We thought a vehicle couldn’t get more comfortable and spacious than last year’s winning Jeep Grand Wagoneer, but then we met the Wagoneer L.
With a foot more length than that model, plus supple materials, a plethora of displays and technologies – including beautiful high-res rear entertainment screens with built-in Amazon Fire TV – the Wagoneer L is a 2023 Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX winner.
Our Series III 4x4 test vehicle stickered at $92,000, but that still represented a great value given its spaciousness and accoutrements, including its family-room-like cabin.
Judge Dave Zoia deems the Wagoneer L’s first and second row Captain’s chairs “as comfortable as your recliner, and the third row is probably the best third-row I’ve been in.”
Another praise-worthy feature raising the bar on comfort in our vehicle is running boards that automatically deploy when door handles are pulled, making for easy entry into the tall SUV.
The cabin’s contrasting dark-over-light color theme is an immediate eye catcher, without being too flashy. The minimal black trim, white stitching on the dark instrument panel and chrome – found even on a speaker in the cargo area, an oftentimes overlooked region of a 3-row SUV, add just enough jewelry without making the interior look overdone.
The rubberized bins and cupholders in all three rows and a beefy gear selector with knurled satin metallic trim are other finishes that we took notice of for their beyond basic appearance. Both elements not only are nice to look at, but also pleasing to touch.
“Stellantis knows interiors,” remarks judge Zoia, who praises the Wagoneer L for its impressive color scheme, clean lines and unique trim.
Stellantis also has a great track record on UX and this model is no different.
Various gradient settings for the heated steering wheel and the ability to separately control heat to the upper and lower seat cushions are much appreciated in the cool to very cold weather we test in.
The Wagoneer L’s infotainment menus are logical and easy to access.
Judges also appreciate the quick phone pairing we experienced, wireless Apple CarPlay, the McIntosh audio system and the ton of USB and USB-C ports – plus the vehicle’s not one but two 115V AC outlets.
Additionally, a slew of categories can be controlled via voice commands in the Wagoneer L, helping keep a driver’s eyes on the road. Users can make casual statements such as “I’m cold” and the heat will be adjusted upward. A very cool way to warm you up.
Our test vehicle had a heap of ADAS technology, including adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, drowsy driver detection, parallel and perpendicular parking assist with stop, intersection collision-avoidance assist and a 360 surround-view camera. Suffice it to say, the latter came in very handy when parking this giant.
Summing up the win for the big Jeep, judge Bob Gritzinger, who filled the vehicle with friends and gear for a weekend ski trip, says, “This is a monster premium three-row beast that can handle just about anything an owner would throw at it, with style.”
