2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer L Review

The Grand Wagoneer L is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six dubbed the "Hurricane 510" that pumps out 510 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. The 6.4-liter V8 that comes standard in the Grand Wagoneer won't be offered on the L, but it won't be missed as the inline-six is more powerful, besting the V8's 471 hp and 455 lb-ft.

An eight-speed automatic is the only transmission option and all Grand Wagoneer Ls come with the Quadra-Drive II four-wheel-drive system standard. It features a two-speed transfer case, electronic limited-slip rear differential, and hill descent control. We don't expect many owners will be going off-roading in this big SUV and putting these features to use, but most will probably like knowing they are there. The Grand Wagoneer L also exclusively rides on an air suspension that can extend ground clearance up to 10 inches.

Towing capacity with the new engine remains the same: a best-in-class 10,000 pounds, with the heavy-duty trailer package equipped.

The new engine has more than enough grunt to get the Grand Wagoneer L moving with ease. The big SUV climbs hills, merges onto highways, and scoots around town without exerting too much effort and, when you get deep into the accelerator pedal, provides surprising acceleration.

Where the L's bigger size seems to have made a difference, however, is ride quality. In our review of the Grand Wagoneer, we noted that it had a problem with larger bumps that would unsettle the ride. The longer L feels more settled on broken pavement, and the suspension does a good job of absorbing road imperfections without drama. There is still some body roll in corners and nosedive under braking, but those are expected qualities in a big and comfort-oriented SUV like this.

Supremely. As mentioned above the Grand Wagoneer L hasn't gotten any larger in the passenger compartment, but it didn't really need to. This thing is seriously roomy, and adult passengers — even those over 6 feet tall — will be able to fit in any of the three rows for long and short trips alike. The rear doors have also been stretched on the L, making it even easier to climb into the third row.

As for the seats themselves, both the second- and third-row seats come with plenty of recline and the ability to slide the second row forward and back as needed to facilitate legroom for everyone. Headroom, as the upright styling would suggest, is also plentiful. A panoramic sunroof comes standard and includes a separate pane of glass for the third row with a manually operated shade. Third-row passengers also get four USB ports and well-placed vents.

Power front seats with 24-way adjustment, with heating, ventilation, and massage functions controlled via the lower of the two center console screens, come standard. In our initial testing, these thrones remained comfortable and supportive after about six hours spent behind the wheel.

For a Jeep, the interior is more luxurious and well appointed than anything the company has made before. But with a price tag that stretches up into the six figures for even the middle trim levels if you add any option packages, the Grand Wagoneer L must compete with the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. And on that front, it falls a little short.

We'll get into the Grand Wagoneer's prodigious outlay of screens in the technology section, but we will take a minute to talk about the ergonomics of it all. We're thankful for the switches and buttons for the climate controls found under the main screen, but there's another row of touch controls below that screen that can be distracting to use. It's hard to ascertain when they've been engaged, and the row of touch-sensitive controls that line the screen on either side are similarly difficult. It's a slick setup and we see what Jeep was going for, but in practice the execution is a bit lacking. The lower screen does require you to look down and take your eyes off the road to use it (to turn on the massage functions, for example), so be wary of that as well.

The Grand Wagoneer L comes with lots of standard and optional screen real estate. A 12.3-inch instrument cluster display, a 12-inch multimedia touchscreen, and a 10.3-inch touchscreen below that all come standard. Additionally, a rear seat entertainment system with 10.1-inch dual touchscreens behind the front seats can be added (powered by Amazon Fire), and yet another 10.3-inch touchscreen can be equipped for the front passenger to use. And if you go for the captain's chairs, another 10.3-inch display is found between them to control the backseat climate functions. Whew.

The main center touchscreen is fairly easy to use. It has simple menus that keeps most functionality within a button press or two away. Wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is standard, but the wireless charging pad is hidden in a cubby behind the lower screen. It also doesn't do a good job of gripping your phone, so it can slide around on the charger and disengage without you realizing.