusually (for an American brand) calling a 2024 model even though it’s arriving in the US and Canada in the second half of the year.
Jeep has previously confirmed the Wagoneer S for a local launch, though it isn’t expected here until 2026.
The Launch Edition produces 447kW of power and 800Nm of torque from its dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain, good for a 0-60mph (0-96km/h) time of 3.4 seconds.
It’s also promising more than 483km (300 miles) of electric range against the “US cycle”.
That’s likely referring to the US Environmental Protection Agency test cycle, against which a Model Y Performance achieves an estimated 449km of range.
Moreover, the Jeep’s arch-rival is fractionally slower to 60mph at 3.5 seconds.
The Wagoneer S uses a 400-volt 100kWh battery pack, with the ability to charge from 20 to 80 per cent in 23 minutes using a DC fast charger.
It’s underpinned by the “BEV-native” STLA Large platform that also underpins the new Dodge Charger, and which can support combustion and hybrid powertrains.
While it’s not being pitched as quite as rugged a vehicle as the upcoming Recon off-roader on the same platform, it does have Jeep’s Selec-Terrain traction management system with Auto, Sport, Eco, Snow and Sand modes.
The electric motors independently power the front and rear wheels for instant torque response, with the front motor disconnecting while cruising to reduce energy consumption.
Jeep says torsional stiffness is 35 per cent greater than “previous midsize-segment Jeep brand SUVs”, likely referring to the Grand Cherokee which is considered a mid-sized model in the US.
There’s a hint of Grand Cherokee to the styling, but there’s a more rakish tailgate, a cantilevered rear spoiler, and a distinctive take on Jeep’s trademark seven-slot grille with integrated lighting.
The Launch Edition rides on 20-inch gloss black wheels, with other gloss black and dark grey trim used on the exterior.
Jeep is touting the absence of chrome, with its design team looking at more environmentally friendly processes and materials.
The Wagoneer S has a drag coefficient of 0.29, the lowest ever for a Jeep, a figure which it achieved through the use of features like flush door handles, integrated fins to control airflow, and a system of underbody shields.
Inside, Jeep says the Wagoneer S has “more than 45 inches of high-definition sculpted screen space”, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen running Uconnect 5, and a 10.25-inch front passenger display.
The vehicle also supports over-the-air updates.
There’s distinctive “cross-metal deco trim applique with a glazed laced pattern” and black ceramic-coated aluminium trim for contrast, as well as wine red accent stitching.
The aluminium trim is said to have a “porcelain-like feel”.
The featured vehicle also features bold red seating surfaces, with red also used on the dashboard and doors. Leatherette trim is used on these surfaces instead of leather, while microfibre suede is used on the headliner and the carpets are made from recycled materials.
The driver grips a flat-bottom, twin-spoke steering wheel with a Cabo vinyl anti-microbial surface coating, and turns the car on with a die-cast zinc metal start button.
To get out, you press an electronic door release with your thumb.
US-market Launch Edition models come standard with 64-colour adjustable ambient lighting, and heated and ventilated seats front and rear.
Sound is pumped through a 19-speaker McIntosh sound system with a 1160W amplifier and 12-inch subwoofer.
Standard safety equipment on the Launch Edition includes autonomous emergency braking with intersection assist, driver attention monitoring, traffic sign recognition, Jeep’s Active Driving Assist, and a surround-view camera.
The Wagoneer S name was originally a placeholder, but Jeep has evidently decided to stick with it despite de-emphasising Wagoneer as a sub-brand.
That’s somewhat confusing, as the only other Wagoneer-badged models – the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer – are completely different vehicles, being larger, combustion-powered, body-on-frame SUVs related to the Ram 1500.
