FACT spent the day in the 2023 Grand Wagoneer, a premium, large SUV poised to take its market segment by storm.

Producing quality off-road commercial vehicles since the late 1940s, Jeep has become an iconic brand, one that is enjoyed by millions of drivers all over the world. This month, FACT was invited by Behbehani Brothers to test drive the new 2023 Grand Wagoneer, a vehicle that has begun to carve out a legacy of its own.

Exterior

As the full-sized premium SUV came into view, we instantly recognised the new Grand Wagoneer as a modern interpretation of an American-made icon. The exceptional craftsmanship applied to the exterior design of this striking model is obvious from first glance, and we knew it would take a considerable amount of time to fully appreciate all that has gone into the creation of this imposing vehicle.

The Wagoneer’s bold new exterior design has been crafted with a wide stance and features a classic yet refined silhouette.

At the front end of the SUV sits a distinctive hood and prominent front grille combination, the latter featuring knurled finishes on the rings. Complementing these grand features is the unique LED lighting, including premium LED headlamps and foglamps.

Shifting to the flanks, we noticed that, like the windscreen, large architecturally drawn windows are incorporated into the design, greatly enhancing outward visibility. Paying homage to the original Grand Wagoneer are the clean roofline and A-line that run around the vehicle in its entirety. The inclusion of a panoramic tri-pane sunroof allows an abundance of natural light inside and offers greenhouse-like views. Chunky, 22-inch aluminium wheels add to the SUV’s rugged appearance and hint at its off-road capabilities.

At the rear, we appreciated how the LED taillamps complete the full suite of exterior LED lights, stretching from the rear quarter panels to the hands-free power liftgate.

Interior

On entering the vehicle, we were immediately taken by the abundance of space on offer. In fact, the 2023 Grand Wagoner boasts the best-in-class overall passenger volume, amongst many other bragging rights.

The fully digital cockpit is jampacked with cutting-edge tech, is immaculately laid out and features ultra comfortable captain’s chairs.

The second-row seating also offers captain’s chairs, access to which is made simple by the power release Tip ‘n Slide function that creates more space for passengers to get to their seats. The third row can recline and fold flat, making it easy to configure for either passengers or luggage.

This convenient internal set-up, coupled with the four-zone HVAC system, ensured we were completely relaxed, cool and comfortable as we set off on our day of driving around the island.

Infotainment & Technology

As we effortlessly cruised along the freeways and inner-city streets, we had time to take in the seemingly endless, cuttingedge tech, housed in the interior of this remarkable SUV.

The 2023 Grand Wagoneer is equipped with next-generation innovations including the new advanced Uconnect 5 system. Other notable features include a frameless digital cluster, a rear-seat monitoring camera and a premium McIntosh audio system. Additionally, we were told this new model is available with up to 75 inches of total digital display screen area, including nearly 45 inches of total screens along the front dashboard.

We found the 12-inch reconfigurable touchscreen display featuring split-screen capabilities to be most impressive. This user-friendly set-up features the before mentioned, all-new Uconnect 5 system, and includes wi-fi capability, full smartphone connectivity, Alexa, access to hundreds of thousands of apps, TV shows and movies, amongst many other desirable features.

In addition, 11 USB ports and multiple passenger screens are located in both the front and the rear of the vehicle.

Safety

The artisans responsible for the Grand Wagoneer’s design have included an extensive range of leading-edge safety technologies and driver assistance systems.

These include a head-up display (HUD), Hands Free Active Driving Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Intersection Collision Assist, Drowsy Driver Detection, along with turn-by-turn navigation and so much more. The fully digital rear-view mirror provides an unobstructed view of the road behind and can revert to a traditional reflective mirror by toggling the switch underneath.

Performance

The 2023 model is powered by a new 3.0-litre Hurricane twin-turbo, inline, six-cylinder engine, combined with a TorqueFlite eightspeed automatic transmission. We discovered the abundance of power and acceleration on offer to be easily accessible, allowing the SUV to effortlessly devour any road we put before it.

Although we couldn’t fully test the vehicle’s 4×4 capabilities on this excursion, we were informed that this model has three available 4×4 systems, along with an optional Quadra-Lift air suspension and a Selec-Terrain traction management system. This means there is almost no off-road terrain this premium SUV cannot conquer, and any other SUV in this segment would have a tough time keeping up with it in the rough. ✤

GO: CALL 1745 9955 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK A TEST DRIVE OF YOUR OWN.