2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe combines the luxury side of the brand with many possibilities

For those who want a plug-in hybrid Jeep that isn’t a life-size Lego car, where the roof and doors and windshield fold down, your time has come.

Jeep has fitted the powertrain of the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid into the Grand Cherokee. Like its brother, 2022 Grand Cherokee 4xe sacrifice nothing in the transition to become more efficient — except your wallet. Just like with the Wrangler, plugging in comes with a hefty price tag.

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

Recycle and reuse

The Grand Cherokee 4xe spec sheet resembles a near-carbon copy of its windshield-folding brother. There’s a 2.0-liter turbo-4 with 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque paired with a 44-horsepower generator (connected directly to the crankshaft via wire. belt and replace the starter). A 17.3 kWh battery pack powers a larger 134 hp and 198 lb-ft electric motor, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The system’s total output is 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, making the PHEV the most powerful model in the Grand Cherokee range, with 18 hp and 80 lb-ft of torque compared to the Grand Cherokee. with the optional 5.7-liter V-8.

The same three powertrain modes, Hybrid, Electric and e-Save, have been switched and operate in the same fashion as the Wrangler. Hybrid is as it sounds, as is electric. The latter, though, will blow into the petrol engine if the accelerator is placed on the floor because the electric motor simply doesn’t have enough power. Using the Eco mode will require the system to save as much battery power as possible for future use in the best places — when off-roading on electric power or when driving at high-speed urban stops low level. The system can recharge the battery, using the ICE as a generator, in Electronic Economy mode at up to 3 kW under some conditions, although this is not an efficient way to recharge the battery.

For Level 1 chargers, Jeep says it takes 12 to 14 hours to recharge the battery, and that time drops to 3 to 4 hours for Level 2.

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

Totally possible

Despite having a split battery pack in its chassis (and a slightly smaller gas tank), the PHEV version of the Grand Cherokee has no performance capabilities and has a total driving range of 470 miles.

Over the course of a day and over about 200 miles of off-road and off-road driving, the Jeep delivered Its EPA rating is 25 miles of electric range, 56 MPGe and 23 mpg combined-most of. In mixed driving mode starting with the battery at 99% charge, the Grand Cherokee covered 24.5 miles before running out of juice and the powertrain switched to hybrid with an average of 23.5 mpg lined up. Exactly with EPA rating. But starting with a dead battery running in hybrid mode for about 100 miles of highways mainly into Austin, Texas, the 4xe only concentrated 18.5 mpg according to the trip’s computer. The V-8 and V-6 can do that and are better off without a full hybrid system.

Under electric power, the eight-speed automatic shifts smoothly with no problems and power is linear, but still not enough. Put your foot on the floor and the engine will kick in, but it takes a second. The V-8-assisted Grand Cherokee’s aim-and-fire nature is lost here though the PHEV’s 0-60 mph sprint is 6.0 seconds compared to the V-8’s 6.9 sprint. Finding a hole in traffic and plunging into it from a stop is tricky, as it’s hard to predict that the entire powertrain will wake up from its slumber.

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

In hybrid mode, when driving normally around town, the powertrain is very smooth, with active noise cancellation helping to cancel out the turbo-4’s noise and raw sounds at revs. But with nearly 6,000 lb of classic Jeep trailers and mailers hooked up to the rear of the 4xe (maximizing the 4xe’s towing rating, which we don’t recommend doing), revs increase and stay above 3,000 rpm to stay close to 40 mph. It’s easy to pull out of a stop thanks to the electric motor’s instantaneous torque, but quickly turbocharging becomes apparent while maintaining speed. During the gravel to tow test round, we were not able to safely hit 40 mph, which means speed and highway pass speeds will be left out for another day of testing. It is clear from our very brief initial testing that the 4xe can tow a rated 6,000 lb and has no shortage of power. But if towing is the main perk then the V-8 might be the better choice. Pulling is not an efficient operation.

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

The 4x off-road vehicle is a mixed bag. In theory, the instantaneous torque from the electric motor is good, but in practice climbing the rock face or over the rocks is a bit more difficult because the power is turned on or off like a light switch. in electric-only mode with throttle control of 4xe. This happens for some situations where the Grand Cherokee will sway back and forth because it is not easy to climb the slope smoothly.

Jeep says Max Regeneration mode mimics single-pedal driving in an EV, but it’s a stretch. Done easily via a button on the dashboard (and it stays on even with the 4xe pedal key), the system has more regenerative braking, but it’s most powerful below 40 mph. The system will not allow the Grand Cherokee to come to a complete stop without using the brake pedal, and it will move forward when you lift the brake. The Max Regeneration mode seems to react differently off-road in all-electric mode, as it holds the Jeep in place and helps tweak the power a bit so it slows down in tough situations.

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

Effective, but is it worth it?

Valuing the Grand Cherokee 4xe in 2022 is a puzzle. Base models are priced at $59,495 including fees up to $1,795. It’s based on the Limited model in the petrol-powered Grand Cherokee lineup, but is better equipped with a nine-speaker Alpine audio system, a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and an infotainment display. occupants in the front seats with a 10.0-inch touchscreen and a panoramic sunroof. similarly equipped means a premium $6,655 price tag. Bake the federal tax credit, if you qualify, and ultimately, the base 4xe can cost less than a relatively equipped Limited. A fully equipped Summit Reserve 4xe with night vision plus quilted leather and massaged front seats will increase the price from $80,000 before taxes.

This brings the 4xe closer to luxury territory, where the Volvo XC90 T8 Recharge and BMW X5 PHEVs live. Both are only a few thousand dollars more expensive in their basic form, are faster, more powerful, and more importantly, have more electric range. In the top-of-the-line Summit and Summit reserve trim, the Grand Cherokee 4xe is priced on its own, but in the lower trims it feels expensive and pushes the limits of value before the tax credits are withheld.

Considering that, if towing isn’t a primary goal, the 4xe makes sense—especially if you’re looking at a Limited or higher trim with a handful of options. It’s more efficient, more comfortable if you don’t want to drive, and no Volvo or BMW has this level of off-road capability.

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The Jeep drove me to Austin, put me to sleep in a hotel, provided me with some food, and took me to a ranch in the middle of nowhere Texas to bring you this first report.