Not so Grand: Jeep Grand Wagoneer Boasts Shockingly Bad Fuel Economy Ratings
Jeep has a new, bigger, and more luxurious SUV on the way with the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Along with a high purchase price, this vehicle will also cost owners more at the pump. New numbers released by the EPA show that the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer boasts shockingly bad fuel economy ratings. Here’s a look at how it measures up.
The return of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer
The Jeep Grand Wagoneer name returns for the 2022 model year, this time as a luxury, three-row SUV. It had previously been available between 1963 and 1991. There will also be a “cheaper and less luxurious Wagoneer,” says Car and Driver. The full-size, luxury Grand Wagoneer, along with the Wagoneer, will be handled as a sub-brand and not display the Jeep logo.
Poor fuel economy ratings
One concern with this new Grand Wagoneer is its poor fuel economy. The EPA has rated the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer with four-wheel drive for 13 mpg in the city, 18 mpg on the highway, and 15 mpg combined. It’s a hair better with rear-wheel drive, which is rated for 13 mpg in the city, 19 mpg on the highway, and 15 mpg combined, according to Motor1.
The Jeep Grand Wagoneer doesn’t compare well with some of its competitors. For example, it is less fuel-efficient than other large luxury SUVs, like the Cadillac Escalade and the Lincoln Navigator. The four-wheel-drive Escalade is rated for 13 mpg in the city, 19 mpg on the highway, and 16 mpg combined and has a standard 6.2-liter V8 engine. With rear-wheel drive, the Escalade is rated for 15 mpg in the city, 20 mpg on the highway, and 17 mpg overall. Meanwhile, the four-wheel-drive Navigator is rated for 16 mpg in the city, 20 mpg on the highway,17 mpg combined, and has a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine. With rear-wheel drive, the Navigator is rated for 16 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway, and 18 mpg overall.
Car and Driver also points out that other luxury SUVs do even better. The BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS-class are rated for 21 mpg combined by the EPA and have turbocharged V6 engines.
As Autoblog points out, the 2022 Grand Wagoneer has the same fuel economy as the Chevy Tahoe from 20 years ago and worse fuel economy than the 2002 Ford Expedition (although the Grand Wagoneer has a lot more horsepower). Today’s Tahoe and Expedition also have improved fuel economy ratings. The 2021 Tahoe is rated for 18 combined mpg and has a 355-hp 5.3-liter V8 engine, while the Expedition is rated for 19 combined mpg and has a 375-hp turbocharged V6.
The fuel economy differences sound small but translate into bigger cost differences. The annual fuel costs are estimated to be $2,450 for the Expedition, $2,600 for the Tahoe, $2,750 for the Navigator, $3,350 for the Escalade, and $3,800 for the Grand Wagoneer.
The poor fuel economy of the Grand Wagoneer is due to its large 6.4-liter V8 engine, which comes standard with four-wheel drive and an automatic transmission. The engine produces up to 471 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque. In addition, the Grand Wagoneer has a heavy curb weight. The Wagoneer model will have a smaller engine and is expected to be more fuel-efficient. It has a 5.7-liter V8 with eTorque, a motor, and generator mild hybrid system. A hybrid model of the Grand Wagoneer will also be available in the future.
What is good about the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer?
While the 2022 Grand Wagoneer doesn’t offer good fuel economy, it does have plenty of luxury features. It has seating for seven, and the seats are upholstered in Palermo leather. It also has quad-zone climate control, night vision, seven entertainment screens, and a high-end McIntosh audio system. While 19 speakers will be standard, a system with 23 speakers is optional.
The Grand Wagoneer also has 20-inch or 22-inch aluminum wheels and an independent front and rear suspension. It likely isn’t the Jeep for off-roading, although it has 10.1 inches of ground clearance.
The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer will be available for sale during the summer of 2021, with a starting price of $88,995. With optional add-ons and packages, that price can rise to $111,930. Between the high prices and the larger, powerful engine, buyers of the Grand Wagoneer shouldn’t be expecting an affordable and fuel-efficient vehicle. However, buyers looking for something more efficient will agree with Autoblog’s assessment that the Grand Wagoneer is an “opulent dinosaur.”
RELATED: Why Doesn’t the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Have a Jeep Badge?
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