2024 Jeep Wagoneer S First Look

Jeep's first U.S.-bound EV is quick, luxurious, and full of screens.

Ronan Glon | 

Jun 28, 2024 | 5 min read

Jeep

Developed to highlight the more tech-savvy side of Jeep, the electric Wagoneer S puts a new spin on a well-known nameplate. It shares little more than a name and a handful of styling cues with the existing gasoline-burning Wagoneer, and it's aimed at premium electric SUVs such as the Audi Q6 e-tron.

Jeep

2024 Jeep Wagoneer S Is Big on Power and Range

Unveiled in 2024, the Wagoneer S is the first electric Jeep designed for the United States market. It's built on the STLA Large platform found in other Stellantis-made cars, including the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona, and it will only be offered with electric power when it arrives in showrooms.

Power comes from a pair of electric motors (one per axle) that draw electricity from a 100-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, zapping the four wheels with 600 horsepower and 617 pound-feet of torque. This system delivers all-wheel drive and a sports carlike zero-to-60-mph time of 3.4 seconds.

Jeep quotes 300 miles of range — the EPA estimate isn't yet available — and the 400-volt electrical system lets owners charge the battery pack from 20% to 80% in about 23 minutes.

While this big SUV can comfortably outsprint a Toyota Supra from zero to 60 mph, it falls short of its gas-powered sibling in the practicality department, offering a 1,033-pound payload and a towing capacity of 3,400 pounds. In contrast, the cheaper straight-six-powered Wagoneer posts figures of 1,610 and 10,000, respectively.

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Styling Gets an Upgrade for the Wagoneer S EV

The heritage-inspired seven-slot grille creates a visual link between the Wagoneer S and the other SUVs in the Jeep family, but the similarities stop there. The EV gets streamlined styling characterized by thin LED lights, a hood that's nearly flat, and a low roofline that flows into a hidden rear wing.

Even the grille features an EV-specific twist: It's no longer needed for cooling, so Jeep transformed it into a trim piece that lights up when the owner walks toward the car. The gloss black exterior accents are specific to the Launch Edition, and the Wagoneer S comes standard with 20-inch wheels.

With a low drag coefficient of 0.29, the Wagoneer S stands out as the most aerodynamic SUV Jeep has ever made. The six-cylinder Wagoneer and the Grand Cherokee both have a drag coefficient of 0.35.

Jeep

The Wagoneer S's Interior Adds a Few Tech Extras

Inside, the Wagoneer S will feel familiar to motorists who have spent time in the gasoline-powered model. The driver faces a two-spoke steering wheel and up to 45.0 inches of screen space throughout the vehicle. There's a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, a smaller display for climate control, and a 10.3-inch display integrated into the part of the dashboard facing the front passenger. The passenger can use this screen to explore entertainment options or use the navigation.

Jeep notes that several details set the Wagoneer S apart from the Wagoneer. It added EV-specific features to the infotainment system, including menus that display the battery's charge level and health. Red contrast stitching and electronic door handles are among the other new additions to the cabin.

Another key difference between the Wagoneer S and the Wagoneer is the seating layout. The EV is exclusively offered with two rows of seats, while the latter is available with three rows. Trunk space for the S checks in at 30.6 cubic-feet behind the second row and 61 cu-ft with the second-row seats folded flat. The 3-cu-ft front storage area, or frunk, should be big enough to store the charging cord.

While additional variants will likely join the portfolio in the future, the Launch Edition is the only trim level that Jeep has detailed as of publication. The model comes standard with massaging front seats, ambient lighting, a 19-speaker McIntosh sound system, and a surround-view camera, among other features.

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Deliveries of the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S Are Likely to Begin in the Fall

Jeep opened the Wagoneer S order book in May 2024, though it has only announced pricing for the Launch Edition model. The SUV is $72,000, excluding federal incentives buyers might qualify for. That figure corresponds to a Wagoneer S finished in Bright White with a Global Black interior. Every purchase includes a 48-amp Level 2 home charger or a $600 credit for public charging.

The Launch Edition's list of options is relatively short. It consists of five paint colors — including Red Hot, Fathom Blue, and Baltic Gray — each priced at $595 and a Radar Red interior for $1,000.

Buyers can reserve a Wagoneer S by sending Jeep a refundable $100 deposit. Deliveries will start in fall 2024, though the SUV will only be sold by EV-certified dealers who have installed charging stations and EV-specific service bays and have invested in EV-specific training as well as maintenance tools.

Jeep

The Wagoneer S Trailhawk Concept Hints at an Off-Road EV

Jeep has hinted at one of the ways it might expand the Wagoneer S range by unveiling a concept called Trailhawk. The design study is more off-road capable than the regular-production model thanks to an electronic-locking rear axle, 31.5-inch all-terrain tires, and a lifted suspension system. It gets an anti-glare decal on the hood, tow hooks, and a roof rack, while the interior features genuine stone trim inspired by meteorites. It doesn't sound like Jeep has made any drivetrain changes, however.

There's no word yet on what the future holds for the Trailhawk concept. The nameplate has appeared on several Jeep models in recent memory. Trailhawk is one of the trim levels available on the current-generation Grand Cherokee, for example, and it was offered on the outgoing Renegade. If the concept reaches production, I believe it will leverage Jeep's off-roading heritage to help the Wagoneer S stand out in an increasingly crowded group of premium electric SUVs.

Ronan Glon

Ronan Glon is an American journalist and automotive historian based in France. He enjoys working on old cars and spending time outdoors seeking out his next project car.