History of the Jeep Wagoneer
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Introduced in 1962, the Jeep Wagoneer spent thirty years at the top of the SUV segment, providing drivers with superior comfort, style, and all-terrain capabilities. The Wagoneer was considered the father of the premium SUV. Following its 1991 discontinuation, the legend of the Wagoneer remained and was considered an icon in the industry. In 2022, the Wagoneer returned as a premium extension of the Jeep brand, reclaiming its former title as the top premium SUV. With roots tracing back to the 1960s, the Wagoneer is rich with history that can still be seen in the current model. Below on this page, you can learn more about the Wagoneer and how it has evolved into the fantastic SUV it is today.
1960s Jeep Wagoneer
Also known as the Full-Size Jeep, the Jeep Wagoneer was introduced for the 1963 model year, replacing the former Willys utility wagons. When creating the Wagoneer, Jeep set out to provide its customers with an SUV that had the capability of a 4x4 while also bringing the comfort, style, and convenience of an everyday passenger car. In its original form, the Wagoneer had a 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine named "Tornado" by Willys. The single overhead cam engine came with two transmission options: a three-speed manual or automatic transmission. This setup powered either the rear wheels or all four wheels with a part-time four-wheel drive system. Unlike most four-wheel-drive SUVs at the time, the Wagoneer used manual locking hubs to disengage or engage the front wheels to switch into and out of the four-wheel drive. In 1965, Jeep added safety features to the Wagoneer, including a high-impact windshield, a dual braking system, rear seatbelts, and a padded dashboard. In the later months of 1965, Jeep introduced what became a more popular engine, a V8 with a 5.4L displacement. The Wagoneer SJ was produced and remodeled for over 28 years. In 1966, Jeep introduced the Super Wagoneer, giving the Wagoneer a more luxurious look and feel. It stood out from the basic Wagoneer with a more modern appearance and a full-width grille. Under the hood of the Super Wagoneer, you still found the popular 5.4L V8 engine, but it was tuned for 270 horsepower. The Super Wagoneer added more comfort and convenience, including a push-button radio, power steering, power brakes, ceiling lights, air conditioning, a power-retracting rear window, a console-mounted automatic transmission shift knob, and a seven-position tilting steering wheel. These features were some of the most advanced in the automotive industry at the time.
1970s Wagoneer Upgrades
In 1969, Jeep introduced the 5.7L Dauntless V8 from Buick, which provided more torque than its predecessor, the 5.4L V8 from AMC. However, Wagoneer switched back to the AMC engines in 1971. Fast-forward to 1973, and you'll find that Jeep introduced the Quadra-Trac 4x4 system to widen the appeal of Jeep vehicles, including the Wagoneer, by providing the benefits of 4x4 without using locking hubs, instead, using a center differential. The 1974 model year brought the production of front disc brakes for the Wagoneer. In 1978, Jeep rolled out the Wagoneer Limited to bring new life to the Super Wagoneer, which was discontinued in 1969. The Wagoneer Limited brought out even more features than its predecessor, offering leather upholstery, cruise control, power-adjustable bucket seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Quadra-Trac 4x4, wood grain trim on the side panels, a roof rack, forged aluminum wheels, and power disc brakes. While the Wagoneer Limited was powered by a 5.9L V8 engine as standard equipment, a more powerful 6.6L V8 was introduced. At the time, the closest competition for the Wagoneer Limited was the Mercedes Benz G-Class.
Meet the Grand Wagoneer
The 1984 model year brought some changes to the Jeep lineup. First, the Cherokee and Wagoneer were moved to a smaller unibody SUV named XJ. Considered the "upscale Cherokee," the now-smaller Wagoneer XJ came in two trim levels, Wagoneer and Wagoneer Limited. The original Wagoneer SJ remained, however, renamed the Grand Wagoneer. The Grand Wagoneer was considered the gold standard of the SUV. However, both the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer were discontinued in 1991. A little-known fact is that Jeep introduced the Grand Wagoneer ZJ in 1993, giving it one last run. The ZJ models of the Wagoneer are very rare, as Jeep only produced fewer than 7,000 of them in the 1993 model year.
Reintroduction of the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer
Besides the limited-edition 1993 Grand Wagoneer, from 1991 to 2021, there was radio silence from the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. At the 1992 North American Auto Show in Chicago, Jeep introduced the all-new Grand Cherokee by driving it up the stairs and through a glass pane, signifying its breakthrough in the automotive industry. Up until 2021, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited had reigned as the top-spec Jeep SUV, and technically, its reign continues, as the current Wagoneer lineup is a luxury SUV extension of the Jeep brand. When the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer were reintroduced in 2021, they employed 5.7L and 6.4L HEMI V8 engines, respectively. However, for the 2023 model year, Jeep introduced the all-new 3.0L twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine in a standard output format for the Wagoneer and a high output format for the Grand Wagoneer. The Wagoneer lineup was reintroduced with the latest in comfort and convenience features like four-zone automatic climate control, heated/ventilated seats, a wide range of advanced technologies, a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, leather upholstery, and more. The Grand Wagoneer took the luxury to the next level with things like massaging front seats, a 12-inch touchscreen, air suspension, and much more. The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are both three-row SUVs. The Wagoneer offers eight seats, with two front-row bucket seats and a three-seat bench in the second and third row. Meanwhile, the Grand Wagoneer has second-row bucket seats with a center console between them.
Test Drive a Wagoneer Model in Palm Coast, FL
Just like it had many years ago, the Wagoneer created waves in the luxury SUV market upon its reintroduction. If you want to experience the new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer in Palm Coast, Florida, then visit Flagler Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram to take one for a test drive! If you prefer, head over to our new inventory page here on our website to check out our inventory. We hope to see you soon!
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