It’s not really accurate to call the Wagoneer S Jeep’s first electric vehicle. For several years now, Europeans have been able to buy the Jeep Avenger, a subcompact crossover that will surely never see American roads. But it is the first electric Jeep designed for American consumption. It’s aimed at the highly competitive midsize SUV segment, which gets ever more crowded even as electrification faces a less certain future here. Indeed, the brand, along with its Stellantis sibling Chrysler, just shelved all its plug-in hybrids, discontinuing them just a few days ago.
Like the little Avenger, the Wagoneer S makes use of one of parent company Stellantis’ purpose-built EV platforms, one shared with the growly-sounding Dodge Charger. At 192.4 inches (4,886 mm) long, 74.8 inches (1,900 mm) wide, and 64.8 inches (1,645 mm) tall, it’s a little larger than cars like the BMW iX3 or Audi Q6 e-tron but a little smaller than domestically designed rivals like the Cadillac Lyriq and Acura ZDX, which have particularly long wheelbases.
I find it a rather handsome car, one that has to marry Jeep’s Wagoneer styling cues with as many wind-smoothing and air-shaping elements as possible. The way the rear wing juts out above the tailgate window reminds me of a ’90s rally hatchback, but it’s the product of the designers and the engineers working on drag reduction. The overall drag coefficient is 0.29, and since Jeep actually publishes the frontal area, too, I can tell you the more important CdA number—where drag is multiplied by the frontal area—is 8.67 sq ft (0.805 m2).
Great insights on the Jeep Wagoneer S EV! It’s interesting to see how the electric vehicle market is evolving, and discussions like this help highlight the nuances in branding and technology. Looking forward to more updates on this topic!
Thank you! It really is fascinating how the electric vehicle market is evolving. The Wagoneer S EV, while not technically Jeep’s first electric model, could set the tone for future designs focusing on sustainability without sacrificing the brand’s rugged appeal.