The Jeep lineup was joined by the Wrangler 4xe in 2021, making it the brand's first-ever plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. The 4xe powertrain gives the Wrangler a 2.0L turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine and a 400-volt battery pack powering two electric motors. The first electric motor replaces the alternator at the front of the engine to provide a seamless start/stop function and regenerative braking. Meanwhile, the second electric motor is mounted inside the eight-speed automatic transmission, taking the place of the torque converter to provide instantaneous torque to the wheels. The name 4xe stands for four-by-electric, combining the phrases four-by-four and electric. Therefore, just like the standard Wrangler, the Wrangler 4xe comes standard with 4x4. The Selec-Trac full-time automatic 4x4 system is used by the Wrangler 4xe for phenomenal traction on all road and weather conditions. The Rubicon trim comes exclusively with Rock-Trac 4x4 for greater all-terrain capability. This setup gives the Wrangler 4xe 470 lb-ft of torque, 375 horsepower, a 370-mile total driving range, 49 MPGe, and a 21-mile all-electric driving range. The Wrangler 4xe is everything we know and love about the Wrangler with the efficiency of a PHEV!

After the instant success of the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Jeep rolled out the Grand Cherokee 4xe in 2022. Using the same system, the Grand Cherokee 4xe achieves the same power numbers of 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. Aside from being different models, there are two main differences between the Grand Cherokee 4xe and the Wrangler 4xe. First is the efficiency numbers. The Grand Cherokee 4xe achieves 56 MPGe, a 470-mile total driving range, and 21 miles of all-electric driving. The second difference is the 4x4 systems. The Grand Cherokee 4xe comes standard with Quadra-Trac I 4x4, splitting the torque by 52% in the rear and 48% in the front. Meanwhile, Quadra-Trac II is available, adding a two-speed transfer case. Quadra-Trac II senses changes in road conditions and automatically adjusts the torque distribution to best maintain traction. It also adds a 4-Low mode for better control while driving at low speeds on tough terrain. Lastly, Quadra-Drive II is similar to Quadra-Trac II, but it adds an electronic limited-slip rear differential to send up to 100% of available engine power to the single rear wheel with the most traction.

Any PHEV owner will tell you that there is a wide range of benefits to owning one. These benefits are due to the seamless meshing of gas and electric power. PHEVs provide drivers with excellent fuel efficiency by mainly using electric power and only using gas power to supplement additional power when the driver requests it. To control the efficiency of the 4xe models, Jeep gave them E-Selec drive modes; Hybrid, E-Save, and Electric. Hybrid mode prioritizes electric power but will kick on the gas-powered engine as necessary. Meanwhile, E-Save can be activated to disable the electric motors to save the battery's power and run solely on the gasoline engine. E-Save automatically turns on when the battery is depleted. Lastly, Electric mode does the opposite, it disables the gas engine to provide drivers with silent, zero-emissions driving. The Wrangler and Grand Cherokee's on and off-road performance are also enhanced by the 4xe system because of the immediate torque provided by the electric power. This allows Jeep 4xe models to go beyond where other PHEVs would turn back, thanks to the superior off-road capabilities.