When we had our chance to get behind the wheel of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, we immediately fell in love with the sheer amount of luxury and capability that this rolling penthouse brought to the table. However, fuel economy was a spectre that prominently hung over it. Jeep has not only addressed that gremlin but also added more space with the all-new Grand Wagoneer and Wagoneer L models.
Stand Back; There’s A Hurricane Coming Through
The 2023 Wagoneer family is bringing more to buyers, including a brand new engine. Dubbed the Hurricane, Jeep claims that the new turbocharged inline-six will produce 420 hp in the standard model, while Grand versions get a “510” variant that boosts power to 510 hp.
Both of those figures are higher than the 5.7 and 6.4-liter models currently used, but while Jeep is promising that the L’s engine will shed weight, the fuel economy play is not as noticeable as we first thought, with the I6 in 2WD guise rated at 17 mpg city, 23 mpg freeway, and 19 mpg combined. Adding four-wheel drive reduces that to 16/22/19, which is still paltry for the segment.
The Grand Wagoneer L makes more power, which also eats into mileage, with the model only recording a one mpg gain in all three categories (14/19/16 mpg) versus the 6.4 liter’s 13/18/15 mileage figures.
More Cargo Room For All
Slip inside the Grand Wagoneer L, and you’ll feel like you have fallen into a mirror world with these models having all the same features as the short versions. They even have the same amount of third-row legroom.
The main difference is in the cargo room, where the L models make full use of the extra length. The 44.2 cubic feet of cargo room is up from a mere 27.4, more than the Cadillac Escalade ESV and the GMC Yukon XL. Fold the third row down, and the space expands to 88.2 cubic feet, which is outright cavernous.
When Can I Buy It?
Jeep didn’t release pricing for the Wagoneer L lineup but look for the extra length at a premium versus a standard version. An all-new Carbide appearance package is also available, which is essentially a glorified black-out package for the big ute.
With the Hurricane signaling the first step in the Wagoneer’s performance evolution, it will be interesting to see how things play out once the new inline-six is paired with hybrid technology.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.