Other automakers have been making moves with their full size SUVs lately. Chevy has just announced that the 6.2l V8 will now be available on all trims as well as offering a 12.3 inch instrument cluster. Toyota revealed a 14inch touch screen in the Tundra, soon to be in the new Sequoia in '23. The Ford Expedition just launched their refresh, adding a timberline package which looks like it had Wagoneer straight in its crosshairs:
Its also available with a 15.5 inch infotainment system. Lincoln has refreshed their navigator to a 13.2 inch system but that can't be that long lived with the cheaper expedition offering even more.
Not that Horsepower, ground clearance, and digital screens are the only measuring sticks, but for being a new vehicle that hasn't even hit the streets yet, it seems like a lot of the wow factor has worn off and makes the jeep, especially in Wagoneer trim, a less compelling argument vs the competition. If ford's move with the Timberline, and the upcoming Sequoia TRD pro (most likely with Toyota's new hybrid powertrain and TTv6) are not enough to poke jeep into a Trailhawk trim, I don't know what will. Good thing is a lot of this can be rectified pretty quickly by making the 12inch screen standard (which it should have from the start, the photos of the empty gloss back on the 10 inch nav screens looks terrible and made the regular Wagoneer and immediate no-go for me. The Ground clearance can be matched simply by adding 33 inch tires to get it to 10.5 inches. I know we will see some new powertrains in the future so maybe in '23/24 we will be back at the forefront on the tech side and the off-road side.
- First Timberline series elevates the Expedition above the Jeep® Wagoneer with best available ground clearance in its class of 10.6 inches6 (versus a maximum 10 inches for Jeep Wagoneer), F-150 Raptor underbody protection and best available power in its class
- Expedition Timberline SUV model weighs 4% less than Jeep Wagoneer SUV and boasts a better power-to-weight ratio, as Ford’s high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine tops the Jeep Wagoneer SUV 5.7-liter V8 engine with 48 additional horsepower and 106 more lb.-ft. of torque
Its also available with a 15.5 inch infotainment system. Lincoln has refreshed their navigator to a 13.2 inch system but that can't be that long lived with the cheaper expedition offering even more.
Not that Horsepower, ground clearance, and digital screens are the only measuring sticks, but for being a new vehicle that hasn't even hit the streets yet, it seems like a lot of the wow factor has worn off and makes the jeep, especially in Wagoneer trim, a less compelling argument vs the competition. If ford's move with the Timberline, and the upcoming Sequoia TRD pro (most likely with Toyota's new hybrid powertrain and TTv6) are not enough to poke jeep into a Trailhawk trim, I don't know what will. Good thing is a lot of this can be rectified pretty quickly by making the 12inch screen standard (which it should have from the start, the photos of the empty gloss back on the 10 inch nav screens looks terrible and made the regular Wagoneer and immediate no-go for me. The Ground clearance can be matched simply by adding 33 inch tires to get it to 10.5 inches. I know we will see some new powertrains in the future so maybe in '23/24 we will be back at the forefront on the tech side and the off-road side.