Better Be Better

Launching a large luxury SUV in today’s mature market is not for the faint of heart. Cadillac has taken GM’s venerable Suburban package to lofty luxury standards in Escalade fitment and its rival Lincoln has done the same hard work with its Navigator model. Both have managed to corral a sizeable share of what has become the 21st Century “land yacht” market despite earnest competition from premium import rivals. So to compete in this six-figure MSRP group, substance is what counts.

Grand Wagoneer makes the right entrance statement with a bold, sophisticated style that captures attention without shouting its presence. Jeep’s seven element grille is there along with a subtle nod to Wagoneer’s classic front brow, but the message is clearly upscale. Could you venture off road? Why not? The rugged body over frame construction, 4 x 4 all-wheel-drive with Selec-Terrain traction management and Quadra-Lift air suspension with 10-inches of ground clearance would allow crawling around some pretty challenging landscapes, as long as the trail was wide.

The reality is that Wagoneer’s nicely designed air suspension will most often be lowered to ease cabin access, along with power-deployed side steps and I’ll bet more option money will be spent on rear entertainment than on skid plates. Of course if hauling your horses to the polo field is part of the plan, the class leading 10,000-pound towing capacity is a real benefit of largesse.