Auto review: Jeep goes green with arrival of the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid

In a world where the unthinkable now seems commonplace, Jeep has gone and given the iconic Wrangler a serious dose of green cred in the form of the hybrid-electric Wrangler 4xe (four-by-E), to be followed by a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe later this year.

"We’ve made the commitment to be the greenest SUV brand," said Jim Morrison, head of the Jeep brand during the model’s initial test drive last week.

But the question remains, is it a real Jeep Wrangler? Putting it through its paces at Inks Ranch in Llano, Texas, the answer is an unqualified yes.

So what’s different?

Offered in Trail-rated Sahara and Rubicon trim the Wrangler 4xe’s differences start when you approach the driver’s door. There, perched next to it on the fender, is the plug to recharge the 400-volt, 17-kWh, 96-cell lithium-ion battery pack, a chore that requires a mere two hours with a 240-volt outlet, or an endless 12 hours using 110 volts. This nets you 21 miles of pure EV driving, enough to cover most Americans commute for those of you who still have one.

One powerful Wrangler

But there are differences you can’t see, such the Jeep Wrangler 4xe's powertrain. It consists of two electric motors; one acts as the starter/alternator while the second mates to the eight-speed automatic transmission, which lacks a torque converter. They’re paired to a turbocharged 2.0-liter double-overhead-cam four-cylinder engine, used in the Wrangler since 2018, and an eight-speed automatic transmission that produces 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. Only the V-8-powered Wrangler 392, rated at 470 horsepower, is more powerful.

Once you try the 4xe, you may not miss the 392’s extra juice; 0-60 mph takes a mere six seconds, although it feels faster. The instant torque that its electric motors provide make the Wrangler 4xe a kick to drive in civilization, which is typically not a Wrangler’s strong point. The 4xe’s electric power funnels directly through the clutch to the wheels, so there’s no delay waiting for the torque converter in the transmission to shift. The hybrid driveline and its added weight, most of it low in the chassis, provides an unexpected benefit; the Wrangler 4xe feels surprisingly planted at high speeds, something you’d never say of its siblings.

And don’t be fooled by the EPA ratings of 20 mpg in combined highway mode; an hour-and-a-half mix of city/suburban/highway driving west of Austin, without any attempt to hyper-mile, returned 25 mpg — not bad for a vehicle with the aerodynamics of a brick. Yet it can tow up to 3,500 pounds and ford 30 inches of water.

The rest of the story

Consider that the Wrangler 4xe starts at $47,995 for the Sahara and $51,695 for a Rubicon before a $7,500 federal tax credit. Once you figure it in, and add the $1,495 destination charge, the 4Xe Sahara costs $41,990 before options, while the 4xe Rubicon costs $45,690. That’s a difference of $1,325 and $1,475 respectively compared with their standard versions. Yet the EPA states that the cost to fuel the 4xe over five years will save you a mere $1,000, meaning it will take you 6.6 to 7.4 years before you’ll see any additional fuel economy savings. Make the most of its EV mode, however, and the savings could come sooner.

Nevertheless, the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is about more than its monetary savings; it’s about burning less fuel, something that only adds to its off-road athleticism.