Jeep Wrangler 4xe | Iconic 4x4 With Party-trick
Back when the electrification of automobiles took off again, a lot of people wondered how 4x4s would ever hop on that train.
Mercedes-Benz has announced their G-Class will get an EV variant within a matter of years, there's the full EV Rivian, and Jeep launched their plugin hybrid Wrangler 4xe. A hybrid? Yes, but definitely not one that just keeps CO2 emissions at bay. No, this hybrid puts torque in that 4x4 drivetrain just how you want it to.
Let's get one thing very straight from the beginning: the Jeep Wrangler 4xe is still a 4x4 vehicle with all the hardware that comes with that title. It's not an AWD vehicle that uses an electric engine on one axle and the petrol engine on the other. No, this Wrangler is a thoroughbred 4x4. One that packs a PHEV drivetrain, which makes it a lot cheaper in countries that have CO2 based tax systems like the Netherlands. Sadly, that doesn't work for every country and that goes for Belgium as the car costs €69.550 here compared to € 50.550 for the entry level Wrangler. But is it still a Jeep Wrangler when it's a 4xe? I'm convinced it's actually the Wrangler that carries this bizarre concept into the future. A future where there's hopefully a BEV version of the Wrangler. Hopefully? Yes, that's a positive word I'm using. Why? Because my week with this Wrangler 4xe has made me understand why Americans love this loud, somewhat uncomfortable car with a cramped interior.
So what is it?
Worth mentioning is that 4xe is pronounced as "four by e" and not "four-x-e." Also worth mentioning is that the Wrangler 4xe comes in the three flavours you're used to: the normal Wrangeler, the Sarah, and the Rubicon version. The one in this test is the standard Wrangler spec. All three of these get the same drivetrain however, one that needs some explaining. Why? Becaue it isn't your standard PHEV layout. There's a 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 pushing out a maximum of 270 hp and 400 Nm. Nothing strange yet. There's a 17.3 kWh battery with a max charging speed of 7.4 kW and about 40 kilometers of electric range, still nothing out of the ordinary. Then there's an electric starter-generator pushing out 44 hp and 53 Nm, still wondering what's different? Jeep puts an electric integrated transmission traction motor inside the 8-speed transmission, one pushing out another 134 hp and 245 Nm. That means that EV power can work with gear reductions and that's useful stuff in the 4x4 world.
Add all that power up correctly and the 4xe drivetrain can push out a maximum of 375 hp and 637 Nm!! That's more punch than ever for European customers, excluding the grey market of imported Jeeps with V8s. It's more than just power though, this unique drivetrain allows for electric, hybrid or pure petrol driving on any surface. There's a handle that allows you to switch between 2WD High, 4WD Auto, 4WD High, and 4WD Low. First mentioned is the most fuel efficient, just powering the rear. Second mentioned is an AWD setting and allows for the fastest acceleration, sub 6 seconds for this 4.8 meter long, 1.8 meter wide, and 1.8 meter tall car that weighs close to 2.5 metric tonnes. Latest two drive modes speak for themselves, the latter giving a ratio of 2.72:1 in the standard Wrangler.
But it isn't all plusses. Where the majority of manufacturers have masterd smooth transitions between power sources, the 4xe can be as unrefined in those transitions as its looks can be called elegant. When in EV mode, the petrol engine will only engage when you fully floor the gas pedal and will do so with a delay that feels like seconds. And it's not like you won't ever floor it in EV mode, the 4xe weighs in at 2369 kilograms and the electric propulsion is only just powerfull enough to keep up with traffic. But when you're just coasting along in traffic, the electric power will offer a rather serene experience well up to 100 KPH. And due to the recuperation, you're able to drive with just one pedal.
In hybrid mode the 4xe has a tendency to have the same delay in switching on the petrol powerplant. Yet at highway speed, the whole drivetrain works in harmony without noticeable switches. When in hybrid and on the highway, the 4xe manages an impressive fuel efficiency despite it having the aerodynamic properties of a brick.
There's also an 'EV Save' mode which spares the battery for later and that function made more sense than ever before in a PHEV. Why? Because you want that electric juice when you're off-roading the Wrangler 4xe. Living in the city I had to drive 40 minutes to get a decent 4x4 playground, the car running on just the 2-liter engine means it won't drop below 10l/100km though. Steering is overly eagerly to respond to input, and the drive on the highway is loud due to the windshield being nearly upright. Good thing the Wrangler packs a massive set of speakers to compensate.
But when you finally get to the 4x4 turf with a full battery, serenity ensues. There's a unique tranquility that comes from off-roading with just the buzz of an electric engine (and the lack of petrol fumes). Being "trail tested" as Jeep calls it, the Wrangler feels bizarrely capable off the beaten path. It's almost as if the car doesn't belong on the road. All the flaws you're faced with on the road vanish when you leave it. The steering now becomes communicative instead of the vage and overreactive character it has on the road. Suspension and damping follow the same logic too, as for the 4xe drivetrain.
Party trick
As impressive it is in off-roading, as impressive is its party trick of stripping it down to the bone. I spend an afternoon with my dad discovering how it works. You really need a minimum of two people for this and preferably three when you take of the roof. Jeep has made it incredibly easy to remove the doors, roof, and even the windshield can be put down. All done with a toolkit they provide and with your own hands. Cables, bolts, and fluid lines diconnect with ease and after 30 minutes on our first ever attempt, we found ourselves in a whole different car. I completely fell in love with this party trick, it's so unique and compliments the beforementioned serene electric off-roading even more. You'll be hearing grass brush against the inside of the car while you crawl up a hill.
Unique, full of contrasts, crude, yet loveable
So is this ladder-chassis-based 4x4 from America something you want and does it work as PHEV? It's definitely an experience I wish everyone to have, albeit renting, leasing or actually owning one. It's not the most refined machine on all turfs by far but it will give you a wider range of experiences than 99% of all cars on sale today will. From silent off-roading to transforming into a whole other vehicle, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe does it all. And opt for the 80th anniversary edition like this one and €2.500 will give you a decent level of trim as well. It includes a leather dashboard, leather steering wheel and leather upholstery for the seats. One thing though: the infotainment screen could use some more brightness as it's hard to read when you're without a roof. But like anything wrong with the car, all is forgiven due to the rich character. Lovely, unique automobile this.
