- The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are the largest members of the Jeep family. With both boasting three rows of seats as well as longer-wheelbase “L” variants, the Wagoneers are great for hauling families from one adventure to the next. However, for folks who want to know what differentiates the 2023 Jeep Wagoneer from the 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, we’re here to break it down by detailing their available powertrains, exterior and interior designs, and the various safety and tech features.
Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer Tested
Exterior Differences
As its name implies, the Grand Wagoneer has a grander appearance than the regular Wagoneer. The more upscale model has more chrome, a black roof, snazzier LED lighting accents, a different hood, and more prominent fender flares. Power-retractable running boards are also standard on the Grand Wagoneer.
The three-row SUVs also offer wheel sizes ranging from 18 to 22 inches, but those options vary by trim level. The Grand Wagoneer’s smallest available wheels are 20 inches, and it also offers a few exclusive colors, including Midnight Sky Blue, Rocky Mountain Green, and Ember Pearl. For Wagoneer shoppers only, a blacked-out appearance is available with the Carbide package. Along with glossy black wheels (20-inchers are standard; 22s are optional), the mirror caps, parts of the grille, and other bits are also black; the Wagoneer Carbide’s interior has black seats and special trim on the dashboard. The Grand Wagoneer equivalent is called the Obsidian. It’s a bit more glamorous and includes standard shiny black 22-inch rims.
For 2023, both the Wagoneer and the Grand Wagoneer are available with a longer wheelbase that grows by an identical 7 inches to 130 inches. These “L” variants see their overall length extend an entire foot to 226.7 inches. For comparison, the similarly sized Chevy Suburban is 225.7 inches long, and the stretched version of the more luxurious Cadillac Escalade ESV is 227.0 inches long. All Jeep Wagoneers—regardless of wheelbase or grandness—stand between 74.6 and 77.3 inches tall and measure nearly 84 inches wide. Those dimensions might be worth considering for shoppers with garages or parking spots that are on the smaller side.
Interior Differences
Inside, the Grand Wagoneer is more luxurious, with a slightly different dashboard layout as well as nicer leather and wood trim compared with the Wagoneer. The latter has a standard second-row bench seat that provides room for as many as eight passengers. A set of second-row captain’s chairs are also optional, but that configuration means there’s one less seat in the middle. The Grand Wagoneer is the opposite and comes standard with the seven-passenger layout (the second-row bench is optional).
Those considering the long-wheelbase Wagoneers should know their interior passenger volume is similar to their shorter counterparts. However, the L models have considerably more cargo space. The Wagoneer L offers between 42 and 131 cubes of cargo volume, depending on which rows of seats are stowed; the regular Wagoneer has between 27 and 117 cubes. It’s also worth noting that the Grand Wagoneer L has a little less passenger space (173 cubic feet versus 176), but it has much more cargo space than the non-L Grand, providing an extra 19 cubes (113 total) behind the first row and an extra 17 cubes (44 total) behind the third.
Convenience Features, Safety, and Tech
Optional features exclusive to the Grand Wagoneer include four-zone climate control, 24-way power seats, and a McIntosh audio system with more speakers. Not only does the Grand Wagoneer offer more screens on the dash and for rear-seat passengers, its available screens are also larger than in the Wagoneer.
Both models have a host of driver-assistance technology. Along with available adaptive cruise control, a self-parking function, and night vision with pedestrian and animal detection, the Wagoneers come standard with the following safety features:
- Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
Wagoneer Infotainment
Every Wagoneer packs a robust infotainment system that runs through a 10.1-inch center touchscreen. A separate 10.3-inch display that faces the front-seat passenger is also available, and it provides entertainment and navigation functions. The Uconnect 5 system also includes built-in navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa functionality, and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot. A rear-seat entertainment system with a pair of 10.1-inch displays is optional.
Grand Wagoneer Infotainment
The Grand Wagoneer’s infotainment system brings an even larger 12.0-inch center touchscreen plus another touch display below it that measures 10.2 inches. This lower unit provides controls for the HVAC system and other functions. As with the regular Wagoneer, a 10.3-inch front-passenger display is also available. The Grand model has the same popular standard features, from wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to Amazon Alexa functionality and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotpsot. Those sitting in the second row are privy to another 10.3-inch touchscreen between the captain’s chairs, and there’s an optional rear-seat entertainment system with dual 10.1-inch touchscreens.
Wagoneer Powertrain
A 392-hp 5.7-liter V-8 is the Wagoneer’s base engine, but it’s only available on the entry-level trim. What’s more, a 420-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six is a no-cost option. That “Hurricane” engine is also standard on every other Wagoneer, including all L variants. It pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear- or various all-wheel-drive systems. Those who need to tow a trailer can tug up to 10,000 pounds.
Fuel Economy
The 2023 Jeep Wagoneer with the V-8 and all-wheel drive has the worst EPA estimates, at 15 mpg city and 20 mpg highway. Pairing rear-drive with the turbo six brings estimates of 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway; opting for all-wheel drive drops both figures by 1 mpg.
Grand Wagoneer Powertrain
A 471-hp 6.4-liter V-8 is the Grand Wagoneer’s entry-level engine, but it’s only available on the base model. The rest of the lineup, including all long-wheelbase versions, feature a high-output Hurricane twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six that makes 510 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque. Every Grand Wagoneer has an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, although the latter is offered with different levels of capability. It’s rated to tow up to 9860 pounds too.
Fuel Economy
The 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer with the V-8 earns a lowly 13 mpg city and 18 mpg highway, per the EPA. While the six-cylinder isn’t much better, with mpg estimates of 14 city, 20 highway for the standard wheelbase and 14 city, 19 highway for the long wheelbase, the latter performed slightly better than advertised in our 75-mph fuel-economy test, earning 20 mpg.
Wagoneer Pricing
The 2023 Jeep Wagoneer with rear-wheel drive starts at $62,670, which is several thousand dollars more than the full-size, body-on-frame Chevy Tahoe and Ford Expedition. Jeep charges an extra $3000 for all-wheel drive on all Wagoneer models, which we expect to be the volume sellers. With AWD included, the Series II and Series III start at $70,790 and $76,810, respectively. The Wagoneer Series II Carbide 4×4 starts at $74,485. Base prices for the long-wheelbase, all-wheel-drive Wagoneer L models are listed below:
- 4×4: $68,670
- Series II: $73,790
- Series II Carbide: $77,485
- Series III: $79,810
Grand Wagoneer Pricing
The 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer starts at $91,645, which is nearly $10K more than full-size, body-on-frame luxury SUVs such as the Cadillac Escalade and the Lincoln Navigator. Stepping up from the entry-level Grand Wagoneer to the Series II pushes the starting price to $97,995, and the Series III opens at $111,145. The long-wheelbase adds another $3250 to the Grand Wagoneer’s base trim level and $3000 to the others. The Obsidian treatment costs an extra $995 with the top-spec Series III, but it’s a $5495 option with the Series II because it adds more content.
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Senior Editor
Eric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.