Fast 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S arrives with Tesla Model Y-humbling performance – but here’s how long Australians have to wait to buy one
Jeep has finally unwrapped its 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S after months of teasing its battery-powered alternative to the Tesla Model Y Performance and combustion-powered Range Rover Sport. The good news is it looks as good as the concept, and the bad is that Australians can’t buy one until 2026.
When it lands, the new Jeep Wagoneer S will come powered by a pair of electric motors that produce a combined 441kW and 863Nm of torque – which is enough to make it the quickest Jeep ever with a 0-97km/h dash of just 3.4 seconds – although its top speed is limited to just 200km/h.
With a 250kW electric motor driving each axle Jeep says, for the first time, the e-motor, single-speed transmission and power electronics are all packaged within one compact Electric Drive Module (EDM).
READ MORE:
The advantage of the new set-up is the EDM can dish out torque far more accurately than any mechanical system improving, traction, acceleration and handling. Better still, at speed it’s easier to decouple a pair of driven wheels for enhanced efficiency, optimising range.
From launch the Wagoneer S gets a 400-volt electrical architecture and 100.5kWh battery pack that provides a cruising range of 482km on the EPA US test cycle.
Jeep claims a fast DC charge from 20-80 per cent takes around 23 minutes – some way off the very fastest-charging EVs with their more-powerful 800-volt electrics that take less than 20 minutes for a bigger 10-80 per cent top up.
Measuring in at 4886mm long, the Wagoneer S is around 28mm shorter than the Jeep Grand Cherokee while sitting a considerable 152mm lower to the ground. The new Jeep is also the very first recipient of the Stellantis STLA Large platform.
Featuring a rakish roofline, large rear wing, flat underbody and flush-fit door handles, the Jeep has a 0.294Cd drag coefficient but remains heavy at 2570kg.
Despite being large, there’s no third row of seats, with the Wagoneer S remaining a five-seater, although the cargo space is big at 866 litres, and it’s further boosted by a small 85 litre frunk.
Within, there’s twin-12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment, a lower screen for the climate control, plus a fourth 10.25-inch Ferrari-style touchscreen for the passenger. If that’s not enough, there’s also a large 10-inch head-up display.
Standard kit is likely to include a panoramic roof, synthetic leather seats that are heated and cooled and a 19-speaker McIntosh sound system.
The Wagoneer S also comes with Jeeps latest semi-autonomous driving aids that include a lane-keep assist and stop and go function.
A more rugged Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept has also been previewed that suggests a more capable trail-rated EV is in the works that gets a two-inch lift (51mm), 31.5-inch all-terrain tyres and different front and rear styling for an enhanced approach and departure angles.
In the US the new Jeep Wagoneer S has been priced from US$71,995 ($A108,000) when it lands in the second half of 2024 but it’s thought the versions we’ll get in Australia in 2026 will cost more than $A130,000.
