2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe made a statement with its distinctive appearance and unique sound. Aside from a "4xe" badge and sky blue accents, it looked much like a regular Wrangler, with the power port at the left base of the windshield being the only notable difference. When the battery had enough charge, the SUV moved silently, save for the pedestrian notification system's whine, which drew attention as it navigated Yosemite National Park. Our Firecracker Red Rubicon trim test vehicle, loaded with over $13,000 in options, came with a price tag of $66,690, including destination charges. Inside, the Wrangler 4xe retained the classic Wrangler look with some added soft-touch materials and special PHEV-related gauges and displays. The controls were functionally laid out, and the interior, while not luxurious, was better outfitted than previous Wranglers.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe continued Jeep's tradition of blending heritage with modern design. The iconic seven-slot grille returned, now with active shutters for improved aerodynamics. The Grand Cherokee 4xe was available only as a two-row, five-passenger SUV, with trim levels including the base 4xe, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve. Our test car, an Overland trim, featured a silver exterior with a black roof and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Grand Cherokee 4xe felt upscale, even in its base trim, with amenities like leather seats, wood and metal accents, and heated and ventilated front seats. However, there was a noticeable amount of hard plastic below the hip point, which raised concerns about durability and noise over time.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with two electric motors and a 17-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. This setup delivered 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, allowing the Wrangler 4xe to accelerate to 60 mph in six seconds. The battery provided an estimated 21 miles of pure electric driving, with an efficiency rating of 49 MPGe combined. When used as a hybrid, the EPA rated its fuel economy at 20 mpg combined, with a total driving range of 370 miles. The Wrangler 4xe offered three powertrain modes: Hybrid, Electric, and e-Save, each catering to different driving needs. During a weekend road trip to Yosemite, the Wrangler 4xe covered 757 miles, averaging 19.1 mpg, with 120.9 of those miles on electricity.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe's plug-in hybrid powertrain combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with a 400-volt, 17-kWh battery pack, delivering 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. This setup provided a total driving range of 470 miles and an efficiency rating of 56 MPGe. The battery pack supplied 25 miles of all-electric driving range, four more than the Wrangler 4xe. The Grand Cherokee 4xe featured an electronic front-axle disconnect to save fuel and the same E Select powertrain modes as the Wrangler 4xe. It also offered regenerative braking with a Max Regen setting for one-pedal driving. The Grand Cherokee 4xe's off-road capabilities were enhanced by two available systems: Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II, with the latter offering more advanced features for serious off-roading. The Trailhawk trim boasted a maximum of 10.9 inches of ground clearance and a 24-inch wading depth. However, its towing capacity was limited to 6,000 pounds, less than the V6 and V8 models.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe's high door sills and lack of side steps on the Rubicon trim made entry and exit challenging, especially for shorter passengers. Once inside, the Wrangler 4xe offered a classic driving position with a clear view over the hood. The front seats had manual height adjusters, but storage space was limited due to the hand-brake and transfer case lever. Rear-seat passengers had access to air conditioning vents, USB charging ports, a 115-volt power outlet, and MOLLE-style storage straps. Cargo space measured 27.7 cubic feet behind the back seat, expanding to 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded down. However, the swing-out tailgate and flip-up rear glass window could make loading cargo difficult in tight spaces.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, available only as a two-row SUV, offered ample space for passengers. Folding the second row of seats down increased cargo space from 37.7 cubic feet to 70.8 cubic feet, slightly more than the previous generation. The available air suspension allowed the Grand Cherokee to lower itself for easier loading and unloading. Despite testing the vehicle in hot conditions, the standard heated steering wheel would be a welcome feature in colder weather.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Rubicon's technological advancements were primarily related to its plug-in hybrid powertrain and 4WD system. It featured a Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services. A WiFi connection was available, and the Alpine sound system could overcome freeway wind noise, though it made conversation difficult. The Uconnect system was intuitive but showed signs of aging in terms of load time, responsiveness, and graphics. The Trip Summary data panel provided charging time estimates, and the five blue charging indicator lights on the dashboard were helpful for viewing charging status.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured the latest Uconnect 5 infotainment system, an Android-powered interface with customization options like the My Pages feature. The Grand Cherokee 4xe included multiple screens, such as a 10.25-inch front-passenger display, a frameless 10.25-inch digital driver information display, and optional dual rear-seat entertainment screens with Amazon's Fire TV for Auto. The 19-speaker McIntosh stereo system, available on higher trims, was one of the best in the industry.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe offered several advanced driving assistance systems, including blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The blind-spot warning system was particularly useful due to the Wrangler's narrow side mirrors. The LED headlights were effective but rated Marginal by the IIHS, while the standard headlights received a Poor rating. The Wrangler earned a four-star frontal-impact crash-test rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe came with standard safety features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rear parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection-collision assist, night vision, front parking sensors, and a 360-degree surround-view camera. A hands-off driver assistance feature suite was announced but required additional hardware. Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA had crash-tested the 2022 Grand Cherokee or the Grand Cherokee 4xe at the time of writing.