Used 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

A new addition to the Grand Cherokee stable last year, this 4xe version can travel 25 miles on electric power alone. On top of that, 4-wheel drive is standard.

Every Jeep vehicle has a substantial amount of off-road talent. With a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, though, the 4xe can go into the wild for an appreciable distance and leave it untainted by exhaust fumes. Jeep says the Grand Cherokee 4xe — in Trailhawk form — completed the famously tough Rubicon Trail on battery power alone.

The advantage of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) over a regular hybrid (the kind we’ve all become accustomed to in vehicles like the Toyota Prius) is that there’s a bigger battery on board that can be recharged from an outside source (that’s the plug-in bit) instead of relying on using the engine as a generator and recuperating energy from the brakes.

So, a PHEV can cover distances without using a drop of gasoline. Yet there’s still a combustion engine in the picture to keep the party going when the battery runs out of energy.

This 4xe PHEV setup is only available in the standard-length 2-row Grand Cherokee body, not in the 3-row Grand Cherokee L alternative. The combustion-only 2023 Grand Cherokee lineup is reviewed separately.

Let’s assume that anyone about to buy a new Grand Cherokee 4xe PHEV SUV is willing to get into the habit of recharging the battery or perhaps already does so with a current plug-in hybrid. There’s another thing to think about, which is how the drivetrain is deployed.

Drivers can run the 4xe in usual hybrid mode, where the engine and electric motors work together to achieve the best possible performance and efficiency. There’s also a mode that saves the battery for another point in the journey when the maximum electric power is desired. And then the electric vehicle (EV) mode uses just the battery, keeping the combustion engine dormant.

The 4xe can also sense when 4-wheel drive is not necessary and prevent power going to the front wheels, saving some fuel in the process. An adaptive air suspension is also standard in all but the base model.

The 4xe develops a considerable 470 lb-ft of torque, and electric motors can provide all their thrust from standstill. That’s great for accelerating away from a traffic light. Although the Grand Cherokee could never be described as nimble, especially in this plug-in hybrid version that weighs around 2.5 tons at least.

Torque is also a wonderful asset when driving off-road, but overeager delivery is not. Best to set the brake regeneration system to its highest level in these circumstances, so the vehicle slows down quickly when lifting off the accelerator pedal.

The adaptive suspension enables a raised ride height, with maximum ground clearance of 10.9 inches. The hybrid battery is sealed, so the Grand Cherokee 4xe can drive through 2 feet of water. Additionally, the Trailhawk model’s anti-roll bar can disconnect for increased axle travel.

Although there are mainstream vehicles and luxury vehicles, Jeep will often straddle the line between the two. That’s certainly the case with the 2023 Grand Cherokee 4xe PHEV.

The Trailhawk’s upholstery consists of leather and vinyl with suede inserts. The rest of the range has some kind of leather, becoming finer as the trim levels ascend in price. Every version has ambient cabin lighting, as well as heated seats in both rows, and a heated steering wheel.

These 2-row versions of the Grand Cherokee midsize SUV have the usual seating arrangement for four, plus the one who drew the short straw. Rear legroom is not class-leading, but more than adequate at 38.2 inches.

Cargo space behind the rear seats measures 37.7 cubic feet, expanding to 70.8 cubic feet with those seats folded down. Again, not the best, but good enough for most.

Apart from a charge port flap on the left front fender and some 4xe badges, there isn’t much that distinguishes this plug-in hybrid Grand Cherokee from its combustion-only stablemates. The hybrid battery pack is stored under the floor, protected by skid plates.

A new 30th Anniversary Edition for 2023 gives this SUV a rugged front fascia with blue tow hooks similar to the Trailhawk trim. It also has 20-inch gloss black wheels, gloss black accents, and a dual-pane sunroof.

Anyway, looking like the rest of the Grand Cherokee range is arguably a good thing, with that special Jeep quality blending classiness with chunkiness.

A roof rack is included across the lineup. The Trailhawk, Overland, and Summit versions have a gloss black roof as standard. The Trailhawk also has an anti-glare decal on the hood.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
The convenience of jumping into a vehicle and having your smartphone connect wirelessly to the infotainment system, without having to fish around for the actual device, is just a great thing to have. And it’s standard in the 2023 Grand Cherokee 4xe.

Front passenger display
In upper trims, the front passenger can have a dedicated 10.25-inch display to enjoy things like Amazon Fire TV without distracting the person behind the wheel. Not to be outdone, the driver has a standard 10.25-inch customizable digital instrument cluster as well.

Digital rearview mirror
This is an option in all trims of the 2023 Grand Cherokee 4xe. It replaces the regular rearview mirror with a screen showing a clear image behind the vehicle, thanks to a rear-facing camera. No heads, cargo, or rear pillars getting in the way.

360-degree camera system
Standard in the top Summit trim, optional elsewhere, this feature provides views all around the 2023 Grand Cherokee 4xe and even has washers for the cameras.

McIntosh audio
McIntosh is an American company making super-high-end audio components. A 19-speaker/950-watt system is installed in the Overland and Summit variants.

ParkSense parallel/perpendicular parking assistance
This system takes care of the steering, while the driver uses the pedals and changes gears, with the Grand Cherokee 4xe giving instructions at every step. It’s available only in the Summit model, where it’s standard.

The gasoline/electric drivetrain in the 2023 Grand Cherokee 4xe SUV consists of a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motors energized by a lithium-ion battery pack. Total output is 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque.

An 8-speed automatic transmission sends this to a standard-issue 4-wheel-drive system.

For the best performance and fuel economy, Jeep recommends using premium 91-octane gasoline. Recharging the battery pack to 100% takes a couple of hours using a 240-volt setup, or more like 12 hours with a domestic 120-volt supply.

Using battery power alone, maximum range is 25 miles.

2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine + dual electric motors
375 total horsepower @ 5,250 rpm
470 lb-ft total torque @ 3,000 rpm
EPA combined fuel economy: 23 mpg in gas-electric hybrid mode (56 MPGe while on battery power alone)
EPA-estimated electric-only range: 25 miles