The 2023 Grand Wagoneer L Is A Luxury Cruise Ship for the Road

2023 Grand Wagoneer L

The 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer L joined me for a week of 7’s.

7 days, 7 passengers, and 700+ miles to Galveston and back. That means a lot of luggage, snacks, and road trip books and toys. All of these added up to needing a large vehicle that everyone would be comfortable in and that could haul all our stuff. Enter the luxury cruise ship on wheels, the 2023 Grand Wagoneer L.

I first got to see this 3-row beauty at the Texas Truck Rodeo where I was given a full tour of its features and invited to take it for a spin. Knowing I would have it the following week for our road trip got me excited to learn just how spoiled we’d be just a few days later.

The model we drove this week was the 2023 Grand Wagoneer L Series II which means that some of the things I mention below may be add-ons for other models.

Related: 2023 Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L Full Size SUV: L Means More Room and More Muscle in this 3 Row SUV

2023 Grand Wagoneer L Third Row
Third row comfort, legroom and amenities. cup holders, charging ports, reclining seats and air vents for everyone! Photo by Erica Mueller

The Grand Wagoneer L is the Big, Bigger, Almost the Biggest 3-Row SUV

I’ve driven some other full-size SUVs and to me, this one takes the cake when it comes to size. It’s a whopping 226.7 inches long (the Cadillac Escalade ESV is a smidge longer at 227 inches). It feels exceptionally roomy inside, especially in the third row where a lot of times passengers are expected to sit in a board-like seat a few inches off the floor. Not in the Grand Wagoneer! My 6′ 2″ son sat in the third row, with his laptop and book, next to his sister who was in a large front-facing car seat and their brother who was also doing school from the road. No one was cramped or uncomfortable and they had adults in the seats in front of them!

The cargo space behind the third row was plenty to carry luggage for all seven of us, plus a big bag of snacks, 3 laptop bags, 2 book bags and 2 lawn chairs. If you’re wondering, the L (long wheelbase) version of the Grand Wagoneer has 12″ more cargo space than the non-L model.

Related: 2022 Grand Wagoneer Lives Up to the Hype of Luxury and Capability

2023 Grand Wagoneer L Roof Rack
These crossbars were stored all neat and tidy in the compartment under the floor, but I installed them myself in minutes and I think they make the vehicle look even more adventure ready! Photo by Erica Mueller

Party on Top

Taking more luggage than the 2023 Grand Wagoneer L can accommodate in its boot? No worries. There is a roof rack that is super easy to install yourself and it looks darn good too, if I do say so myself. We were able to transport my brother’s surfboard to the beach for him thanks to the rack and built-in hooks for straps.

Related: 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V: Posh Power Personified

2023 Grand Wagoneer L Interior
Everything is digital in this road-worthy cruise ship. Photo by Erica Mueller

The 2023 Grand Wagoneer L has Seven Digital Screens. No, Eight.

I nearly forgot the digital rearview mirror! I guess it’s just smaller and less obvious than the massive 10.3-inch digital driver’s display or the 10.1-inch multimedia screen which has wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Then you have another 10.3-inch touchscreen just under the multimedia screen which handles the car controls like the air conditioning, seat settings like lumbar and massage.

On the passenger side there is yet another screen that allows the front passenger to control the two seat-back entertainment screens in the second row, both of which have games and Amazon Fire capabilities. Then if you have the captains chairs with center console there is another seat/comfort screen on that for the second row passengers to control their own comfort levels. Whew. That’s a LOT of screen space – something like 75-inches total.

2023 Grand Wagoneer L Cargo Space
That’s groceries for a few days for 15 people. I’m pretty sure the Grand Wagoneer L would be a Grand Costco Haul Wagon too. Photo by Erica Mueller

Taking a Hurricane to Galveston

The irony was not lost on us as we rolled down I-45 on our way to Galveston in a massive ship-like vehicle powered by Stellantis’ new 3.0L twin-turbocharged 510 inline-6 engine named the Hurricane. If you thought a vehicle this size would necessitate a V8 you thought wrong. This new inline-6 paired with an 8-speed transmission pumps out 510 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque! While not as throaty sounding as a V8, it has all the power it needs and then some, it sounds good and drives ever so smoothly.

We even got the Grand Wagoneer L out on the beach a few times and it did beautifully in the loose sand, despite its size and weight. I can’t wait to experience this engine in the Ram pickup trucks!

 

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What You Need to Know

  • Starting Price: $74,000
  • 510 horsepower
  • 500 LB-FT torque
  • 130-Inch Wheelbase
  • 226.7-Inch Overall Length
  • 4-wheel drive
  • 22″ polished wheels
  • Multiple drive modes and ride height adjustments
  • 14/20 city/highway miles per gallon
  • 9,750 LB max towing capacity
  • Premium leather trimmed seats with massage
  • Refrigerated front console cooler
  • Digital rearview mirror
  • McIntosh Sound System with 14 speakers
  • Wireless charging pad
  • Amazon Fire TV built-in
  • Tri-pane panoramic sunroof
  • 44.2-Cubic Foot Cargo Capacity Behind the Third Row
  • 7 passenger (8 available with second-row bench instead of captains chairs)

Price for the Model We Drove: $109,295

Bring on the Road Trip!

I honestly don’t think we could have asked for a better vehicle to road trip in. We loved the premium sound system, charging ports galore, refrigerated cooler box in the front console, massaging front seats, plentiful storage cubbies (hello, massive center console in the second row!) and how easy it was for everyone to get in and out of the vehicle thanks to the automatic ride height adjustment, power running boards, and power-folding seats allowing for easy entry to the third row. Our second row passengers (the grandparents) loved being able to control the rear climate to their individual comfort levels and I loved how adjustable the front seats were, keeping my back in good shape all week!

Related: 2022 Lincoln Navigator Review: This Big Boy Will Wow You

Disclosure: Jeep let me borrow this beautiful beast for a road trip so I could experience the new engine, abundant luxury, and comfortable ride and share my thoughts with you.

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Erica Mueller
Erica Mueller

A web developer, digital marketing consultant, auto journalist, truck expert, photographer and lover of gadgets, Erica is a textbook geek. On her days off she loves to travel, garden, hike and camp, and play her guitar. You can find Erica on Instagram at @EricaDrives. Erica is a board member and a journalist member of the Texas Auto Writers Association.

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