The Jeep brand has long been known to keep up with trends in technology and performance and push the envelope with what its vehicles are capable of regarding technology and performance. Many people are drawn to the Jeep Grand Cherokee because of its ability to go off-road while maintaining a luxurious experience inside the cabin, complete with plenty of technology and performance features to keep drivers and passengers entertained, informed, and safe. However, many drivers are also looking to change over to an electric model. That’s where the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe comes in, perfectly melding luxury interior tech with a hybrid powertrain to create an exciting driving experience.
If you’ve been looking for a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe for sale, you’re probably well versed in at least the basics when it comes to this particular model. However, if you want more information on the newest technology features to make your driving experience more connected, you’re in the right place. Here are three of our favorite infotainment and connectivity tech features for the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe.
#1: 4xe Passenger Screen: What It Can Do & How It Helps
I remember when people kept paper maps in the glove compartment, and the driver would ask their co-pilot in the front passenger seat to look up street names, highways, and other information on the maps. It was a harrowing process, depending on the abilities of the co-pilot, especially if there was a turn coming up or an exit that needed to be taken. After the advent of the internet, we were able to find directions online via MapQuest, Yahoo! Maps, or Google Maps, but we had to print them out or write them down before we left the house because our phones did not have internet yet.
Now, of course, our phones are capable of navigating for us using apps like Google Maps and Waze, but it isn’t a good idea to look at your phone while driving. So, many newer vehicles are equipped with a navigation screen and the ability to follow vocal instructions by the driver. However, sometimes you decide at the last minute to find a restaurant, or you need to quickly find a place to charge up, and you need the passenger to handle setting up the navigation. Hence, the 4xe’s 10.1-inch passenger screen, which has a multitude of functions, including available navigation.
This is the first time Jeep has offered a passenger screen in the Grand Cherokee, so it will be interesting to hear how people like it. I, for one, think it is an excellent idea, partially because of the navigation issue. I remember too many swerves and screeching halts while the driver tries to set up navigation. The main selling point of the passenger screen is that it allows the passenger to pull up directions and send them to the driver’s display so that the driver can keep both hands on the steering wheel.
Of course, there are other perks to the passenger screen, including but not limited to the ability to use wireless headphones, listen to podcasts and music, and stream movies and television via Amazon Fire TV. When you’re stuck in traffic, waiting in line at a fast food restaurant, or even going through the car wash, you can turn on the passenger screen and entertain yourself until the driver asks for directions again.
#2: The Driver’s Center of Command
The driver’s screen is available as a 10.1-inch touchscreen and is able to save up to five user profiles, along with simultaneous dual-phone connectivity and a customizable home screen. Drivers can switch when one of them needs a nap or a break to eat, and everything will adjust to the new driver as long as they have a profile in the system.
One of the best features of the driver’s information system is that information can be displayed on the windshield, which means the driver never has to take their eyes off the road in order to check speed or other information. The Head-Up Display will give you all the pertinent information without any of the unnecessary data so that you get exactly what you need. Don’t worry; there is still a 10.25-inch Driver Information Digital Cluster Display behind the wheel, so all of your driving information, charge level, fuel gauge, and navigation are all right there.
Other helpful features include the digital screen in the rearview mirror that gives you a high-definition picture of what’s behind you, thanks to the LCD monitor in the rearview mirror and a camera on the back of the vehicle. You can turn it off if you want the regular rearview mirror view, but when you’ve got packages piled high, people holding luggage on their laps, or a big item that is blocking your view, it’s a handy tool to have.
#3: Charging Your Phone the Easy Way
Along with the multitude of tools to help you navigate, connect, and enjoy your ride, there’s also an incredibly practical feature that tech-oriented drivers are going to love: the wireless charging pad. The wireless charging pad allows compatible phones to charge while the vehicle is on, which means that you’ll never run out of battery or have to tear up the glove compartment or middle console trying to find a cord that fits the phone. Cords are messy and unsightly, so having a charging pad will help keep the area clear and make it easy to stay powered up.
This is also helpful when you have multiple phones and need to take turns charging. You won’t have to switch out cords, or fumble with finding the right plug, which means the driver once again will only have to focus on the road instead of trying to keep one eye on the road while scrambling to charge a dying phone. There is also the added perk of not always needing your phone since there’s a digital touch screen for the driver and a screen for the front seat passenger, so you can just drop it on the pad and not think about it until you reach your destination.
Now that the Qi charger is standard across multiple platforms, if your phone is a certain size, it should fit, regardless of name, brand, age, etc. This means that your Apple-obsessed brother can charge his iPhone 13, and then you can charge your Android phone without switching anything out. However, if a bunch of people need to charge their devices, there are plenty of places to do so, with USB ports in every row.
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Is Rugged Yet Sophisticated
While the Jeep brand is synonymous with tough, rugged, off-road adventures, the Grand Cherokee is like the more sophisticated older sibling of the Jeep Wrangler, especially when it comes to the interior. It’s more luxurious, and there are many more tech features that we did not cover here. That’s not even mentioning the excellence that comes from its hybrid powertrain. If you’re looking for a capable, comfortable ride with premium technology, you don’t need to go any further than the Grand Cherokee 4xe.
Tech is an ever-increasing part of our daily lives, and automakers like Jeep are quickly learning to keep up by offering more and more to keep us connected. From simple things like the wireless charging pad that just make your day-to-day easier to more exciting things like a multi-use passenger screen, there is a lot for tech-lovers to get excited about in the 2022 Grand Cherokee 4xe.
