Even though the penalties for exceeding fleet emissions quotas have essentially been waived, electrified cars are still going to happen. Many have been in development for years, so why change plans just short of the finish line? In that spirit, Jeep just released what sure seems to be the first official photo of the range-extender hybrid Grand Wagoneer 4xe. There’s a lot to dig into here, but first, we need to talk about the updated styling.
Since brevity is the soul of wit or whatever, Jeep has dropped just one photo, no information other than that it’ll arrive later this year, and you know what? That’s still enough to form an opinion. This leering, aggressive facelift is exactly what the Grand Wagoneer needed.
Look, this current full-sized Grand Wagoneer (pictured below; only offered with a gas engine) has never been a tasteful vehicle. Sure, it can be equipped with plenty of wood and a McIntosh audio system, but that’s like putting a Louis XV daybed and a Steinway in a McMansion. The overall wrapper is still ostentatious in a somewhat gauche way, and in an era of conspicuous consumption, the easiest way to enhance the visual impact is to double down on the original statement.
To that point, Jeep’s shrunk its seven-slot grille and fitted a massive, uninterrupted trapezoidal lower grill to really make the 2026 Grand Wagoneer look like it’s leering at you. Not only does it draw your eye away from the still-questionable pillar treatment, it manages to be both polarizing and well-executed. The modest and the Jeep-faithful will probably hate it, but the sort of people used to Escalades will probably like it.
More than that, turning the seven-slot grille into a sort of faux-grille waterfall lighting piece builds a familial link with the electric Wagoneer S (pictured below), an olive branch the battery-powered midsizer needs. At the moment, it looks a bit like a Jeep but not especially like a Wagoneer, so updating the Grand Wagoneer to match is a prudent way of carrying some DNA upmarket. Since it’s not like the Wagoneer S has been a top-seller, it’s the sort of move Jeep can afford to make, and I reckon it’ll work on the whole.
As for other details about the facelifted Jeep Grand Wagoneer, the brand isn’t officially saying anything, but there are some huge guesses that can be made from this teaser image featuring curious eight-lug hubs and what appears to be a charging flap in the front fender. We already know that the Grand Wagoneer shares a degree of commonality with the Ram 1500 pickup truck. That truck normally doesn’t come with eight-lug hubs unless it’s an electrified model. Could this be Jeep’s way of announcing that the long-awaited Grand Wagoneer range-extender hybrid first announced in 2022 is finally on its way? I reckon it very well could, as some degree of electrification is the only way some details on this official rendering make sense.
If the Grand Wagoneer does end up using the Ramcharger’s range-extender hybrid powertrain, expect a huge battery pack under the floor for seriously usable range, then a 3.6-liter naturally aspirated Pentastar V6 as a generator for when you’re out of juice. It would be a smart play considering the hybrid full-size body-on-frame SUV segment is essentially wide-open, and having an onboard generator is a huge plus over something like a battery-only Escalade IQ if you’re someone who tows frequently. Considering Jeep announced plans for a Wagoneer 4xe range-extender hybrid last year, this sure seems like our first official look at it.
So yeah, the new Grand Wagoneer leans into the archetype it’s always embodied, and that commitment to the bit actually makes it look less frumpy. Plus, it’s looking like it’ll offer a range-extender hybrid powertrain, which would go a long way to alleviate the complaints of thirst that this model’s always elicited. Needless to say, we’re excited to learn more about what’s under the hood. Battery pack sizing, official EPA range, everything. All in due time, right?
(Top graphic image: Jeep)
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9 or 10 bolt wheels? Like most stop at 6.
Main photo looks to be an 8 lugs which is common among 3/4 ton trucks would be weird for this to have it though.
Normally you’d want as few lugs as possible, but as your GVWR increases you are mandated to have more, and rightly so. It used to be my favorite way of determining the otherwise identical looking “good” GMT800 SUV’s and the “bad” ones, but I was only interested in a cheap used tow rig that fits a garage.
So now that they’re finally putting the Jeep name on the car, they get rid of the 7-slot grille? LOL
Three consecutive pieces featuring topshots with some form of “What’s this,” with varying degrees of punctuation and profanity. This is a befuddling afternoon in Autopia!
It’s the YouTube-ification of all our media. Only thing missing is the headshot with the annoying expression on their face like all YT thumbnails.
It’s still a $40,000 vehicle asking for Neiman Marcus prices. The only thing I would love to get my hands on is the McIntosh system.
+1
I notice they ditched that ridiculous chrome window trim for blackout pieces. It’s small improvement. It’s not slightly less gauche.
Design isn’t for me, but then again I’ve pretty much given up on car design. I look at it like the Grammys or whatever music awards. Do I know anyone that’s up for awards? No. Does it bother me? No.
At this point I expect everything to look ugly to me and am pleasantly surprised when it’s not completely ugly.
Nice Range Rover Sport SV. Really wish Jeep stops blatantly copying Range Rover and stick to their own heritage. It’s embarrassing, reminds me of the Chinese knockoffs during the 2000’s.
Wait, are you saying the electric Wagoneer S is already on sale? I missed that.
Me too…I honestly thought it was only announced!
Me third did not even know there was any fully electric jeeps out yet color me surprised.
I’m shocked there’s no outrage over this. People are OK with letting things slide backwards.
No but we’re currently occupied by the enemy that controls all levers of federal government.
Every time I look at it, I hate it less, so good job, I guess.
when did it become okay for family wagons and mall mobiles to get 8 lug axles and how can i make this stop
In defense of how it looks, I think it’s better than the current Suburban / Yukon XL it competes against, unfortunately.
Understandable. For me, it’s just visceral — Wagoneer is the only vehicle in the segment that makes me instinctively react negatively. It’s the first car since Aztek and Juke to do that to me, and it hasn’t grown on me at all.
Most of it is the excessive paint where it should be glass or at least gloss black trim. The visual result makes it look like even more of a bunker than it already is. GM and Ford both figured out their proportions, but Jeep has had two strikeouts in designing a 3-row: First the Commander and now this one.
EREV is a great idea in the segment, but I sure hope it’s not just an uptuned I-4 like the Grand Cherokee. It really kills the sense of refinement when the ICE is running (like a maniacal hamster!)
Also, this is still ugly. Mascara and veneers on a pig. Maybe the EREV powertrain will be good, but it’ll be too big and expensive to sell in any real quantities.
A co-worker just bought a Grand Wagoneer after cross shopping. Was it the best? No. Was it the cheapest because the dealer was marking them way the heck down? Yes! So I agree with you here. If it weren’t for the fact that they are NOT selling, I don’t think they ever would sell in any amount.
I honestly had forgotten the Wagoneer S was a thing because of how little they advertise it.
I test drove one last night.
If you’re in the market for a Blazer EV and want a slightly quirkier alternative it’s fine.
The dealership was not in a hurry to move theirs, though.
I really look forward to Mopar’s EREV powertrain. I want to see how it does out in the real world, but I honestly have high hopes. If I’m super honest, I really hope its awesome enough that I can look forward to building a custom vintage truck or SUV on top of this chassis one day.
I like the new front end. But the side shot still seems to have my biggest pet peeve of this design. To me, the rounded bottom corners and sharp upper corners on the door windows makes them look like they got installed upside down. I don’t like that aesthetic at all.
Somehow I hadn’t noticed that. Now I can’t unsee it. So, thanks for that?
I’d love to see the back, which in the current model just looks unfinished and very clumsy.
Yeah agree a lot with Thomas’ assessment here, the old one was pretty horrendous looking and this is a big improvement.
And if they really do the EREV thing it can really differentiate itself in the larger towing-capable 3 row segment, and they might actually take some Suburban/Escalade/Expedition sales with this.
Also based on the 8 lug design I have to think this is an EREV, don’t think a PHEV would add enough weight to necessitate 8 lugs (hell, our new ID. Buzz is 6000 lbs and has the same 5 lug bolt pattern as my old Golf!)
The wagoneer is supposed to be a horse trailer rig. If you’re not gonna put the wood trim on, at least put the horse trailer on the damn thing in the marketing materials!
I kind of hate to say it since I don’t think “leering, aggressive facelifts” are ever what a car needs, but it does look much better this way. The blacked out trim around the windows helps a lot.
I will never need a car this big, but it’s intriguing. I’m all for more EREV’s and am curious to see how this one plays out.
I predict a lot of snarky comments here as well, but this has the potential to be very cool and a welcome addition to the full size SUV powertrain choices. Ditching the Hurricane is probably a good thing for reliability.
Arguably a better fit for my lifestyle than the short bed-only Ram Charger.
Color me interested to hear more.
I will not poo-poo this. If we’re going to be stuck sharing roads with bloated, body on frame, 6,000+ pound monstrosities for eternity (which it’s beginning to feel like we will) I’d prefer that we find a way to make them less wasteful. An EREV fits the bill.
At least the engine will be off in the Starbucks drive through
Elementary school drop-off line
I agree with your assessment. I still don’t want one, but I think a number of people will be interested in PHEV luxo-barge SUV.