Stellantis overhauls Jeep Grand Wagoneer lineup as part of turnaround plan

DETROIT – Jeep is renewing its premium Grand Wagoneer lineup for the 2026 model year as part of a year-long turnaround plan for the quintessential American SUV brand.

The changes include updating the exterior styling, introducing a new range-extended powertrain, and creating a simplified, less expensive model lineup, all under the “Grand Wagoneer” name. Jeep will also remove the standalone “Wagoneer” nameplate.

“This marks an important moment for our portfolio in refining our flagship SUV to reach a broader audience,” Jeep CEO Bob Broderdorf said at a media event.

Since their launch in 2021, the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer have failed to meet expectations. Initial production of the vehicles was fraught with difficulties and the two nameplates for vehicles of the same appearance confused consumers.

The starting price of these vehicles could also exceed $111,000 – which was uncharted territory for the brand known for its rugged SUVs – and they featured a multitude of tiered trim levels that made ordering complicated.

“We confused our buyers. We confused our dealers,” Broderdorf said. “I’m here to tell you that we received the message. We are correcting it.”

The 2026 Grand Wagoneer will start at less than $65,000, including destination charges. That’s similar to the Wagoneer’s current starting price, but Jeep said it includes additional features and is more in line with competitors’ pricing.

“I’m here to win,” Broderdorf said. “I want to get out there really, really quickly and see what we can do to really gain market share and continue to grow the brand…that was the mission for me.”

Jeep, owned by the French-Italian-American automobile manufacturer Stellantissaid it expects the Grand Wagoneer to be the first SUV with plug-in technology known as a range extender, or EREV. It can operate as a zero-emission electric vehicle until its battery dies and an onboard electric generator – powered by a 3.6-liter, 27-gallon V6 engine – kicks in to power the vehicle.

Stellantis’ Ram Trucks brand was expected to be the first to launch an EREV model, but after several delays and the brand conducting its own turnaround plan, the Jeep model is expected to be the first EREV available starting next year.

Jeep is one of the most crucial vehicles Stellantis» 14 brands — if not the most important in North America. The revamped Grand Wagoneer is the second of four major product announcements that began this summer with the reveal of its new Jeep Cherokee SUV.

The turnaround plan also includes an overhaul of Jeep SUV prices, which have inflated above market norms in recent years, and a re-engagement with its divested dealer network amid a lack of new products and falling sales.

So far, Jeep sales in the United States are trending in the right direction. The brand is poised to announce its first year-over-year sales increase since 2018, when it saw record sales of more than 973,000 vehicles. That compares to 587,725 units sold last year, a 40 percent drop from Jeep’s sales peak.

“Frankly, my only interest is in growing this brand and doing it in a way that’s very fun and historic for Jeep,” said Broderdorf, who succeeded Antonio Filosa, now Stellantis CEO, as head of Jeep in February.