If there’s one thing government enforcement officials love more than using tax dollars, it’s driving huge unmarked SUVs. For years, GM has almost exclusively been the supplier of these vehicles. Motorcades and FBI agents everywhere are always full of unmarked Chevy Tahoes and Suburbans. Now it seems as if another automaker is trying to get in on the unmarked government vehicle game: Jeep.
All new this year, Stellantis fleet is introducing the Jeep Wagoneer L Unmarked Investigation SUV. Jeep is hoping the Wagoneer L’s massive size and power will become a staple for government use now that the V8-powered Charger is gone, a promotional document for the Wagoneer L described:
Whether leading an investigation or leading a motorcade, the Wagoneer L Unmarked Investigation SUV commands respect — providing an exceptionally capable and comfortable mobility platform no matter when or where its service is required.
Government agencies will be able to customize their Wagoneers with a number of options to meet their needs. There are siren are speaker systems, emergency lighting on places like the front grille and visors, window tint, and a power distribution center. There’s even a pre-delivery road test to ensure that everything is working properly for government use. This is all in addition to the 420 horsepower twin-turbo I6 engine. The problem with the Wagoneer L, however, is its massive size.
Sure, that size comes in handy in something like a motorcade. But as an investigative, undercover vehicle, you’d think a Fed would want something a little less… noticeable. The Wagoneer L is a full inch longer than a Chevy Suburban. It’s also exactly the same length as the old Ford Excursion, which was a behemoth that roamed American roads back in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
But in a world where even the presidential limo is a vehicle made by GM, Jeep might have a hard time breaking into the world of government fleet vehicles, especially on a vehicle that starts nearly $15,000 more than one that’s been used for years.