Here’s Our First Glance at the New Jeep Grand Wagoneer

Photo: KGP Photography

The Jeep Commander has earned a spot on our list of the best “dead” cars to buy, but its successor might be worth waiting for if you have the desire for a luxury SUV that carries the name of a Jeep with a legendary past.

The Commander was supposed to be Jeep’s answer to the Chevy Tahoe and other large 3-row SUVs, but its dismal fuel economy sent owners and potential buyers running. The SUV probably would have been a success if it debuted in 2000, but the high gas prices and uncertain economy between 2006 and 2010 led to the Commander’s demise.

Now that we’re in more stable times, Jeep has decided that it’s time to try again, only this time it’ll be with an all-new Grand Wagoneer.

A teaser of the new Grand Wagoneer has been made public by an attendee at a recent dealer’s meeting. The image comes from a poster showing Jeep’s upcoming lineup, and appears to show a much wider and taller SUV that should become far more “grand” than the Grand Cherokee.

Car and Driver says,

It’s expected that the Wagoneer’s underpinnings will be shared with those of the next-generation Grand Cherokee, with a significant wheelbase stretch to accommodate the third row of seats. Four-wheel drive should be standard, with a V-8 engine option on the menu as well.

If you’re getting excited at the thought of a new and larger Jeep to haul the family with, here’s a word of caution: Start saving now. The Grand Cherokee can touch $60,000 and the Grand Wagoneer will likely cost much more and be more luxurious. Automotive News says,

Jeep brand head Mike Manley has said that the Grand Wagoneer, due for the 2019 model year, would rival Land Rover in both luxury and price. In Paris last month, Manley told journalists that the price of the top-end luxury Jeep SUV could approach $140,000.

I can feel hearts sink everywhere. There’s no official word on what pricing will be, and that $140,000 cost could represent a top-end special edition Grand Wagoneer. Still, we’d expect starting prices to come in somewhere north of the most expensive Grand Cherokee, which could still put it out of reach for most families.

An affordable large Jeep would have been great, but if that’s what you’re looking for then perhaps a used Commander is the car for you.

How excited are you for a new Jeep Grand Wagoneer?

-tgriffith

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from The CarGurus Blog http://blog.cargurus.com/2016/10/19/heres-our-first-glance-at-the-new-jeep-grand-wagoneer
via Car Gurus