It’s true that good things come to those who wait. Jeep has certainly taken its time developing new vehicles with alternative fueling solutions, leaving us to wait patiently for a glimpse of its latest innovations. Jeep has lagged behind competitors who have been launching new hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), and fully-electric vehicles (EV) at a rapid-fire pace. Although Jeep has been a little slow on the pickup, it’s delivered a high-quality option for its customers looking to go greener with the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe.
The 4xe comes equipped with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, currently offered with the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee. This eco-friendly Grand Cherokee has all the creature comforts of a luxury SUV, paired with the rugged, off-roading capability that the Trail Rated stamp of approval suggests. It’s brimming with some of the coolest technology available on the market, catapulting Jeep from a bystander to a leader in cutting-edge, modern vehicles.
Changing the Front Seat Driving Experience With Three Available Screens
If technology had an invasive species, it’d be the screen. They’ve taken over our phones, computers, and Taco Bells, leaving a trail of buttons and dials in their wake. Not even cars are safe, and the upper trim levels of the Grand Cherokee 4xe will greet passengers with a trio of dazzling screens. The 10.1-inch touchscreen sits front and center and houses all of your infotainment in a customizable display, which also comes in a 10.25-inch digital screen option.
It also comes equipped with a 10-inch head-up display that projects pertinent information on the windshield, like upcoming turns, speed, or any issues with the vehicle, so the driver doesn’t have to take their eyes off the road. Finally, the front passenger gets a screen to call their own, located directly in front of the passenger seat, giving those upfront control of the sound and navigation, as well as stream movies and shows. This impressive feature comes standard on some of the higher-end trims.
Something for the Audiophiles
In the car world, Bose and Harman tend to be the companies of choice for vehicle manufacturers looking to install premium audio systems in their vehicles. But, for the first time since the early 2000s, McIntosh is developing a vehicular sound system equipped straight from the factory. It can be found in Jeep’s higher-end vehicles, like top-trim Grand Cherokee and Wagoneer models. Cars aren’t the easiest environment for high-quality audio, but McIntosh kept the setting in mind when designing their sound systems, and Jeep has provided ample opportunity for its sound engineers to really shine with the 4xe.
Become One With Nature With the All-Electric Driving Mode
Picture this: you’re off the grid in your Grand Cherokee Trailhawk (new for the 2023 model year). The wind is blowing, and a creek gurgles nearby. The thrum of the inline-four, although pleasant in its own way, is detracting from the experience, so you switch to electric mode. The newfound silence that envelops you is sweet, allowing you to focus on wind, water, and the crunch of dirt under your tires. There’s something that just seems right about going fully electric outdoors, and with its 25 miles of range and Jeep’s network of charging stations at popular trailheads, this feat is a reality with the Grand Cherokee 4xe.
Ready to Tackle Outdoor Challenges With Quadra-Lift Suspension
Quadra-Lift is Jeep’s trademarked term for its air suspension technology. It monitors road conditions and adjusts ride height accordingly, making for a smooth and comfortable ride. There’s also a manual control inside the cabin, so the driver can lower and raise the suspension at will, allowing for up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance. For fans of fording, this means the Grand Cherokee can handle up to 24 inches of water.
Electrically Driven Air Conditioning Gives Your Engine a Rest
In HEVs and PHEVs, it’s common to run the A/C with the electric motors to take the strain off of the engine. While the boosted fuel economy is definitely a perk, the simplicity of an electrically-driven system comes with an especially exciting benefit. If you’ve ever had the A/C go out in your vehicle, you know it’s an uphill battle, with your wallet on one side and a slew of potential culprits on the other. The trial and error gets expensive pretty quickly, and before you know it, you’re sweaty and defeated in the thick of the summer. The beauty of a simpler A/C system is that its problems are easier to diagnose and repair, so a breakdown in the system doesn’t have to mean permanent surrender to the heat.
Drive Confidently With an Array of Safety and Security
Of all the technology found in cars, the features aimed at safety might be the coolest. Making our vehicles and roads safer for everyone is an admirable goal, and Jeep has made it a priority with over 110 standard safety and security features in its vehicles. This includes your typical driver assistance features, like adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, and adds fresh tech to the lineup. Night vision, for example, utilizes infrared sensors to scan for people and animals up to 328 feet away, displaying any detection’s position on the instrument panel in front of the driver. The alliterative drowsy driver detection monitors driver activity and will suggest the driver pull over to take a break if signs of sleepiness are detected. Sometimes we just have to be told to get that extra cup of coffee.
Strong Enough to Compete With Its Gas-Powered Competition
The biggest technological feat of the Grand Cherokee 4xe is undoubtedly its powertrain. The gasoline engine and electric motor mashup found in PHEVs tend to be fussy, but the engineers over at Jeep have ensured that all of the components of the 4xe powertrain run harmoniously. At the front of the vehicle, we have a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Attached to that is the first of two electric motors. The second motor is built into the TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic transmission. A 400-volt battery located under the vehicle’s floor houses energy and is charged via an outlet or regenerative braking. These can then power the electric motors, providing instant torque when accelerating from a stop without waiting for the engine to reach certain RPMs.
When maximizing the four-cylinder engine and electric motors, the 4xe powertrain can get up to 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, with a max towing capacity is 6,000 lbs. Aside from being strong, the 4xe powertrain is also smart. It has three driving modes, giving the driver the power to be picky about the car’s energy consumption. There’s the typical hybrid mode, which has a fuel economy rating of 56 MPGe. Electric mode gives the four-cylinder engine a rest, fully utilizing the motors and battery for its power needs. The final driving mode is E-save, wherein power mainly comes from the four-cylinder engine so that electric power can be conserved for future use.
Jeep Might Be Late to the PHEV Race, but It’s Quickly Taking the Lead
Jeep’s roots lie in innovative technology; the company got its start designing recon vehicles for the United States’ war efforts in World War I, which proved to be revolutionary. Jeep also invented the modern SUV and is credited with coining the phrase “Sport Utility Vehicle.” Today, Jeep is redefining the SUV once again as a versatile, eco-friendly machine that’s just as much at home on the trails as it is on the roadway. The company may be off to a late start in the HEV, PHEV, and EV market, but it hit the ground running with the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, ensuring the products it puts out are high quality, innovative, and original. With intentions to continue releasing more tech-heavy, fuel-friendly vehicles, Jeep continues to be a leader in the SUV segment.
