The Jeep Wrangler is a barrier-free all-terrain machine that aims to go around, over, or through anything in front of it, no matter the terrain. Plug-in hybrid variant? Similar deal.
With an EPA rating for electric driving range of 22 miles and 20 mpg combined with gas once you’ve fully charged it, the 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe 2023 makes plugging in electricity worthwhile.
I went off-road with the powertrain of a 4xe in one Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, but how does it feel to live with Wrangler in a real, everyday paved world in winter? A snowy week in Minnesota with the plug-in all-terrain vehicle proved that the 4xe’s efficient technology had absolutely no compromise on ability.
2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe
Power mode not available
The four-door Jeep pulled into my driveway with a fully charged 17.3 kilowatt-hour battery pack. The instrument cluster shows an electric driving range of 24 miles and the powertrain is in e-Save mode, which helps maintain battery charge so the electric car later drives the Jeep using only the 2.0-liter turbo-4. , making 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque by itself.
It has a snowstorm, with the condition of losing everything. Naturally, I pulled the stubborn all-wheel drive selector to 4Hi (also 4Lo with 4.0:1 crawl ratio) and pressed the Power Mode button to try running the Jeep on electricity only. An error that pops up on the driver info screen is basically “I can’t do that, Dave.”
Even though the battery pack was fully charged, the Jeep knew it couldn’t go all-electric under current conditions without affecting one of the vehicle’s systems.
25 degree white-off conditions require hard work from the climate control system, with the front defrost active, the rear defrost on, the climate control set to 70 to keep warm the rest of the glass and also the heated steering system. heated wheels and seats to warm me up after standing outside taking pictures. The battery pack simply doesn’t have enough power for all the auxiliary systems plus propulsion in the situation, according to the error presented to me.
2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe
When the blizzard subsided, we were left with about 7 inches of fluffy white fur on the ground and the plug-in Jeep really came into its own with 33-inch BFGoodrich K02 All-Terrain tires. It seems unstoppable.
With the vehicle system inactive, the 4xe had no problem driving around town on electricity alone, even when driving a four-wheeler. I’ve fully charged it several times during my winter week with the Wrangler just for my day job driving the kids to activities and running errands. The wheeled box seems to travel an average of about 20 miles before it runs out of power and the petrol engine kicks in, although ambient temperatures fluctuate in the single digits and are low at night and as low as mid-years. 20 during the day.
During the 310-mile mixed drive, the Wrangler’s plug-in powertrain used the petrol engine for 218 miles, with a practical 4x driving range as a hybrid only somewhere south of 20. mpg.
2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe
Moderately light throttle
As with the Grand Cherokee 4xe, if the accelerator is placed on the floor, the 134 horsepower and 198 pound-feet of torque electric motor clamped to the eight-speed automatic transmission will quickly pair up with the gasoline engine. , even if the 4xe is in Power Only mode. Total system output is 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque.
The week with the Wrangler Rubicon 4xe was our first experience with Jeep’s plug-in powertrain in cold weather. The transition from electric to hybrid mode was more difficult and more pronounced in cold weather than in the warmer temperatures we’ve experienced. had previous experience in Wrangler 4xe. While running on electric power, the delivery is smooth and easy to adjust, and in hybrid mode the externally tight-coupled systems occasionally increase the number 1-2 or 2- 3 locally when it’s cold. But it’s the power transfer when the gasoline engine starts from sleep that always seems to be especially grumpy in cold weather.
2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe
Plug protection
Most PHEVs place the charging port on the lower front fender near the wheels or on either side of the rear quadrant panel that simulates the fuel inlet. Wrangler goes its own way with the charging port at the base of the A-pillar on the driver’s side. The port is hidden and away from anything that could damage it while off-road.
Above 240-volt AC, as will be powered by Solar charger Jeep Plan to build new off-road roads, it says a full charge will take 2 to 3 hours. On a 120 volt outlet, about 12 to 13 hours will be required. These estimates are consistent with my actual experience.
2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe
Jeep has packed a 17.3 kWh battery pack under the rear seats, which means the Wrangler’s packing is essentially the same as a petrol-powered model. For real change, we’ll have to wait for Jeep to put the electric Wrangler into production based on magnet concept (hey, Jeep, give us a call, we want to drive that thing).
2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe
Good, but not perfect
The Wrangler’s trademark weaknesses are still here despite the plug-in powertrain. Its steering is still vague and sloppy, the car can jolt when traveling on broken pavement and make loud noises. The final part is what happens when a car has the shape of a brick and both the roof and doors can open up.
What debuted as a suggested $49,490 has become more expensive in the last year. A 2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is now priced at $56,530, including a ridiculous $1,795 destination fee, $200 less than just a few months ago. My Rubicon Tester costs $69,385, but is currently listed for $71,975. It’s expensive, but capabilities aren’t cheap.
For reference, an equally equipped petrol-only 4-door Rubicon costs $63,535, $8,440 less than a similarly equipped 4xe. That’s a lot of gas, though the Wrangler 4xe is currently eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit. Surely the price difference is not a coincidence.
Offers a larger battery 50 miles of electric car driving and a more powerful electric motor will really strengthen the Jeep Wrangler 4xe’s position as the efficiency king of the adventure-ready world. But since no Ford Bronco has a plug, the Wrangler is now your plug-in hybrid all-terrain King.
