First Drive: 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Offers Silent Off-Roading for a Price

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is the first-ever plug-in hybrid version of the iconic American off-roader. The 4xe’s combination of a turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors gives the Jeep mighty quick acceleration, thanks to a total system output of 375 hp and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. It adds yet another powertrain choice to the already lengthy options list of the popular Wrangler SUV that includes a turbo-four, V6, and a V8.

But the bigger selling point of the 4xe (pronounced “four-by-E”) may be its electric-only driving range of about 22 miles, which comes courtesy of a 17-kilowatt-hour battery pack located under the rear seat. That’s enough range to save some fuel and appease your inner environmentalist, especially for drivers who mostly stay local. Plus, it can make for some very quiet off-roading.

While the 4xe version—especially in the Rubicon trim that we rented from Jeep—retains all of the Wrangler’s vaunted off-roading chops, the hybrid powertrain does have some hiccups, and the vehicle is efficient only if buyers plug it in to recharge its battery every day. Plus, longstanding Wrangler downsides remain, including clumsy handling and a boisterous cabin.