Jeep Wagoneer S Review 2024

For a brand that's famous for ensuring its models offer outstanding all-terrain agility, the notion of it producing an on-road focused, high performance electric SUV seems a curious one. Yet, with the rakish Jeep Wagoneer S, that’s precisely what this storied marque has on its hands — here’s what we know so far.

While such a car seems a world away from Jeep’s WW2 origins, the company is quick to point outs its claim that it invented the luxury SUV genre with the original Wagoneer in 1963, so its electric namesake is a homage to that aspect of its corporate history. It will sit above today's Jeep Grand Cherokee in the range.

For further perspective, we expect the Jeep Wagoneer S to start at around £75,000, meaning it’s hoping to attract affluent buyers more accustomed to premium-badged SUVs. From an aesthetic standpoint, the Jeep looks to have a sporty elegance that’s almost entirely absent from the perpendicular appearance of the BMW iX.

One might also be inclined to think that statement could be equally true when comparing the Wagoneer S with the Mercedes EQE SUV, a model which one wonders if its designers were inspired by a wildlife documentary about manatees. If they weren’t then those responsible for the Tesla Model Y must have been.

Of the Jeep’s principle rivals, the one which seems closest in ethos and slinky styling is the Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback, although that’s a model which is already in the second-half of its life cycle, so may feel less contemporary than the Wagoneer S does.

So not only is the Wagoneer S rather sleek for Jeep, it sets a tone for high-end electric SUVs full stop — the company claims it’s 15% more aerodynamic than ‘the average SUV’. The trademark seven-slot grille still features in the Wagoneer S’s nose, but shallower than ever as well as being illuminated.

What’s especially interesting is the rear of the Jeep’s design with a roofline that’s far more coupe-like than it appears when viewed from the side. Observed from the back its tapering is far more obvious, with what initially appears to be a tailgate spoiler actually being a separate entity.

Despite the potential space-robbing nature of the roof’s profile, Jeep states the Wagoneer S has an 866-litre boot capacity with all five seats in use. It is a large SUV at some 4886mm in length but the most impressive dimensional claim relates to the combined total of 45 inches of useable dashboard screen real estate.

Yup, forty-five. That’s 12.3 inches for the driver’s instrument display, another 12.3 inches for the multimedia touchscreen with a further 10.25 inches allocated for the passenger’s display. That central infotainment panel is the conduit to access the 19-speaker, 1160-Watt Macintosh audio system.

More big numbers? How does the Jeep’s new SLTA Large dedicated EV platform’s 100kWh battery and 400-volt architecture sound? That’s sufficient for a driving range provisionally referenced at ‘more than 300 miles’ while a 20%-80% recharge can take as little as 23 minutes with the appropriate DC ultra-rapid connection.

Plus, with its all-wheel drive twin-electric motor set-up, Select-Terrain traction control system, 600PS of power and over 800Nm of torque, the Jeep Wagoneer S is capable of a 0-62mph sprint in an eye-widening 3.4 seconds.

What is conspicuous by its absence from Jeep’s initial communications about the Wagoneer S is whether its flagship model is capable of anything more than gentle off-road terrain. That most Jeeps never venture away from asphalt is by-the-by — their owners have historically been reassured knowing that they can.

All of that’s academic for the time being for those in the UK who are considering purchasing one as the Jeep Wagoneer S is unlikely to reach these shores until the end of 2025.