First Look Review: The 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is a power tool

The Jeep Wrangler 4xe, introduced in September 2020, is the best-selling plug-in hybrid model in the U.S. For the 2024 model year, it has received minor changes to stay fresh on the market. In addition to cosmetic features, the 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe has a more affordable pricing and even more capability. Recently, I checked out the new plug-in hybrid SUV at the Buffalo Auto Show to observe the changes in detail. The unit I experienced was in the Sahara grade and featured the color Bikini Pearl-Coat paint, and it had no doors and roof panels.

Design

From a distance, the 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe would be hard to tell from the previous model. When I saw it up close, I found some subtle exterior revisions that gave it a new look without disturbing its much-loved character.

The 2024 Wrangler 4xe has a new grille with seven slots that are shorter and feature a bezel on the inside. I didn’t like these changes when I saw them in pictures, but they exude a different appeal in the flesh. Moreover, I noticed that the stubbier seven-slot grille makes up for its smaller dimensions with bigger openings, so that the airflow wouldn’t be compromised.

One change I truly disliked on the new Wrangler 4xe was the replacement of the steel mast antenna on the right-side front quarter panel with a stealth antenna placed in the front windshield. While I agree with Jeep that this is a better design and location for protecting the antenna from tree branches, rocks, and other potential obstructions on the trail, I miss the classic styling. The new ribbed-pattern panel below the headlamps does look better than the flat panel on the previous model in my opinion.

Interior

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe has more noticeable improvements on the inside. When I stepped into the new model, I got the familiar rustic vibe, along with a slightly greater sense of modern styling.

I think the new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system replacing the 8.4-inch boxy unit adds some sleekness to the dashboard. In my opinion, the slim rectangular inboard air vent, split into two sections, goes well with the new look and gives the interior a more contemporary look than the round air vents that flanked the central display in the previous model. The Wrangler branding on the passenger-side dashboard is absent in the new model.

I like how the 2024 Wrangler 4xe integrates the front passenger grab handle into the dashboard in a more discreet way, hiding the cutouts and avoiding the “Wrangler” branding and exposed bolt heads. I saw that Jeep designers had covered it with a new soft-touch surface, which wasn’t like the squidgy plastic you get on the top of the dashboard of, say, a Corolla. This one felt firm and quite hard, designed for durability rather than leaving an impression.

The same material was also present around the climate control panel, for the same purpose of covering hard plastic and making the interior look slightly more upscale. I think the quality of upholstery and trim materials of the new Wrangler 4xe is more about the utility than look and feel. The only soft-touch area ahead of the driver is on the steering wheel, and it has a nice balance of firmness and softness.

I’ve used the new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system of the Wrangler 4xe for some time to see what kind of improvements it offers. I liked the availability of user profiles (plus a valet mode), something I’d truly appreciate in daily use, for example, if I had to share the SUV with my partner. Another upgrade I felt worth appreciating was the ability to connect two Bluetooth phones simultaneously. OTA map is another new feature, but more than that, I found Trails Offroad interesting, an application that allows new off-roaders like me to be assisted by built-in trail guides in up to 3,000+ locations.

The 2024 Wrangler 4xe offers more comfort than the previous model. The new front seats are 12-way electrically adjustable, a feature I think I’d find quite useful in daily driving. I was disappointed that, as with the previous model year, Jeep still doesn’t offer a wireless smartphone charger. This is during a period when companies have started offering a wireless charger for not one but two smartphones in new launches!

As for comfort and space levels, I’m six feet tall, and I felt that the 2024 Wrangler 4xe provides good leg space in the front. Under-thigh support was surprisingly good, and there was unlimited headroom given that there was no roof in this particular example! In the back, getting in and out needed no effort thanks to the lack of doors, but once inside I found knee room to be tight with the seat ahead set to my position and the headroom to be just about enough.

Driving impressions

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe carries over the 2.0-liter engine-based plug-in hybrid powertrain that produces 375 hp and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. It has the same old 17.3 kWh battery pack consisting of Li-NMC cells, which gives it a pure-electric driving range of 22 miles (EPA-est.). Similarly, the combined fuel economy is no different from the previous model – 49 MPGe (EPA-est.).

Owners and auto experts are also of the opinion that the 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe doesn’t feel any different to the model it replaces. While it feels quite powerful, the transition from gas power to electric is still perceptible, meaning there’s still room for refinement. Low-speed cruising in the city is pretty smooth because of electric power, but where the model truly shines is on the trail, where the driver can clearly hear the tire noise to know the level of traction on the terrain. I think the inclusion of side curtain airbags is a reassuring safety feature.

Aspect	2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Specification
Engine	2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline
Engine Power	200 kW (270 hp) at 5,250 rpm
Engine Torque	295 lb.-ft. at 3,000 rpm
Transmission	8-speed automatic
eTorque Belt-Start Generator Motor Power	33 kW (44 hp)
eTorque Belt-Start Generator Motor Torque	39 lb.-ft.
Integrated Transmission Traction Motor Power	100 kW (134 hp)
Integrated Transmission Traction Motor Torque	181 lb.-ft.
System Power	280 kW (375 hp) at 5,250 rpm
System Torque	470 lb.-ft. at 3,000 rpm
Battery Pack Type	Lithium-ion
Battery Pack Capacity (Gross)	17.3 kWh
Battery Pack Operating Voltage	260-400V
Charging Modes	Level 1: 120V AC & Level 2: 240V AC
Maximum Charging Power	7.2 kW
EPA-est. Electric Range (EPA-estimated)	22 miles
EPA-est. Fuel Economy (EPA-estimated)	49 MPGe

While the 2024 Wrangler 4xe feels the same to drive, it does offer more capability when stationary. Unlike the previous model, it offers a ‘Jeep 4xe Power Box,’ which features four 120-volt outlets with 30 amps of total output. During camping, for example, I can imagine myself taking benefit of the vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability to use a coffee machine in the morning and an electric grill in the evening.

Also See: First Look Review: 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe retains class & appeal

Price

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe’s prices start at USD 50,695 for a new ‘Sport S’ grade and go up to USD 70,395 for a new ‘Rubicon X’ grade. USD 1,895 destination charges are applicable across the line-up. The Wrangler Plug-in Hybrid is manufactured at the Toledo Assembly Complex in Ohio since December 2020.

TopElectricSUV says

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is a truly capable off-road SUV that can double as a comfortable and convenient daily driver. Its improved interior, enhanced safety, and V2L capability make it an even more attractive alternative to the gas-only 2024 Ford Bronco.

Also See: 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4-door Rubicon 4xe looks heavy-duty in ‘Earl’ paint

2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe FAQs