2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe PHEV

Electric vehicles may be the shiny new objects in the car world and command lots of attention, but that doesn't mean you should ignore plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) like the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe (starting at $60,360), which benefits from dual electric motors and offers better fuel economy than its gas-only competitors. This SUV's high-end tech, advanced driving features, and off-road pedigree make it a worthwhile choice for people who want to gradually shift into a greener future, but we're less enthusiastic about its tepid performance and boxy appearance. It's also simply not as fuel efficient as other PHEVs. If reducing your dependence on gas is your biggest concern, look to the more affordable, all-electric Tesla Model Y, our Editors' Choice winner. Just don't expect it to handle rough terrain as well as this Jeep.

Lots of Power, But Underwhelming Electric Range

The all-wheel drive (AWD) Grand Cherokee 4xe comes in four trims, all with a 2-liter, inline, four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine that produces 375 horsepower and 470lb-ft of torque. Two electric motors, a 400-volt, 17KWh battery pack, and an 8-speed automatic transmission round out the under-the-hood specs.

The EPA rates the vehicle's combined fuel economy at 23 miles per gallon (MPG), which is five more miles per gallon than the V8 version and two more than the six-cylinder edition. But that number doesn't take the electric motor into account. With that in play, this vehicle gets a more impressive 56 MPGe rating. Keep the electric battery charged if you want to achieve that second number.

If you opt to rely solely on the electric motor, the Jeep can take you around 25 miles, a distance we easily achieved in testing. That slightly beats what we got with the Jeep Wrangler 4xe (22 miles on the 2021 model), but several other cheaper electric hybrid SUVs offer better all-electric range (and MPGe), including the Kia Niro (33MPG, 108MPGe) and the Ford Escape (37MPG, 105MPGe).

All-electric vehicles of course offer a much more usable gas-free range. For instance, the base Ford F150 Lightning can travel around 240 miles per charge, the BMW iX xDrive 50 gets 324 miles, and the all-wheel drive Volvo C40 Recharge offers 226 miles of range. The Tesla Model Y Long Range gets an even more impressive 330 miles before it requires a recharge. This is all to say that if you want to quit gas vehicles entirely, there are much better alternatives.

Features Galore

As mentioned, the base 4xe trim starts at $60,360. It comes with exterior features such as 18-inch aluminum wheels with all-season tires, active grille shutters, automatic headlamps, exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals and memory settings, front fog lamps, LED daytime running lights, LED taillamps, and a power liftgate.

On the interior, you get eight-way power front seats, driver seat memory, dual-zone automatic climate control, a garage door opener, heated front and rear seats, leather seating, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a panoramic sunroof. Keyless entry and push-button start functions are also standard.

In terms of tech, the base model features a nine-speaker/506W audio system, a 10.1-inch touch screen with the Uconnect 5 Nav infotainment system, a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel, an AM/FM HD Radio, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, dual front and rear USB ports, navigation, satellite radio, and Jeep Connect Services with a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot.

Standard driver assists include adaptive cruise control, auto high beams, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-path detection, front-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection and automatic emergency braking, hill-start assist, lane departure assist, rear parking sensors with automatic braking, and a rearview camera,

The Trailhawk off-road trim is new for 2023 and starts at $65,755. It adds 18-inch, machined aluminum wheels with all-terrain tires, ambient interior lighting, approach lighting, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, hill-ascent and -descent control, leather and suede seats, LED headlamps, an off-road camera, power-folding side mirrors, trailer-hitch zoom for the rearview camera, and ventilated front seats.

The Overland trim we tested starts at $68,375. Upgrades on this model include a 19-speaker/950W McIntosh premium audio system, 20-inch aluminum wheels, automatic reverse-tilt exterior mirrors, Nappa leather seats and armrests, front parking sensors with automatic braking, a hands-free power liftgate, rain-sensitive windshield wipers, roof rails, traffic sign recognition, and wood and chrome interior accents.

Our test vehicle also came with the $2,155 Luxury Tech package, which includes four-zone automatic climate control, 12-way power front seats with massage functions, passenger seat memory, second-row window shades, and a wireless charging pad. Furthermore, the $2,235 Advanced ProTech II package adds a backup camera washer, a heads-up display, intersection-collision assist, a map instrument cluster display, night vision with pedestrian and animal detection, an off-road camera, semi-automated driving, and a surround-view camera. We also sprung for the Silver Zynith exterior paint ($495) and Interactive Passenger Display ($1,095) extras. With a destination charge of $1,795, the total sticker price came to $75,655.

The flagship Summit trim starts at $73,090. It features drowsy-driver detection, illuminated door sills, laminated rear glass, parallel and perpendicular automated parking, as well as all the options from the aforementioned Luxury Tech and Advanced ProTech II packages. There's also the Summit Reserve 4xe at $77,570, which jumps to 21-inch wheels, two-tone paint, and Palermo leather accents.

The exterior of the Grand Cherokee 4xe PHEV sticks with Jeep's classic, boxy (and somewhat boring) shape, though our Overland tester’s black roof, chrome accents, and blue tow hooks add a bit of flair. The interior is as comfortable and elegant as any SUV in this segment, with soft-touch surfaces, plush leather, real wood accents, and contrasting stitching.

Capable Connectivity

The onboard Uconnect infotainment system has long been one of our favorites. Here, you get an easily accessible touch screen, two large physical knobs for system navigation and volume, and discrete climate controls. A toolbar on the bottom of the touch screen's interface groups the functions you use most, while the various other submenus have a logical layout. You can also arrange the apps submenu to your preference. Meanwhile, the unique 10.25-inch Interactive Passenger Display gives your copilot control over various infotainment functions. The standard McIntosh audio system outputs premium sound and looks quite elegant.

For connectivity, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay offer native apps for music, messaging, maps, and more. Otherwise, the subscription-based Jeep Connect system (starting at $14.99 per month) enables features such as in-car Wi-Fi, roadside assistance, remote locking operations, and Alexa skills (via the Jeep smartphone app for Android and iOS).

The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offers all the most common driver assists, as well as some uncommon ones. Active Driving Assist, for example, allows for hands-free/eyes-on-the-road automation on certain highways; it's similar to the Cadillac Super Cruise feature. Another valuable inclusion that we typically only see in luxury vehicles is the night-vision camera. It enhances safety in dark driving conditions as well as during inclement weather. Finally, we also like the strong visibility of the heads-up display even in bright sunlight.

Not Quite EV-Level Smooth

In addition to the Grand Cherokee 4xe's default hybrid and electric-only driving modes, there's a third Esave mode with two additional options: You can set it up so that the vehicle relies first on gas power before switching over to electric or so that the gas engine continuously recharges the electric motor.

Otherwise, you can enable maximum regenerative braking via a button on the dash. You can slow the vehicle considerably in this mode (enough so to activate the brake lights), but the experience is still not comparable with the one-pedal driving feel of many EVs.

People shopping for the Grand Cherokee 4xe probably aren’t expecting a strong on-road performer and, indeed, the nearly 5,500-pound SUV feels sluggish to accelerate and a bit unwieldy to turn in hybrid mode. That said, its off-road skills are impeccable and only the much more expensive Range Rover PHEV eclipses it in that regard.

A Premium PHEV

Despite some tough competition from both domestic and international manufacturers in the full-size SUV category, the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe remains one of the few options with a serious off-road pedigree. And no competitor to date packs quite as many features, comforts, and innovations. Just don't expect the driving feel of an EV or the fuel efficiency of other PHEV models. If those latter two aspects matter most to you, consider the equally high-tech and slightly more affordable Tesla Model Y.