Is the Jeep Wrangler 4xe a good off-road vehicle?
Is the Jeep Wrangler 4xe a good off-road vehicle?
Now in stock at Akins CDJR!
Yes, the new Jeep 4xe Wrangler is a hybrid vehicle but has all the capabilities you would expect of a genuine Jeep. There is nothing less than 80 years of off-roading tradition at stake here so you can rest assured the engineers at Jeep have made the 4xe an absolute off-roading machine.
Not only is reputation involved, the 4xe is the first salvo in Jeep’s push to electrify all of its models in some form. The manufacturer insists that adding hybrid capabilities to their 4x4 vehicles will make them better at off-roading than ever before. Maybe even better! For example, the Jeep 4xe PHEV offers a mind-blowing 470 lb-ft of torque. Contrast that with the diesel 3.0-liter V-6 version rated at 442 lb-ft of torque.
How can a PHEV have more power than a Diesel?
Well, to start, it has three motors. That’s right, the 4xe essentially has three drive motors in it: a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four gas engine plus 2 powerful electric motors.
Motor number one is the inline-four is mounted up in the front of the Jeep, as they have been for decades. The second motor is a 33-kW, 44 horsepower motor that is bolted directly to the gas inline-four. The third motor is a beefier 100-kW, 134 horsepower unit that is mounted within the transmission housing.
So, back to our question: why is the 4xe Wrangler so powerful? Because all three motors can be powered up simultaneously and this combo puts out a whopping 470 lb-ft of torque.
What models will Jeep offer of the 4xe?
For 2021, Jeep will offer three Wrangler models: 4xe, Sahara 4xe, and Rubicon 4xe. The drivetrain capability matches the model. The first two get full-time 4×4 systems, front and rear Dana 44 axles, and the Selec-Trac two-speed transfer case with a 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio. The rugged Rubicon 4xe gets the Rock-Trac 4×4 system with a two-speed transfer case with 4:1 low-range gear ratio, full-time 4×4, Dana 44 axles, and Tru-Lok electric front- and rear-axle lockers.
Can the 4xe Wrangler operate just on battery power?
Yes, it sure can and this is one of the great features of the 4xe – quiet off-roading!
The Wrangler 4xe offers three “E Select” drive modes. Hybrid is the default and blends power from the gas and electric drivetrains. In Electric mode, the Wrangler 4xe runs on battery power only until it runs low on juice and the gas engine kicks in. Finally, eSave mode prioritizes the gas engine, saving the battery for later.
The Wrangler 4xe offers three “E Select” drive modes. Hybrid is the default and blends power from the gas and electric drivetrains. In Electric mode, the Wrangler 4xe runs on battery power only until it runs low on juice and the gas engine kicks in. Finally, eSave mode prioritizes the gas engine, saving the battery for later.
Can the battery packs get wet when fording deep water?
No, the designers at Jeep have this covered. The 400-volt, 17 kWh battery packs are not only mounted high under the second-row seats, they are encased in an aluminum housing with a dedicated heating and cooling circuit. Not only the batteries but all the high-voltage electronics and wiring in the 4xe are sealed and waterproofed.
See the new Jeep Wrangler 4xe at Akins Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram today!
If you are considering a new Wrangler, we urge you to come on down and see what all the excitement is about.
We currently have several Wrangler 4xes in stock and a member of our high-regarded sales team would love to show you one!