History/Overview
New for 2021, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe is Jeep’s first-ever plug-in hybrid vehicle. Aside from its gas-electric powertrain, it’s structurally identical to the regular Wrangler but is only available in four-door Unlimited form.
Available Trims
Jeep offers the Wrangler 4xe in Sahara, Sahara High Altitude, and Rubicon trim levels. As mentioned, all three are packaged in the Wrangler’s four-door Unlimited body; there is no two-door 4xe. All Wrangler 4xe models use a 2.0L turbo four-cylinder gas engine combined with an electric motor that can provide up to 40 km of electric driving on a full charge.
Standard Features
Outside, the Wrangler 4xe wears 20-inch wheels and tires (save for Rubicon, which gets 17-inch off-road tires), auto on/off LED headlights, LED fog lights and taillights, heated/power-adjustable side mirrors, underbody skid plates, and a three-piece removeable hardtop.
Inside, you get leather seats with manual adjustments (again, save for Rubicon, which has cloth), an 8.4-inch infotainment screen with navigation, a 7.0-inch driver info display, an Alpine stereo, leather-trimmed steering wheel, A/C with automatic temperature control, ambient lighting, and an integrated garage door remote.
Sahara High Altitude adds passive keyless entry, heated front seats, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and side steps (all of which the Rubicon leaves out).
Key Options
Wrangler 4xe options include off-road stuff like a limited slip rear differential, a trail camera, and a cargo management group.
Jeep also offers a dual-top (hard and soft) group, and a trailer towing package.
The advanced safety package adds forward collision warning/mitigation, adaptive cruise, and automatic high beams.
Fuel Economy
Jeep’s energy consumption estimates for the Wrangler 4xe are 4.8 Le/100 km when running on electricity alone. In gas-electric hybrid mode, the 4xe’s ratings are 11.6/11.9 L/100 km (city/highway).
Competition
There are a number of plug-in hybrid SUVs and crossovers available, but most are luxury models and none can compete with the Wrangler’s off-road mission, so for now, the 4xe is in a class of one.
