We May Get the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer by 2019

2018 jeep cherokee xl stretch spy shots ptototypes
2018 Jeep Cherokee prototypes (by William H.)

The Jeep Grand Wagoneer and the Jeep Wagoneer are reported to reenter the SUV fray some time in 2019. While we have seen a few interesting Jeep models testing in Michigan and Colorado, we think we have an idea as to which vehicle is which. The Jeep Wagoneer may be based on a stretched version of the Jeep Cherokee (KL) “Wide” platform which may have a small third row seating section, similar in size to the Dodge Durango, but on a separate platform.

We’ve seen examples of the Jeep Wagoneer testing.

The outgoing Dodge Durango (which is based on a stretched Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 platform) may be a bit smaller than the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. This all-new Jeep Grand Wagoneer should be based on the replacement (stretched) platform for the next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee. We’ve heard of test mules being sighted in Michigan.

2018-jeep-cherokee-4
Jeep brand head, Mike Manley, recently stated in an interview with Automotive News that these vehicles would be making a return.

“The Wagoneer name represents, historically, the pinnacle of premium for the Jeep world,” he said. “But in the same way as you may have an Overland and a Summit, you have different trim levels. So you could imagine the use of Wagoneer to denote a really premium vehicle, and Grand Wagoneer takes it to the very next level. If you were to use that as your naming strategy, that’s exactly how I would use the trims.” – – Automotive News

One of the curious parts regarding the manufacturing of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer is where Jeep has announced its construction, according to CEO Sergio Marchionne, the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer would be built at FCA’s Warren Truck Assembly complex where the Ram 1500 is currently built. While good for Detroit, MI jobs, it’s curious that a unit-body SUV and a car-based SUV would be bolted together at the same place as the body-on-frame Ram 1500.

What do you think?

Speaking of Jeep SUVs…