by Matt Konkle
Torque Editor-in-Chief
Jeep recently announced its newest Wrangler edition, a plug in hybrid JL, will be entering production by the end of this year, and is expected to reach showrooms in early 2021. And while the vehicle is not an entirely new generation of Wrangler— Jeep just did that less than three years ago — this version will have some exclusive graphics and features, new ‘4xe’ badging, as well as a standout charging port just to the engine side of the driver’s door.
Oh, and it is going to pack plenty of power as well.
So if the thought of owning one of the first electrified Wranglers makes you reach for your checkbook, here are five things to know about this unique vehicle.
It’s Not Fully Electric
Much has been made about the electric aspects of this upcoming Wrangler plug-in hybrid. But before you run out and purchase one under the impression you can now skip every gas pump, you should know the vehicle is not entirely electric.
Plug-in hybrid means this Wrangler is powered either by an electric motor or, when that is depleted, through a traditional gasoline engine. And the operator can choose how he or she wants that power through Jeep’s ‘ESelec’ system that has options of an all-electric mode, hybrid, or gas power.
As far as its electrification, engineers designed two electric motors for this Wrangler — one a high-voltage, liquid-cooled motor generator unit at the front of the engine, replacing the conventional alternator, and the other a high-voltage motor generator mounted at the front of the transmission case and replacing the conventional torque converter. In a recent press event, Jeep said those motors would be powered by a 400-volt, 17-kWh, 96-cell lithium-ion, nickel manganese cobalt battery pack that is encased in an aluminum housing, and will sit beneath a redesigned back seat.
The gasoline-powered engine is what Jeep is including in many of its Wrangler JL lineup; a 2.0L turbocharged inline four cylinder set up.
Power
On-demand torque. Just those three words alone are enough to get many off-road drivers salivating. Sure, the gas powered Wrangler engine does a passable job by giving owners either 260 lb-ft from the 3.6L Pentastar, or 295 lb-ft from the 2.0L four-cylinder. That torque number expands dramatically for those choosing Jeep’s 3.0L ecoDiesel engine that tosses out 442 lb-ft. However you should know that none of those traditional engines compares to the plug-in hybrid Wrangler’s 470 lb-ft of torque — all of it instantly available when you press on the skinny pedal.
Horsepower isn’t an issue from this vehicle either, as the hybrid produces 375 horses — far surpassing either the Pentastar’s 285 ponies or the 2.0L turbodiesel’s 270. And although the 3.0L ecoDiesel does have the closest torque output to the hybrid, that engine’s horsepower does fall significantly short at only 260hp.
All of which does make the hybrid a powerful vehicle both on and off road.
Fuel Tank Size
With the addition of many new components designed to work with electrification, and thanks to space constraints, Jeep engineers made the decision to place a somewhat smaller fuel tank on this Wrangler edition. That may cause some fuel anxiety for those used to larger tanks, but you should know that even though you’ll have a bit less fuel space on this version, chances are you won’t even notice a difference.
First, the electrified Wrangler is said to get about 50 MPGe which works out to a 25-mile range on its electric charge. With the average commute sitting at 30 miles per day, that means many drivers will barely have to touch the vehicle’s gas capability, except on longer trips.
Second, this 4xe Wrangler employs regenerative braking so most of the energy generated when stopping gets stored and then put back into the battery in order to lengthen the charge.
Finally, making sure you utilize the correct ‘E Selec’ mode for your driving conditions will help sip fuel while ensuring the electrified motor works as efficiently as possible. That means selecting hybrid or eSave during heavier stop-and-go type traffic, and then swapping to Electric mode during more free flow driving, in order to see the most benefit.
Off-Road Ability
The Jeep Wrangler 4xe’s amazing 470 lb-ft of available torque is probably all that needs to be said here for its off-road ability. But it is important to understand a few other things this Jeep offers to help it take on most off-road challenges.
To start, no, you won’t have to worry about finding a charging station on the trail if you deplete the electric charge as you'll still be able to take advantage of the 2.0L turbocharged engine if you run out of juice. Just as a side note, Jeep does plan to install some stations in a few popular spots like the Rubicon and Moab, Utah, so it is possible there will be charging stations coming soon to a trail near you. But for now you do have two ways to keep trail time going. Also, going back to the vehicle’s ‘E Selec’ modes — that lets you choose between all-electric performance, hybrid, or eSave — you can pick what you want for the best performance. This means you can choose, say, the eSave setting for the trip to the trailhead, and then swap to all-electric to take advantage of that massive torque.
Additionally, you won’t need to worry about a water crossing shorting out those important new components that electrify the vehicle. All of those pieces are sealed and waterproofed, so they will continue to perform as intended no matter the conditions.
Finally, this new vehicle retains just about everything that makes a Wrangler, well, a Wrangler. Stuff like next-generation Dana axles, Selec-Trac (or Rock-Trac) transfer case for powerful low-range performance, almost 11 inches of body clearance, 30 inches of water fording ability, and an approach angle (44 degrees), breakover (22.5) and departure (35.6)—all just about levels that are even with the traditional Wrangler JL.
And of course, even though the Wrangler 4xe does have some electrified parts, nearly everything on the vehicle is entirely modifiable. Just like Jeeps have been for 80 years now.
Available In All Trim Levels
If you are worried about this plug-in hybrid Wrangler only reaching showrooms in, say, the high-end Rubicon trim level, or its own unique version, you should know that Jeep does plan to offer the 4xe model across all Wrangler trims. It is not a concept vehicle, or a limited production run that will fetch a high purchase price from a small segment of buyers.
It is simply an expansion of the Wrangler JL world into an area that more and more Jeep vehicles will enter over the next few years.
And by offering this 4xe in any trim, it means those who are excited about the functionality of this plug-in hybrid, but really don’t need the luxury of a Sahara trim, or beefier off-road Rubicon styling, can certainly choose the sport version and save a few dollars for future modifications.
