The Jeep Wagoneer S: an Eco, Snow, Sand, and Auto-oriented, Fully Electric Hybrid Powered by the Jeep Experiment
Jeep has largely been focused on plug-in hybrid vehicles in the US, but now there is a shift to battery-electric vehicles. The company’s 4xe (pronounced “four by e”) hybrids, like the Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe, are extremely popular, with PHEV sales up 124 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year.
The only trim announced today was the Launch Edition, which goes on sale this fall with a starting price of $71,995. Other trims, including more affordable versions, will be announced later.
Sure, it’s not the fully electric Wrangler that was initially promised and many thought would come first. (That’s coming later as the Jeep Recon.) Premium pricing is not what many customers are looking for right now, with sluggish sales and sticker shock keeping people tethered to their gas engines.
But unlike other STLA Large platform vehicles with 800-volt architectures, the Wagoneer S will only have a 400-volt architecture, which, theoretically, could mean slightly slower DC fast charging. Jeep claims it will be able to charge up to 80 percent in 23 minutes.
The Jeep Wagoneer S’s 3-in-1 EDMs combine the electric motor, gearing and power electronics into a single, compact unit that is both powerful and efficient. When cruising, the front EDM has wheel ties that reduce energy draw when it’s cold.
In order to make the ride as smooth and silent as possible, Jeep’s engineers tweaked the body torsion stiffness for a 35 percent improvement over other midsize Jeeps. The vehicle has an aerodynamic drag coefficients of 0.29 and is typical of an EV. There is a hint of off road capability, with five drive modes: Eco, Snow, Sand, and Auto. (I’m told that Jeep recommends you select Sand when driving in deep snow and Snow when looking to avoid slippage. Makes sense!)
Jeep is going to bet big on interior screen real estate. A massive 45-inch glass display stretches the width of the dash, including a segment just for passengers — a first for Jeep. The main display in the passenger display can be used to share driving directions and other information, as well as talk with one another.
Jeep has an interesting approach. Picking a fight with a Tesla Model Y in a drag race, when the Tesla sells for $20,000 less, may strike some as a mismatched fight. Rivian would have been a better choice, but more people know thatTesla is the leader of the EV race.
“My boss says soon,” Filosa said with a smile. “Obviously, its an engineering [challenge], so we need to put people [in charge of] developing the car. We have good ideas, we already had our calculation, and we strongly believe that we can get there. Strongly believe.”
Ford, Volkswagen, and Kia all stated that they were going to make small, more affordable EV in order to get more shoppers to purchase them. Nissan hasn’t commented on the future of the Leaf or the affordable Bolt EV, which will be relaunching on a new platform.
“I worry because the level of cost that they need is 20–25 percent lower than our costs,” Filosa said of BYD and other Chinese automakers. “Obviously, I’m talking of challenges coming, and it will challenge us to get better.”
Still, Filosa says Jeep will rise to the challenge. But how long will it take? Timing is important. EV sales are still growing at a slower pace than in the past. People who purchase are more picky. They prefer vehicles that are fast charging and affordable, but also have a lot of range. Most experts have said a $25,000 EV could help that line graph turn from a gentle slope into a hockey stick. But when it comes to exact timetables, only Tavares seems to know for now.
Unexpected — and perhaps also a little awkward. The Wagoners is not an affordable EV due to its high-tech components, premium materials and impressive performance capabilities. The fully loaded First Launch edition will start at $71,995 — not exactly a price meant to spur mass adoption.