[Auto] The Jeep Wagoneer S Will Break Your Brain: First Drive Review

[- !el Catire *O*]

 

 

The only thing I could think when I climbed out of the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S was that I was somehow broken. The $73,590 Launch Edition shoved my chest and shoulders so aggressively into the seat back that it quashed any need for an exhaust note—which is saying something, as someone who still loves the sound and feel of a combustion engine.

Despite its size and positioning as a luxury SUV, the Jeep Wagoneer S accelerates like a supercar. It has two electric motors pumping out 600 horsepower and 617 pound-feet of torque, which sends it to 60 miles per hour in 3.4 seconds. On top of that, you still get five seats, a 19-speaker audio system, a heated steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, a panoramic sunroof, four screens, and a whole host of amenities.

What more could people want?
The Wagoneer S benefits from a traditional battery-electric layout. It has a 100.0-kilowatt-hour battery pack in the floor and two electric motors sending power to all four corners. That configuration makes for a low center of gravity and a near 50:50: weight balance—perfect for bombing around the curvy roads just outside San Diego.

Granted, this isn’t a sports car. The passive suspension—strut front and multi-link rear—is eager to remind you that you are still driving a Jeep; it doesn’t coddle you when the roads get rough. That's not a feeling everyone wants to experience. This large SUV would definitely benefit from an adaptive setup.
Yet, the Wagoneer S never felt harsh or unpleasant when I was hammering it. Even in the swiftest of curves, it remained poised and comfortable, shrinking around me. Only when I looked in the rearview mirror was I reminded of this vehicle's size. The steering never felt like it was hampered by the 6,700-pound curb weight, happily translating my inputs without fuss. I was never concerned it wouldn’t go where I wanted it to.

The Wagoneer gets up to 303 miles on a charge when equipped with the 20-inch Falken tire, but the range drops to 270 miles with the optional Pirelli rubber. My tester had 251 miles of indicated range at the start of the drive with a topped-off battery, and I chewed through about 130 miles over the 117-mile trip. Regenerative braking returned about four miles on a single downhill stint while keeping the SUV at speed. Not bad.

Link: https://www.motor1.com/reviews/748877/2024-jeep-wagoneer-s-first-drive-review/