Review: The $82,000 Wagoneer is Jeep's new luxury SUV — and its high-tech features are my favorite part

• After 30 years off of the car market, the Jeep Wagoneer is back with a starting price of $69,440.
• We drove one on track and off-road. It was a Wagoneer Series II with four-wheel drive and a price of $82,075.

The original Wagoneer premiered in 1963, but was discontinued in 1991 for a 30-year time-out. Now, the all-new 2022 Jeep Wagoneer has returned to shake up the large luxury SUV class with a vengeance, impressing drivers with everything from its exterior style to its powertrain.

The all-new vehicle 2022 Jeep Wagoneer sports a sophisticated V8 engine, monstrous towing capability, an upscale cabin, a lengthy list of tech and safety features, and an all-around cultivated driving experience on pavement and cross-country. Jeep also added the all-new Grand Wagoneer to its lineup this model year, which is an even more upscale version of the SUV that starts at $88,440.

The Jeep Wagoneer comes in two trims:

• Series II ($69,440): comes standard with 20-inch aluminum wheels, all-season tires, a 10.1-inch Uconnect navigation display, and Nappa leather-trimmed seats, a 5.7-liter V8 engine with eTorque, and two-wheel drive
• Series III ($74,440): adds a head-up display, automatic high-beams, and a heated second-row bench, as well as additional options in its high-level packages such as 19 speakers

These prices are somewhat higher than the class average for a large SUV. Many competitors start in the $50,000 range, which is about 27% lower than the base Wagoneer.

On the high end, the top Series III trim with all the packages can reach a total of $80,000. However, there may be a Series I available later in 2022 for just under $60,000.

We drove the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series II with four-wheel drive, which had a total price tag of $82,075. Ours was packed with extras, including the velvet red pearl-coat exterior paint ($595), the Convenience package ($3,995), the heavy-duty trailer-tow package ($1,495), and the Premium group package ($2,995).

Under the hood, the Wagoneer Series II runs on a hefty 5.7-liter V8 engine that produces 391 horsepower and 404 pound-feet of torque, and is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The SUV's acceleration is prompt when you press the pedal, and it can earn 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA. Although those fuel-efficiency numbers may not be very appealing for those who want to save at the gas pump, it's still above average among rival large SUVs, many of which score as low as 13 mpg in the city.

Hopping into the high-end, noiseless cabin, the Wagoneer's commodious seats are trimmed with Nappa leather, a standard feature. Both front seats are power adjustable eight ways, ventilated, and heated — and the steering wheel is heated too, so you can stay cozy through the mountains or on your ski trip.

With a total of eight wide, comfortable seats, the Wagoneer is a great family vehicle, also featuring a tri-pane panoramic sunroof as part of the premium package, so everyone can enjoy the landscape from the cabin.

Other convenient comforts inside the Wagoneer include the standard 10.1-inch touchscreen coupled with the 10.25-inch cluster display setup comes with navigation, smartphone connectivity, and a 10-speaker sound system. There's also the option to add 10.1-inch backseat tablets that can stream Amazon Fire TV.

Driving on the pavement track, I found the Wagoneer's handling to be pleasing for such a large vehicle, offering a decent ride quality around the course. On the other hand, some of the hairpin turns felt a little tight to maneuver this monster-sized truck — I'm relieved I didn't have to park it downtown.

The 2022 Wagoneer hasn't been crash tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration yet, but it does have an impressive list of standard driver-assistance features.

It also has additional options like the surround-view parking camera and head-up display, some of my favorite high-tech features that help drivers keep their eyes on the road and see everything around the vehicle — including the cones, small trees, giant rocks, and drop-offs I navigated while off-roading in the Wagoneer.

Overall, the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer is making a big splash in the luxury large SUV category as it returns after 30 years with a high-class cabin, brawny powertrain, and luxurious features.