The 2024 Wagoneer S Drives Jeep onto Electric Avenue

Jeep has rolled out its long-awaited battery-electric vehicle following several years of popularity for its 4xe plug-in hybrid models. The 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S bears only a passing resemblance to the company’s full-size combustion-powered Wagoneer family SUV, with just two rows of seating, chiseled grille, and a sloping low-drag roofline.

The midsize dimensions and sleek roofline make the Wagoneer S more of an electric analog for the Grand Cherokee. This new 600-horsepower, 300-mile EV starts at $72,000, including destination charges, for the Launch Edition. The Wagoneer S qualifies for the $7,500 federal tax credit, helping reduce the purchase price, and it can be expected that following the special Launch Edition there should be lower-priced variants available.

Torque is rated at 617 lb.-ft., contributing to 0-60 mph acceleration of 3.4 seconds. Top speed is 124 mph. The EPA estimates a 99 miles per gallon equivalent efficiency rating.

2024 Jeep Wagoneer S. STELLANTIS

“The launch of the all-electric Jeep Wagoneer S marks a new chapter in the storied history of the Jeep brand,” said Antonio Filosa, Jeep brand CEO. “Building upon nearly a century of innovation and design, this first global EV will introduce a whole new generation of owners to an experience that is distinctly Jeep and 100 percent electric in every way."

Related:On the Road in the 2024 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid

Jeep says that the Wagoneer S’s 400-volt, 100-kilowatt-hour battery pack will charge from 20-80 percent in 23 minutes, which based on the predicted 300-mile range would equal adding 180 miles in that time. For home charging, the Launch Edition includes a 48-amp Level 2 AC home charging station with the vehicle purchase. Alternatively, customers can choose to receive public charging credits through Free2Move Charge.

The Wagoneer S rolls on the Stellantis STLA Large EV platform, which has the flexibility for engineers to adjust the platform’s length and width along with modifying the suspension and powertrain configurations to tailor it specifically for the Jeep Wagoneer S.

The STLA Large platform can accomodate both 400-volt battery packs like the one in the Wagoneer and 800-volt packs. STELLANTIS

This drivetrain uses integrated drive modules that incorporate the electric motor, gearbox, and power electronics into a single unit for each axle, providing power to all four wheels. The front module includes a disconnect, so the front axle can freewheel for reduced parasitic drag and maximum range when all-wheel traction is not needed. The Jeep Selec-Terrain traction system includes five driving modes: Auto, Sport, Eco, Snow, and Sand.

The 2024 Wagoneer S Launch Edition will include the current SAE Combined Charge System charging port rather than the Tesla-style North American Charging System port that virtually all automakers will employ in coming years. STELLANTIS

The company says that the application of new technologies and techniques contributed to a 35 percent increase in torsional rigidity compared to the Grand Cherokee, which provides reduced noise and vibration, a smoother ride, improved handling, and crisper response to steering input.

Related:Stellantis Large EV Platform Claims 500-Mile Range

The sculpted body shell cuts through the air more efficiently too, with a 0.29 coefficient of drag. That is Jeep’s lowest-ever number, according to the company, and it comes courtesy of an integrated system of underbody shields, three-dimensional shaped front tire spats, and unique side-sill design, which all direct airflow smoothly around the tires and to the rear of the vehicle.

Jeep says the Wagoneer's dashboard features 45 inches of display screen space. STELLANTIS

Inside, the Wagoneer S features a full-width dashboard display with 45 inches of screen space. The steering wheel is wrapped with a new Cabo vinyl anti-microbial surface coating, and other front-row touch points feature a new black ceramic-coated aluminum with haptic applique that appears on many of the vehicle’s touch points.

The Wagoneer S incorporates recycled resources and materials, while the seats, console, doors, and instrument panel surfaces feature a non-leather synthetic material. The headliner is a premium microfiber suede and the vehicle’s carpet is comprised of recycled pre- and post-consumer materials.

Jeep says the 2024 Wagoneer S will reach U.S. and Canadian customers in fall 2024, with other markets to follow.

Related:Chrysler Halcyon Concept Showcases Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

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