Jeep is among the oldest of vehicle brands, and it sells one of the most traditional, well-established models in the U.S. (and global) market. But it’s also evolving to keep pace with a changing world. And the latest Grand Cherokee 4xe, a plug-in hybrid model with a 25-mile all-electric range, is the latest example of Jeep’s evolution. The 4xe follows Jeep’s introduction of the Grand Cherokee L last year, the first 3-row-seating version of Jeep’s premium SUV, and one that helped Grand Cherokee have its best sales year since 2001.
If the thought of a Jeep-badged plug-in hybrid seems somehow counter-intuitive to your Jeep sensibilities, you haven’t been paying attention. This is the brand’s second plug-in hybrid model. The first was last year’s Jeep Wrangler 4xe, the best-selling plug-in hybrid in 2021, despite an April introduction that only had it available for 8 months. Jeep also unveiled its first all-electric model last month, confirming the brand’s readiness for an electric future.
But what does an electric future mean for Jeep, and how does this drivetrain technology impact the traits Jeep fans have come to know and love in the brand? According to Jeep representatives, the 2022 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe builds on the Trailhawk’s capabilities, with disconnect sway bars and a limited-slip differential, plus best-in-class approach and departure angles. It also includes the Trailhawk’s standard Quadra-Lift air suspension with 10.9 inches of ground clearance and up to 24 inches of water fording.
Where things get interesting is how the plug-in electric drivetrain enhances the Trailhawk 4xe’s capabilities, making it more capable than the traditional internal combustion model. For example, this version is nearly a second faster from 0-60 mph while getting a 56 MPGe rating. It’s also got that trademark, electric-motor-provided instant torque, plus a two-speed transfer case with a 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio, both of which come in handy when climbing over rocks and up steep inclines. This setup also helps the Grand Cherokee 4xe earn a 6,000-pound tow rating, and total range rating of 470 miles, including the aforementioned 25 miles of all-electric travel.
The engineering behind these numbers starts with a turbocharged 2.0-liter, inline 4 cylinder engine offering 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. This engine is mated to a 134 horsepower, 195 pound-feet of torque electric motor, along with a 44 hp/39 lb-ft of torque starter/generator motor, plus an 8-speed automatic transmission. Total drivetrain power is rated at 375 hp and 470 lb-ft. A 400-volt battery pack, mounted below the rear seat and charged through a port in the driver’s-side fender, takes 2 hours and 15 minutes to fully replenish from a 240-volt level 2 charger, or 12 hours from a standard 110-volt household outlet.
Perhaps one of the Grand Cherokee 4xe’s coolest features is the ability to charge the battery while driving. A bank of buttons on the lower left side of the dash lets drivers switch between standard hybrid mode, all-electric mode, and an “e-save” mode that can maintain the battery’s state of charge for future use — for instance, when you want to off road with zero noise by using only the electric motors. This e-save mode can also be set to actually charge the 400-volt battery up to a preset level while driving, either to 40, 60, or 80 percent of charge. This should be possible with any plug-in hybrid, but the Grand Cherokee is one of the few plug-ins to offer it.
While we were immediately intrigued by this feature, we honestly wondered how long it would take to charge the Grand Cherokee 4xe’s large battery pack through normal driving conditions. To our surprise, we captured over 40 percent of the battery’s state-of-charge on our drive from downtown Austin to an off-road park less than 100 miles away. That was using both e-save mode and the most aggressive regenerative braking setting, which has the Jeep applying the brakes whenever you lift off the throttle. As with most hybrid and electric vehicles, a short acclimation period is all it takes to learn to lift off the accelerator and let the car’s brake system slow you while benefitting from the vehicle’s forward momentum.
Once at the park we put the Trailhawk 4xe to the test on an aggressive off-road course that had us using the two-speed transfer case, 47.4:1 crawl ratio, hill descent control, sway-bar disconnect and 10.9 inches of ground clearance. We also appreciated the exterior cameras that make placing the Jeep exactly where you want it while navigating through trees and over sharp rocks. This Grand Cherokee is easily among the top 10 most capable off-road vehicles you can buy right now — probably top 5. And having the ability to climb over hill and dale with immense torque, and with zero sound, brings a new dimension to the experience.
Our off-road seat time quelled any concerns we had about the Grand Cherokee’s non-pavement proficiency, but we can’t forget what’s made this model so successful over the past 30 years. As one of the first premium SUVs you could buy in the early 1990s, the Grand Cherokee has always provided a savvy balance between off-road adventure and on-road luxury. The current Grand Cherokee elevates this doctrine to a new level, offering plush interior materials, confident handling, a vast array of advanced tech, and a quiet cabin (even when not in all-electric mode). Quilted Nappa leather massaging seats, multiple 10-inch touchscreens, a head-up display, and a 19-speaker McIntosh audio system are among the highlights available.
We’re particularly smitten with the latest Uconnect 5 interface, which continues Uconnect’s tradition of providing in-depth vehicle information and personalization options through an intuitive interface. This system is now Amazon Alexa and Amazon Fire TV compatible, has dual phone connectivity, and benefits from over-the-air (OTA) updates. We also appreciated the straightforward infographics in the gauge cluster that made monitoring the Grand Cherokee’s driver-assist systems easy. The list of standard driver-assist technology, including forward collision warning and brake assist (with pedestrian and cyclist detection), lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, smart cruise control, and rear parking sensors, is another bragging point for the Grand Cherokee 4xe.
This much capability, luxury, and technology doesn’t come cheap, though at a starting price of $59,495 (including a $1,795 destination charge), there’s a strong value argument for even the base Grand Cherokee 4xe, which includes the driver-assist tech mentioned above, leather seats, a passenger-side 10-inch touchscreen, 18-inch wheels, a dual-pane sunroof and Quadra-Trac II four-wheel drive. The $64,280 Trailhawk upgrades to the Quadra-Drive II 4x4 system, the air suspension, locking differential, sway-bar disconnect and off-road cameras. The $67,555 Overland 4xe gets 20-inch wheels, premium audio and a dual-pane sunroof, while the $71,05 Summit 4xe adds exterior upgrades, four-zone climate control, perforated Nappa leather, massaging seats and additional driver assist technology, including parking assist.
For the ultimate luxury and technology experience, a Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe package includes a head-up display, night vision technology, quilted Palemo leather seats, open pore walnut trim, suede roof pillars and headliner, ventilated front and rear seats, manual second-row window shades, wireless phone charging, and 21-inch wheels for $76,095. This combination of advanced technology, both inside the cabin and powering the vehicle, is a sneak peak at things to come, as Jeep says every model it makes will offer an electrified version by 2025. And with the execution of this latest Grand Cherokee 4xe, we’re fine that plan.
