What’s the difference between a Wagoneer and a Grand Wagoneer? If you answered one’s bigger, I’m afraid that’s incorrect. If you answered that one has more chrome give yourself half points. If you answered that one’s posher than the other but otherwise identical, you nailed it, and that’s the problem of the Wagoneer. Thankfully, it seems like a rationalization may be coming, as Mopar Insiders reports that simplification could be coming as soon as next year.
After months of speculation and dealership whispers, it appears the Jeep® Wagoneer nameplate is on its way out. Multiple Jeep dealers are now confirming that the company plans to discontinue the standard Wagoneer after the 2025 model year, consolidating the lineup under the more prestigious Grand Wagoneer name for 2026.
While the idea of breaking out an upmarket trim variant of an existing car worked decades ago when automaker lineups were small, we’ve long since reached such a level of hyper-individualization that it ended up being confusing. Five years ago, you could’ve told someone that one luxury brand sells a crossover specifically tailored to people with hyperbolic paraboloid-shaped hair and another for people who only order beef on the left side of their pizzas, and they’d have believed you. Lineups became bloated, and people got confused.
Of course, another fad beyond excessive individualization that Jeep latched onto was trying to turn Wagoneer into its own sub-brand, which didn’t seem to really work. After all, the model’s nameplate didn’t have more equity than the Jeep nameplate, and showrooms were crowded enough with Chryslers, Jeeps, Dodges, Rams, and sometimes Fiats and Alfa Romeos being sold out of the same space.
Thankfully, if the report is to come true, clarity should be just around the corner. Not only might every body-on-frame three-row Jeep be a Grand Wagoneer, but normal Jeep trim levels might replace the Series I, Series II, Series III hierarchy. Indeed, Mopar Insiders uncovered a trademark for Grand Wagoneer Summit, like the Grand Cherokee Summit. If this happens, it ought to make comparing big versus medium SUVs on the showroom floor a little bit easier.
I’ve reached out to Jeep and will keep you updated as soon as I hear back, but this report does seem promising for now. Examples of Jeep’s flagship body-on-frame SUV probably should’ve all been Grand Wagoneer models from the start, and there definitely should be greater differentiation now that the electric unibody Wagoneer S is a thing. Will anyone miss the standard Wagoneer nameplate? Maybe a few people who already own one, but for everyone else, amalgamation could be a good thing. In any case, this might explain why Jeep has teased the 2026 Grand Wagoneer but not the 2026 Wagoneer. Food for thought.
Top graphic image: Jeep
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While they are cleaning up this naming mess, are they also gonna rename the “Wagoneer S” and give it a more logical/less stupid name?
For one thing, it’s the size of the SWB Grand Cherokee, not the Wagoneer. So they should call it something like the “Grand Cherokee Electric” or give it a completely different name like ‘Commander’ since it doesn’t actually share anything with the Grand Cherokee
The Cherokee-e
That would be even more stupid… which is why there is a good chance they’ll do it. LOL
Not just a Dodge Caravan, but a GRAND Caravan.
Not just a Plymouth Voyager, but a GRAND Voyager
Not just a Jeep Wagneer, but a GRAND Wagoneer.
While we are at it, I declare that a Manwich Casserole is to be called a Grand Manwich:
https://www.cravingsofalunatic.com/sloppy-joe-casserole/
Not just a Stelantis fuckup…
A GRAND feature, not a bug.
But the upcharge is more than one GRAND. I think they need to add some more GRANDs to those names.
The Wagoneer variants were doomed the moment Stellanis decided it was a good idea to first bring the nearly identical if (slightly) smaller and downmarket Grand Cheokee L to market instead of using it’s platform to replace the Durango.
As for the Wagoneers, it was a missed opportunity to expand the Ram portfolio beyond pickups and work vans. With a change in styling to fit the Ram lineup, the Wagoneers could’ve completed more directly with the Tahoe and Expedition.
And they missed another opportunity to put all the Ram models back under Dodge.
I almost got one of these as a rental, but the Expedition had more cargo room, so it won. It did look a little more interesting inside, at least from the quick peek in the windows in the Las Vegas airport rental garage.
I didn’t even realize there was a non-Grand Wagoneer in the lineup…
Neither did any Stellantis customers.
I want to know if that means all will come with the HO engine or not. I also want a version with the TRX suspension. I don’t mind the looks and it’s easy to drive. Just wish it had a bigger trunk…
Can we have the Wagoneer be rebranded as a Ram? maybe underpin it with the TRX suspension and offer it with the NA BGE 392 as the in between lower price option over the 800 Hellcat powered variant. You could I suppose leave the turbo six for the STX and if need be plug in the Erev drive train to get enough fuel economy numbers for those that wish it?
I agree these things are ugly and the names were confusing. However to be fair, look back at the whole history of the big auto makers: From year to year they are continually changing names and adding or removing small details from year to year. So removing the “grand” from the name is exactly in line with what’s been happening for over 100 years now.
I’m all confused by this naming convention.There was/is a Cherokee and a Grand Cherokee. Perfectly fine, they were different enough vehicles of the same kind, although many out of Jeep circles people often refer to GC as Cherokee in common speak. Originally XJ and ZJ were much more aligned to reflect that name difference.
I don’t understand the Grand Wagoneer and Wagoneer distinction, which is bad enough, and then we have Wagoneer S, which … WT actual F? Not as stupid as Ford calling Explorer in Yurop what is definitely not an Explorer but still pretty stupid.
TIL that there’s a Wagoneer, AND a Grand Wagoneer.
Jeep already figured this out… with the Grand Wagoneer. They killed the cheaper version with the introduction of the XJ, though they did briefly replace it with the very awkward but cool XJ based Wagoneer.
If you’re going to build a big old luxury boat, just commit. Sell a cheaper one under a different brand, or better yet, sell the “Grand” version as a Chrysler, and sell the cheap one as a Dodge.
I am in the jeep cult. I have had 5 jeeps and read everything I can. I go to jeep exclusive off road events and am in jeep clubs and I do NOT care a bit about this ugly thing other than a tiny feeling of loathing and sadness. They are completely effing this into the ground. If people want a Suburban they will just buy a Suburban. Why oh Why do they need dozens of models/trims/packages for this thing.
Did they learn NOTHING from the failed blinged out Commander failure.
IF they HAVE to sell something like this (bigger than a Grand Cherokee 3 row) then make it 2 models one luxury (puke) and one off road/overlanding friendly.
OR help out everyone and kill it off.
“Did they learn NOTHING from the failed blinged out Commander failure.”
They learned… but then they forgot. Probably because the people who learned got downsized out of a job after the stupid fca-psa merger that created the stellantis monstrosity we have today.
This is going to sound bitchy, but i’m rather happy to report I’ve never seen either of these atrocities in the flesh (in Seattle region)
Lucky you. If you do it will be like looking at an uncanny valley Suburban.
They’re coming to an ICE raid near you.
They’re in the rental car lots at the airport
Go to Yellowstone. It was like every 4th rental vehicle in a geyser or hot springs parking area.
Just like in the early 1990s Yellowstone was filled with 1st gen. Olds Bravadas.
You must not spend any time on the east side. Woodinville & Kirkland are filthy with these things.
Wise men avoid wouldn’tville and kirkland.
It seems like lately several makes are having trouble with naming, Toyota with the BusyForks, Ford with the (Mustang)Mach-e, Jeep with this, Chevy with the Volt which was good but then the follow it with the Bolt, like really? Not even going to get into Cadillac’s whole mess the last 10 years. It shouldn’t be this hard.
I had a Volt and currently a Bolt EUV. The REAL problem is that the Bolt EV and the Bolt EUV are TWO SEPARATE VEHICLES that share only the drivetrain – literally everything else is different; EUV is slightly wider and 4″ longer, yet they look nearly the same. Even the wipers are completely different systems. Bolt EV is a Chevy car, Bolt EUV is classified as an SUV and actually a GMC “product” sold through Chevy dealers – i’m guessing in order to help with GMC’s CAFE.
I had a Volt and moved to a regular Bolt EV, good cars, just terribly confusing. I always think they had no idea they were going to make the Bolt when they named the Volt, otherwise they could’ve gone with E-Cruze or something for the Volt(as that’s what it ended up being), and saved Volt for the pure EV. Also as you say the EUV was completely different except the motor/battery, so could’ve called it something else like Sunrunner.
Still can’t believe Chevy went with Bolt over Volt. Maybe it was to prevent Ford from using it as a special edition “Bolt” trim for the F-150 Lightning. Otherwise they had the perfect model name. Still baffled they discontinued that car.
Shouldn’t they focus on making sure nobody is illegally sneaking Ugly Sticks into the design meetings?
I have a special disdain for cars that are well built, fancy, yet still appalling to look at. It’s like they should know better. I give low-end cars a pass because they’re trying to hit a price point, focus on function over style, etc.
For whatever reason, I’m not bothered by the presence of any other full-size SUV (beyond the fact that I drive a lot of 2-lane roads and there’s an existential crisis with each one that passes)
Not only is it confusingly named, it’s absolutely hideous.
Jeep missed a chance to offer a distinctive greenhouse with stellar outward visibility.
Should call it the 100 Grand Wagoneer.
Quick check, it’s even more than that. Yikes.
Never understood why the electric Wagoneer didn’t get a different name all together. They could have made the long Wagoneer the “Grand” and the short one the “Wagoneer.”
The whole “longer one is grand” seems to be working.for the Highlander.
Also worked for the Grand Caravan and Grand Voyager
Finally… never understood what the point was to begin with
The only difference other than badging that I could tell between the regular and the grand, the windows have like a pink-ish or purple tint, I dont know if its a special tint for fancy vehicles but its not very common, its usually dark for a lot of cars, specially SUVs.
This headline informed me that there was apparently a “Wagoneer” and a “Grand Wagoneer.” I had no idea. It seems they’ve made the right call here.
Still hate them though. They are SOOOO ugly and malproportioned.
And they should have just gone with “Wagoneer” for the simplicity and historical context. But NOOOOO….wouldn’t want to offend people who already paid more for the Grand Wagoneer.
Ain’t life Grand?
I’ve had them as rentals. They drive lousy. The Suburban is the king of that hill.
Lmao so they’re getting rid of the vaguely attainable regular Wagoneer and forcing everyone into the *checks notes* six figure Grand Wagoneer instead? I get that the median Stellantis buyer isn’t the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree and that through the magic of the our tried, true, and incredibly American body on frame financing magic Stellantis will probably be able to put people who make $60,000 a year into them for the low low price of $1,499 a month…but the people calling the shots do realize what a precarious position the truck industrial complex is in right now, right? RIGHT?!?!
Lol who am I kidding. Line go UP!!!!
I imagine they are still throwing a lot of money on the hood to move these vehicles. I don’t think that is going to change. They are just calling all of them Grand Wagoneers regardless of the spec. An the current Grand Wagoneer will now be the Summit edition.
Yeah this dawned on me after I wrote my comment, but I simply can’t resist getting a dig at the Truck Industrial Complex in
I was saying this from the beginning. SWB should have been Wagoneer and LWB should have been Grand Wagoneer. The trim levels shouldn’t also be the model names.
Ha, literally last night I was in a parking lot and saw a Wagoneer drive by me, noticed how long it was, and assumed it was a Grand Wagoneer because I thought they were longer. But then I noticed it had just standard Wagoneer badging which was confusing. Thanks for clearing this up for me!
They should have made the SWB the Wagoneer and LWB Grand Wagoneer because that’s literally what everybody thinks the difference is anyways.
It’s literally the convention that they used to use. Grand simply meant bigger.
Yeah because Ford and GM do have 2 sizes. The jeep is longer than a Tahoe, but not as long as a Suburban
The Wagoneer comes in two different sizes as well.
Standard:
“L”:
Oh. So there are two different variants, just not based on normal vs Grand Cherokee? Huh.
Yup, and now you know one of the reasons why nobody is buying them
I had no idea and always assumed that Grand meant large.
Chrysler is making a habit out of introducing a ‘Grand’ version of a vehicle and then discontinuing the non-Grand version, thereby making the nameplate no longer grand.