2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe

　　

2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　No vehicle captures the spirit of adventure quite like the go-anywhere, do-anything Jeep Wrangler. And when you choose the Wrangler 4xe ("four-by-e") plug-in hybrid, you can go anywhere and do anything purely on electricity. Granted, the Wrangler 4xe's EPA-estimated electric range of 22 miles isn't much to brag about, but if you keep the battery charged, it definitely helps this electrified Jeep to tread lightly.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Jeep Wrangler 4xe PHEV Insights

Trim:Wrangler 4xe Willys

　　Willys 4dr SUV 4WD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $54,735 MSRPSahara 4dr SUV 4WD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $56,845 MSRPRubicon 4dr SUV 4WD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $60,585 MSRPHigh Altitude 4dr SUV 4WD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $62,620 MSRPRubicon 20th Anniversary 4dr SUV 4WD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $69,585 MSRP

　　

All Electric Range

　　22 miles

　　EPA Estimated Electric Range

　　The Wrangler 4xe will automatically switch to gas when the electric battery is low.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

Hybrid Parts Warranty

　　8 yrs or 100,000 milesHybrid batteries are federally mandated to carry at least 8 years or 100,000 miles of warranty coverage from the manufacturer. Batteries that lose capacity more rapidly than expected should be eligible for replacement under warranty. Coverage of additional hybrid components beyond the battery itself will vary by automaker.

　　

Charging at Home

　　2.4 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$4,150

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Federal Credit

　　$3,750

　　Restrictions: Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Clean Vehicle Tax Credit of $3,750 or $7,500 depending on model eligibility for the purchase of a new plug-in electric vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits may be initiated and approved at the point of sale at participating dealerships registered with the IRS. Dealers will be responsible for submitting Clean Vehicle Tax Credit information to the IRS. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of an IRS "time of sale" report, confirming it was submitted successfully by the dealer. To be eligible: A vehicle must have undergone final assembly in North America (the United States and Puerto Rico, Canada, or Mexico). Critical mineral and battery component requirements determine credit amount. Maximum MSRP of $55,000 for cars and $80,000 for SUVs/trucks/vans. Income eligibility applies depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　See All PHEV incentives

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$168/mo

　　Wrangler 4xe

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　See All PHEV Insights

　　To create the 2023 Wrangler 4xe, Jeep pairs a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, a battery pack, an eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. Together, these components produce 375 horsepower. However, once you've used up the battery charge, this plug-in hybrid Jeep gets just 20 mpg, which is equal to or worse than the fuel economy figures for all Wranglers except for the V6 with a manual gearbox and the mighty Wrangler Rubicon 392. As you can probably tell, the key to making a Wrangler 4xe purchase worth it is to keep that battery charged up. Otherwise, the price premium isn't worth it.

　　Of course, any Wrangler you choose offers the off-roading performance you expect combined with a removable top and doors to let the outdoors in. And with the Wrangler 4xe, you can enjoy your immersion with nature in complete, blissful and near total silence. Want to learn more? Be sure to read our Expert Rating below to get an in-depth analysis of the Wrangler from our testing team.

　　

What's it like to live with?

When Jeep last redesigned the Wrangler for the 2018 model year, we performed an 18-month long-term test of the iconic off-roader. It did not have the Wrangler 4xe's plug-in hybrid powertrain, but our experience with a V6-powered Rubicon might still prove instructive. If you want to find out what it's like to live with this Jeep, check out Recurrent.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Wrangler 4xe drive? The 4xe, with its turbocharged four-cylinder engine augmented with a plug-in hybrid system, boasts 375 hp. That's a significant boost over the Wrangler's base V6 and regular turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Our fully charged test Wrangler Rubicon 4xe accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 7 seconds. That's respectable, although the regular four-cylinder Wrangler isn't far behind (7.4 seconds).

　　The extra weight of the 4xe powertrain (our test Wrangler weighed 5,275 pounds) does take a toll on braking performance. In a simulated-panic stop from 60 mph, our Rubicon 4xe needed 150 feet to come to a stop — that's considerably longer than most SUVs need. Otherwise, the brakes are pretty consistent and easy to use in typical driving.

　　The Wrangler Rubicon's off-road prowess is impressive thanks to its big tires, disconnecting front stabilizer bar and lockable differentials. The 4xe has slightly less departure clearance than a regular Wrangler due to the extra protection needed for the battery, but we think that's a small trade-off for what you gain.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Wrangler 4xe? The robust construction that gives the Wrangler its ready-for-anything personality also contributes to a rough ride — especially in the off-road-ready Rubicon trim. The boxy design and large tires create a heap of wind and road noise, especially with the optional power-retractable soft top. We did notice that the extra weight of the 4xe powertrain helped to settle the Wrangler's ride on the highway a little.

　　The Wrangler doesn't place much importance on passenger comfort, but among the highlights, the front seats are well shaped and remain livable on long trips. The rear bench is flatter and firmer, but it reclines a bit. We like the effective climate system, which also features rear air vents.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below