Jeep will eventually go all-electric, but along the way, it’s got a few stops in plug-in hybrid land. The automaker introduced a Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) a couple of years ago and followed it with a Grand Cherokee 4xe. The 2022 Wrangler 4xe picked up new color and exterior styling options, updated tech, and new available axle ratios.

The 4xe comes in four-door Wrangler Unlimited form only, and it’s offered only in Sahara, Rubicon, and High Altitude trim levels. It’s powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that combine for 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. This setup is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive (4WD). The Wrangler 4xe comes with selectable drive modes that allow the driver to reserve battery power or run on electricity only. Plug-in hybrids offer all-electric range, which for the Wrangler 4xe means 21 miles of battery-powered driving.

Looking at the 4xe, there are no blaring giveaways that it’s not a standard Wrangler. Blue tow hooks and body graphics are good indicators, but from a distance, it’s not immediately clear that you’re looking at something special. The four-door SUV is available with several top options, including a hard top, a roll-up soft top, a powered soft top, and sunbonnet-style tops.

Cloth seats come standard, but Jeep offers upgraded cloth and leather upholstery upgrades. Heated front seats are available. A wash-out interior comes standard, bringing removable carpet and drain plugs to quickly dry the cabin.

A 7-inch touchscreen comes standard, running the excellent Uconnect infotainment software. The colorful, responsive interface offers an easy way to interact with the Jeep and makes using the stereo less distracting while driving. A larger 8.4-inch display is available, but all models come with SiriusXM radio, a 115-volt power outlet, a nine-speaker Alpine stereo with a subwoofer, and more.

Jeep offers several safety and driver-assistance upgrades for the Wrangler 4xe. Buyers can add blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, a rear parking assist system, hill-descent control, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warnings, and more. Some options are bundled into options groups and cannot be ordered individually.

The Wrangler returned mixed results in crash tests with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), earning a “Marginal” score in small overlap front driver-side and updated side tests. The SUV’s headlights scored “Marginal” or “Poor,” depending on the trim, and its seatbelt reminder system earned a “Marginal” score.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4xe starts at $54,595 before options, taxes, and destination. The Rubicon 4xe starts at $58,790, and the top High Altitude 4xe starts at $60,170. Jeep offers a wealth of upgrades for the SUV, including expensive powered tops, an off-road camera system, all-weather floor liners, a cold weather options group, and an advanced safety equipment package.