Used 2022 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4xe

The 2022 Wrangler 4xe SUV is where the worlds of low emissions and high ground clearance collide. As a top-notch off-roader, the Wrangler 4xe can get down and dirty or as rough and rocky as the rest of its stablemates. It will wade through water 30 inches deep. But this 4-door Jeep variant is also a plug-in hybrid with an electric-only range of 22 miles.

Although plenty of road-going vehicles are adding electrification to their drivetrains, it’s still a new thing with real sport utility vehicles that can do all the tough off-roading stuff. This is only the 4xe’s second year of existence, while the Wrangler is in its fourth generation (which debuted for the 2018 model year) and has an impressive heritage dating back to World War II.

The 4xe is also the only mainstream plug-in hybrid SUV with any appreciable off-road ability. By the way, Jeep uses a “four by E” pronunciation for this midsize SUV, a play on the 4×4 term. And plug-in hybrid is often shortened to PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle).

Just to clarify, the 2022 Wrangler 4xe isn’t completely electric. It has a gasoline engine on board as well. If the battery runs low, the 4xe will still get its occupants home. Since this is a 4-door Wrangler, those occupants will also enjoy a fair amount of space on the way.

The battery can be recharged through things like brake energy regeneration, or it can be plugged in to an outside source.

The regular Wrangler Unlimited has its own review. So does the 2022 Wrangler 2-door model.

Electric motors are known and enjoyed for providing a lot of thrust from a virtual standstill. The combined output from the 4xe’s plug-in hybrid system is 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, making it almost as powerful as the V8-powered Rubicon 392 (same torque, and 470 horsepower), but way more affordable. The 392 is about $75,000 — before the fuel bills.

The Wrangler 4xe is set up nicely for the same kind of amazing off-road shenanigans that regular Wranglers (try saying that 10 times fast) take in their stride — the Rubicon version even retains a disconnecting front anti-roll bar. But it’s a good feeling to drive through nature and not be kicking out a load of hydrocarbons from the exhaust system.

It’s rated to cover 22 miles on battery power alone, which doesn’t factor in the power required for more demanding yet lower-speed scenarios, but drivers can expect two or three hours of zero-emissions fun while climbing rocks or zipping over dunes. The lithium-ion battery pack is waterproof, so the usual fording depth of 30 inches still applies.

On a straight, flat road, the 4xe can sprint from standstill to 60 mph in 6 seconds. So it can reach the trailhead in decent time. But there will be road and wind noise, because of things like the soft top and the Rubicon version’s fat all-terrain tires.

The on-road ride quality is also not at the same refined level as softer crossovers. That’s a downside of the body-on-frame construction and solid Dana 44 axles. These are some less enjoyable aspects every Wrangler owner has to live with.

As one of the most powerful variants as well as the most fuel-efficient model in the 2022 Wrangler Unlimited range, the 4xe still retains some of the usual virtues and vices.

Starting with the vices, the cabin is kind of narrow, so shoulder room is at a premium. Especially in the back row where there are three seats.

The front seats are quite comfortable, though, and the high driving position is a boon when off-roading. There’s no powered adjustment for them, though, because this vehicle’s interior is capable of being hosed out when the mud that’s so enjoyable outside starts creeping inside.

There are drain plugs as standard. Which we guess should be considered a virtue. Other virtues are split/folding rear seats and a generous 38.2 inches of rear legroom.

Cargo space is compromised slightly by the PHEV hardware. Depending whether the rear seats are up or folded, there’s between 27.7 and 67.4 cubic feet. That’s pretty good, objectively speaking, but non-PHEV Unlimited models have 31.7/72.4 cubic feet.

The Rubicon 4xe has its trim name sewn into the front seats with Electric Blue contrast stitching.

A trained eye will catch little details distinguishing this 4xe PHEV from the rest of the 4-door Wrangler lineup.

The Electric Blue tow hooks, for example (two up front, one at the rear). Or the 4xe hood decal with the same color. There’s also a plug-in socket cover (like a fuel tank flap) on the left front, convenient for nose-in parking at charger locations.

In common with the rest of the Unlimited models, the 4xe has removable doors and roof, folding windshield, and a folding soft top with a sunroof. An optional hard top, the Freedom Top, is a 3-piece affair with a rear wiper/washer/defroster.

Skid plates under the vehicle protect the fuel tank and the transmission’s transfer case. The Rubicon also has rock rails protecting the sills.

4-WHEEL DRIVE & ZERO EMISSIONS
What a combination. The Wrangler’s off-road abilities border on legendary and now they can be enjoyed without burning a drop of gasoline. This PHEV drivetrain in the 2022 4xe is still highly capable, while offering superior torque at reasonable prices.

THE WRANGLER COMMUNITY
Any Wrangler brings the opportunity to convene with other owners and go on adventures together. Check out things like the Jeep Jamboree.

In the 4-door Wrangler Unlimited lineup as a whole, Sahara trim is pretty high up, but it’s the introductory model for the 4xe PHEV. With the tax credits and state incentives, though, it becomes as affordable as a lower trim with a regular drivetrain.

Sahara’s standard inventory includes 20-inch alloy wheels (17-inch for the Rubicon, with all-terrain tires), tinted glass, side steps, heated side mirrors, power windows/locks, keyless entry/ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, ambient LED footwell lighting, and 115-volt outlet,

The infotainment system has a 7-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and three USB ports. The few driver assistance features offered with the 2022 Wrangler are optional.

The High Altitude version of Sahara trim adds blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-path detection, rear parking sensors, the Freedom Top, and leather seating surfaces.

That still leaves forward-collision warning and adaptive cruise control on the options list, for the Rubicon as well.

The Rubicon has the most advanced 4-wheel drive hardware, including electronic locking differentials and a disconnecting anti-roll bar. It’s eligible for steel bumpers strong enough to accommodate a winch, and off-road pages for the navigation system.

All 4xe versions offer a windshield made of Corning Gorilla Glass, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, remote start function, 8.4-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi, 9-speaker/552-watt Alpine audio system, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration.

Propulsion for the 2022 Wrangler 4xe is achieved by the combination of a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine (running on regular gasoline) and two electric motors energized by a lithium-ion battery set under the rear seats. One is a belt-driven starter/generator, the other is integrated into the transmission.

The whole system’s output is 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. This goes to a standard 4-wheel drive system through an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) puts electric-only range at 22 miles. Recharging the battery on a 240-volt supply takes about 2.5 hours. With a domestic 115-volt setup, we’re looking at something like 12 hours.

The EPA works out miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe) figures for plug-in hybrids, taking that battery range into account. The Wrangler 4xe is estimated to achieve 49 MPGe in combined (city and highway) driving. When operating as a regular hybrid, it returns 20 mpg.

Considering this model has the same torque as the Rubicon 392, whose combined figure is 14 mpg, this isn’t so bad. With a full gas tank and a full battery, the 2022 Wrangler 4xe can cover 370 miles.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 plus two electric motors
375 total horsepower @ 5,250 rpm
470 lb-ft total torque @ 3,000 rpm
EPA combined fuel economy: 49 MPGe (gas & electric)/20 mpg (gas)
Electric-only range: 22 miles