10 Things You Should Know About The Jeep Wrangler 4xe

The Wrangler 4xe takes forward Jeep's legacy into the electrified future, and here's everything you need to know about it.

Jeeps have been an American obsession since WWII, and they continue to drive on with the new Wrangler 4xe. For anyone looking to scratch off owning a Jeep from their bucket list this new Wrangler is the perfect candidate. Being one of the biggest and most well-known automakers in the world is a tough spot like a heavyweight boxer defending the title. Jeep has to come up with innovations and updates in the 2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe whilst not straying too far from the previous year or from the overall established concept of what a Wrangler is and year after year, Jeep seems to make it a slam dunk. The Wrangler 4xe was first released back in 2021 and since then has been a mainstay of Jeep, getting good reviews and being a good performer for the automaker. Wranglers have always been about options giving their drivers freedom, sans doors, four-wheel drive, and rugged off-road capability, and now adding modern tech and features like hybrid design and other options take versatility to a new level. Here is a dive into ten things everyone should know about the Jeep Wrangler 4xe that makes it such a hit with critics and the public alike.

Related: Why The Jeep Wrangler 4xe Is The Best Off-roader Money Can Buy You

Traditionally, the Wrangler and Jeeps in general are not very good on gas mileage, but the 4xe is a hybrid which makes it a different story. Wranglers are big, powerful, boxy, non-aerodynamic, off-road, four-wheel drive capable cars which are known to make it a bit of a gas guzzler. A Jeep Wrangler 4xe MPG in gasoline-only mode is only 20 mpg, but in hybrid mode, it gets a whopping 49 mpg which is impressive for a big heavy Jeep and a lifesaver for American Jeep fans whose wallets are strained by the current exorbitant cost of fuel. The SUV even has an all-electric mode with an estimated range of 21 miles, again as part of the Jeep tradition they provide options for the drive with these three aforementioned ride modes.

The overall look and design of Jeeps are iconic and have remained pretty consistent with their army roots and that is a very good thing. Jeep has endured as one of the top rugged American cars because of its classic angular look with sharp edges that look at home by the beach, off-road, or at the stop light in town. The outer design looks very much like a traditional Wrangler as most people would expect from a car that says Wrangler on the side. In fact, except for some exclusive color options, you would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between the 4xe and standard Wrangler models, which is perfect since the traditional look is what most expect and have come to love.

Related: 10 Facts About The Jeep Wrangler 4xe

Jeep is always big on providing options and provides different options for charging with Level One & Level Two chargers. Both of the available chargers can be professionally installed at a customer's home or workplace for convenience. The Level One chargers can take almost 12 hours to fully charge a Jeep Wrangler 4xe Rubicon for example. Meanwhile, the newer Level Two charger can charge a Rubicon 4xe in as little as just two hours to a full power load. The chargers can be installed either indoors inside a garage or outdoors on say a driveway and provided 25-foot cord gives plenty of leeway. Jeeps also adds the feature of being able to access the chargers via Wi-Fi to control charging and check levels on a smartphone with Jeep's proprietary app.

The Wrangler 4xe has a lot going on for it with tons of models and options to choose from again the theme of Jeep gives consumers a lot of choices. For 2023 there are 4 base models, Wrangler Willys 4xe, Wrangler Sahara 4xe, Wrangler Rubicon 4xe, and finally Wrangler High Altitude 4xe. All of them, except for the Willys 4xe model, have a sturdy 3,500 pounds of towing capacity. Most of the models have a vast array of colors to choose from, the Willys having the most with 11 to pick from and a few less for the High Altitude 4xe has a more modest five colors and all four models have two different interior color schemes to choose from. Most of the color hues for the Wrangler 4xe lineup are unique to make the series stand out, with colors like Punk’N Metallic (orange metallic) and Firecracker Red to help make the Hybrid SUVs stand out.

Related: Why The Jeep Recon EV Isn't A Real Jeep

As one would expect in a modern vehicle let alone an electric or hybrid, the new Wrangler 4xe series packs plenty of cool technology and gear for drivers. One really cool feature is using the SUV's built-in Wi-Fi hotspot service that can be purchased optionally through AT&T for reliable 4G LTE service that can supply internet connection to up eight devices up to 50 feet away from the vehicle. Another great feature is the UConnect system which comes with an 8.4-inch touchscreen that can be used for navigation and other apps via the UConnect 4C Nav hub. It's also an option to use voice commands to access the features on the UConnect system and can be linked to Amazon's Alexa for synergy with other applications and accounts. The hybrid Wranglers also sport a seven-inch Digital Cluster Display that can be customized to the stats the driver would most like to see.

By doing something Jeep has only done with Wranglers but making it a hybrid it becomes the first hybrid SUV that is an open-air vehicle. One popular feature that Jeeps and Wranglers have always enjoyed is its open-air conversions for either enjoying a day at the beach or a rugged adventure off-road. This feature while not unique to Jeep is synonymous with the brand and in particular with Wranglers and anyone who wanted to enjoy this experience with a hybrid SUV was out of luck… that is until now. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is now the very first electrified open-air SUV making it quite groundbreaking. Now, for those wishing to conserve fuel or perhaps more concerned with their carbon footprint can now enjoy this classic driving mode in an efficient hybrid vehicle while sampling all the fresh air and getting some much extra vitamin D on their next driving adventure.

Related: Why The Jeep Recon EV Will Set The Electric Off-Roading Scene On Fire!

A fairly common feature with hybrid and electric vehicles is the ability to charge while the car is braking, and Jeep makes solid use of this concept and technology. Through what is known as a regenerative braking system, as the driver brakes or simply eases up on the gas pedal the inertia that keeps the wheels moving momentarily shuts off the motor and allows it to act as a generator storing the charge created by rotation of the wheels. This means that drivers can stretch their time between charges by driving efficiently using inertia to help keep their cruise going as long as possible. This type of system is obviously beneficial to any electric vehicle that it is equipped with but becomes especially important when the subject at hand is a large SUV that would otherwise use up a lot of fuel and energy, particularly when driving in all-wheel drive mode.

When someone hears the word "Jeep" the images that are conjured up are of a tough, all-terrain vehicle with plenty of power to make it through all kinds of situations and the Wrangler 4xe certainly continues this legacy. Jeep is the first in the auto industry to have a PHEV or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle with front and rear locking differential. The PHEV can pump out a solid 375 horsepower with a strong 470 pound-feet of instantaneous torque. The battery in the engine is a 17 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and electronics are waterproof so if the 4xe needs to forge a stream or small river (within 31.5 inches in depth) in some offroading it is no problem for this hybrid. The turbocharged PHEV packs all power and performance that everyone comes to expect from Jeep whether driving down the street in town or on some dusty path out in the wilderness.

Related: Why The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Should Be Your Next Purchase

Electronic keys and ignition are pretty common fare here in 2023, so it is no surprise at all that Jeep is incorporating this technology into its new Wrangler 4xe line. However, Jeep is doing what it can to up the ante on this modern standard feature with a new little trick. Unlocking the car is very easy, one just needs to have the key in their pocket, bag, purse, or somewhere on themselves and simply lift the door handle, and the doors will unlock and open for the driver automatically. Locking the car up of course can be done easily remotely by simply clicking the lock button on the fob key. The "keyless" ignition is of course pretty common and standard for what expect to see on today's cars in the marketplace along with the other typical abilities of honking the horn to help find the car in a crowded parking lot and remotely opening the back gate.

While most EV automakers are focusing on building their charging station networks starting with the most densely populated areas Jeep is choosing to go off the beaten path, meaning on off-road trails. Using solar-powered stations Jeep is making sure drivers can charge up before hitting most of the major trails around. The charging station initiative is being headed by Volkswagen and is shoring up to be particularly popular since using the charging network will be absolutely free. The charging network will be using the Level Two charging technology so charging up before hitting the trail can be done in as little as two hours. Jeep lovers can power up their 2022 or 2023 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4xe Rubicon for free and ride in 4x4 glory and kick up the dust.

Jonathan has been enthusiastic about cars and motrocycles since he was a teenager. He learned to ride when he was 19 and loved it ever since. Passionate especially about Vintage bikes like Vincents, Indians, Harley's, Triumphs, and American cars of the muscle car era. Jonathan is currently saving for his dream car, a Silver 63' Stingray.