Looking for a reliable gauge of how car owners feel about specific vehicles? JD Power’s APEAL study provides some great insights. APEAL, which stands for Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout, asks viewers to rank order the attributes they like the most about certain vehicles. And when it comes to the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer, four characteristics stood out the most.

The Jeep Wagoneer is dripping with style

JD Power’s reviewers certainly agreed with car owners. The Wagoneer is definitely an attractive vehicle. It’s large and looks powerful and imposing, especially sitting on standard 20-inch wheels. And while you may have trouble getting in certain parking spots, chances are you’re not all that concerned about that if you’re buying a Jeep.

The Wagoneer’s boxy shape is offset by well-placed curves that offer a modern appearance. And the optional color-tinted glass windows offer some privacy, which many owners find both stylish and useful.

But the Wagoneer isn’t just a Jeep with an attractive exterior. Owners also praised its driving feel, powertrain, and the feeling of safety it provides. 

Driving feel of a luxury SUV

When it comes to driving feel, some owner satisfaction in this regard is undoubtedly due to the Wagoneer’s power. We’ll touch more on the powertrain later, but first, the Wagoneer’s driveability should be commended. The independent suspension system keeps the Wagoneer balanced when towing heavy loads, while smoothly navigating even the bumpiest of roads.

The electronic rack and pinion steering ease maneuverability all around. The Wagoneer is also equipped with precise and responsive braking, which helps drivers navigate heavy traffic and winding roads. There are also well-crafted off-road options, including optional 18-inch off-road tires, a hill-descent control option, skid plates, and more.

Acceleration, cornering, and steering responsiveness are also pluses thanks to the powertrain and engineering. And while only one powertrain option is available, it’s more than enough to provide owners with a superior driving experience.

A respectable powertrain

The Jeep Wagoneer comes with a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine paired with a 48-volt electronic system that places the vehicle in the mild hybrid category. Also coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the Wagoneer’s powertrain will get you 392 hp and 404 lb-ft of torque.

While these aren’t the highest numbers in the segment, they are very respectable. And when paired with the Wagoneer’s other performance and handling, they’re more than enough to handle almost anything the average driver would throw at it.

The mild hybrid feature also helps smooth out rough start-stop issues drivers of older Wagoneers (and related older Ram models) have experienced. It also mildly improves the Wagoneer’s fuel economy, giving it an estiamted 18 mpg combined rating for the 2WD option and 17 mpg for the AWD option.

Fuel economy was the feature Wagoneer owners liked the least, but that’s par for the course in this segment. And the Wagoneer still beat some other competitors like the Ford Bronco Raptor in this category.

The Jeep Wagoneer provides a feeling of safety

The Jeep Wagoneer’s size and power undoubtedly help drivers feel safe. But this SUV also comes with a substantial number of advanced safety features available on all trim levels.

Each Wagoneer comes with braking assistance, rear-cross traffic alerts, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, lane departure warnings, automatic emergency braking, and forward collision warnings. Jeep also throws in a reversing camera designed to compensate for dynamic conditions.

Opting for the Series III trim provides drivers with auto high beams. And upgrading the Wagoneer with the convenience Group bundle adds a 360-degree camera, traffic sign recognition, intersection monitoring, parking assistance, and drowsy driver detection.

With all these advanced safety features, coupled with the Wagoneer’s size and precise handling, it’s little wonder drivers appreciated the feeling of safety it provides. And overall, the Wagoneer has a lot to offer drivers looking for a capable large SUV.