The 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe is a new plug-in hybrid off-road vehicle that aspires to travel around, over, or through whatever is in front of it, regardless of the terrain. With EPA estimates of 22 miles of electric driving range and 20 mpg combined on gas once you burn through a charge, the 4xe makes plugging in worthwhile. A recent snowy week in Minnesota with the plug-in off-roader revealed that the 4xe’s efficiency technology comes at no sacrifice of usefulness.
The four-door plug-in Jeep came into my driveway with a fully charged 17.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack. The gauge cluster stated 24 miles of electric driving range and the powertrain was in e-Save mode, which maintains the battery’s charge for electric driving later, operating the Jeep exclusively off the 2.0-litre turbo-4, with 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque on its own. It was blizzarding, with white-out conditions. Naturally, I moved the stubby four-wheel-drive selection into 4Hi (there’s also 4Lo with a 4.0:1 crawl ratio) and clicked the Electric mode button to attempt to operate the Jeep exclusively on electric power. An issue flashed up on the driver information page effectively stating, “I can’t do that, Dave.”
Despite the battery pack having a full charge, the Jeep understood it couldn’t operate in all-electric mode in the present circumstances without compromising one of the vehicle’s components. The 25-degree white-out conditions called for the climate control system to work hard, with the front defroster on blast, the rear defroster on, the climate control set to 70 to keep the rest of the glass warm, and both the heated steering wheel and seat heaters on to warm me up after standing outside taking photos. The battery pack just didn’t have enough power for all the auxiliary systems plus propulsion given the scenario, according to the mistake shown to me.
Once the storm faded, we were left with around 7 inches of white fluffy snow on the ground, and the plug-in Jeep really came into its own with its 33-inch BFGoodrich K02 All-Terrain Tires. It appeared unstoppable. With the car systems not set on blast, the 4xe had zero difficulties driving about the city on electric power alone, even in four-wheel drive. I burned through a full charge multiple times over my winter week with the Wrangler in just my day-to-day driving, shuttling kids to activities and doing errands. The box on wheels appeared to average around 20 miles before the electric power ran out and the gas engine would ignite, despite ambient temperatures hanging in the single digits and low to mid-20s throughout the days.
Over the duration of 310 miles of combined driving, the Wrangler’s plug-in powertrain utilised the gas engine for 218 miles with real-world mileage somewhere south of 20 mpg.
As with the Grand Cherokee 4xe, if the accelerator is slammed to the floor, the 134 horsepower and 198 lb-ft of torque electric motor that’s sandwiched in the 8-speed automatic gearbox will be rapidly joined by the gas engine, even while the 4xe’s in Electric-only mode. The total system output is 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque.
The week with the Wrangler Rubicon 4xe was our first encounter with Jeep’s plug-in engine in frigid weather. The transitions from electric to hybrid mode are notably harder and more obvious in the cold than in warmer weather we’ve encountered earlier in the Wrangler 4xe. While operating on electric power, the supply is smooth and simple to modulate, while in hybrid mode the transitions are not as fluid. However, this is to be anticipated when dealing with the increased complexity of a hybrid engine in adverse weather conditions.
Overall, the 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe is a strong off-road vehicle that performs well in icy circumstances and has a fantastic electric driving range. The e-Preserve mode is a beneficial function that enables drivers to save electric power for later usages, such as in city driving or for off-roading. The 4xe’s electric power also allows for a quiet and smooth driving experience while in electric-only mode. While the transitions between electric and hybrid mode may be unpleasant in cold weather, it is a tiny trade-off given the additional efficiency and off-road capabilities that the 4xe delivers.
In conclusion, the 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe illustrates that plug-in hybrid technology might be a realistic alternative for off-road aficionados. It provides a tremendous electric driving range, excellent off-road capabilities, and the extra advantage of being able to reserve electric power for later use. While it may not be the right vehicle for everyone, it is a decent alternative for those searching for a powerful off-road machine with the extra efficiency of a plug-in hybrid engine.
