Jeep formally unveiled its first fully-electric vehicle in New York City on Thursday: a large, upscale SUV called the Wagoneer S.
The Stellantis NV brand has teased the new SUV as competing on performance with the best-selling Tesla Model Y. But the initial version of the new Jeep — to be known as the Wagoneer S Launch Edition — will cost a bit more than that Tesla, with a starting price of $71,995, including the $1,795 destination fee.
That price puts it firmly in the luxury electric SUV landscape, amid vehicles such as the Cadillac Lyriq (starting at $57,195), the Rivian R1S ($76,700), the Audi Q8 e-tron ($74,400) or the Genesis Electrified GV70 ($67,800).
The Wagoneer S will be built on the new STLA Large platform at Stellantis'Toluca Assembly Plant in Mexico, where the Jeep Compass is made. It will hit dealers in the United States and Canada in the fall, and is eventually expected to be offered in other markets worldwide. Reservations open Friday morning.
Jeep currently offers plug-in hybrid versions of the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee. But more fully-electric offerings beyond the Wagoneer S are coming. Jeep has said it plans to launch the Recon SUV, better suited to serious off-roading and similar to the Wrangler, late in the year. And on Wednesday, CEO Carlos Tavaressaid at a New York conference there would a $25,000 Jeep EV available in the United States in the near future.
"In the same way we brought the 20,000 euro Citroën e-C3 (a small hatchback in Europe), you will have a $25,000 Jeep very soon, because we are using the same expertise," Tavares said.
Antonio Filosa, Jeep's CEO, said in a statement that the Wagoneer S marks "a new chapter in the storied history of the Jeep brand."
Here are five things to know about the new Wagoneer S.
1) It's quick. Jeep says the four-wheel-drive SUV's 600 horsepower and 617 pound-feet of torque can send it to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, just barely faster than a Tesla Model Y Performance. It has five drive modes: Auto, Sport, Eco, Snow and Sand.
2) Solid range. The Wagoneer S can go "more than" 300 miles (483 km) on a charge, Jeep says. That's in the same ballpark as many other electric SUVs. The battery can be charged from 20% to 80% in 23 minutes with a DC fast charger, the brand says. The vehicle comes with a level-two home charger, or public charging credits through the Stellantis subsidiary Free2move Charge.
3) Big screens, luxury interior. The interior includes more than 45 inches of screens, including a 12-inch centre display. Many of the vehicle's touch points are made of a black ceramic-coating aluminium, Jeep said, and the seats are made of a non-leather synthetic material. The launch edition includes red accent stitching and metal decorative trim. A 19-speaker McIntosh audio system is included.
4) Aerodynamic exterior. Designers said they focused on making the SUV as sleek as possible, including with its sloping roofline design and rear spoiler. Jeep claims that thanks to these features and others — like shields placed underneath the vehicle, and a closed-off grille — the Wagoneer S is the most aerodynamic offering from the brand to date.
5) Tax credits. Prices have not yet been announced nor has Jeep given a release date for international sales. But Jeep executives said the Wagoneer S will qualify for the US Inflation Reduction Act's $3,750 EV tax credit (not the maximum $7,500), though leased Wagoneers will still be able to get the full amount.
