The Least Likely Car Ever Has Proven That People Want Plug-In Hybrids

The launch of the Jeep Wrangler 4xe wasn’t without controversy and speculation. The announcement by Jeep that a plug-in hybrid Wrangler was coming sparked a lot of conversations, with no shortage of comments-section experts cracking their knuckles, turning on their caps lock, and sharing fictional scenarios they created that predicted the Wrangler 4xe’s demise as a sales flop. Anything’s possible when you make things up– but here in reality, the Wrangler 4xe was keeping dealerships busy.

Since arriving at the right time with plenty of sales momentum already behind it, the specific plug-in hybrid version of the Wrangler has now sold over 250,000 units since its launch, been called America’s best-selling plug-in hybrid from 2022 to 2024, and at last check made up a quarter of Wrangler sales.

Below, we’ll get up to speed on the Wrangler 4xe and look at what makes it tick, and what’s helped make it such a popular choice.

Timeline Of The Wrangler 4xe

The current Wrangler generation is its fourth, having hit the road initially for 2018. Back then, it represented a major leap forward from the 3rd-generation machine before it in terms of refinement, driving character, and handling. Now less labor-intensive to drive at highway speeds and more responsive and direct than ever, engineers had really pushed the Wrangler’s signature 4×4 platform to new levels when it came to on-road manners.

This was heavily noted in expert reviews of the time, helping expand the Wrangler’s appeal to more and more shoppers who may have previously overlooked it in favor of an easier-to-drive crossover. The engine lineup soon expanded to include a new four-cylinder turbo option, helping further the Wrangler’s appeal among an audience who were increasingly becoming more interested in hybrid SUVs.

Also, the Ford Bronco would arrive a few years later in 2021– so the Wrangler had to be looking tip-top to meet this modern take on one of its oldest rivals. Jeep released the Wrangler 4xe the same year, and you can bet that wasn’t an accident. Now, customers considering Ford’s latest SUV (a direct shot at the Wrangler’s strong sales) would also be seeing headlines, ads, and reviews for the latest award-winning Jeep with a trendy new plug-in hybrid engine you couldn’t get in the Bronco.

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How Does The Wrangler 4xe Work Exactly?

The Wrangler 4xe has both a traditional gas engine and added components that enable hybrid drive. Driving one is the same as any other Wrangler: put gas in the tank and go. There’s no additional driver bandwidth required at any time. As long as there’s gas in the fuel tank, you’re ready to drive any time you like.

Whenever it’s convenient, you can plug the Wrangler 4xe in to charge. This is never mandatory. You can skip charging your Wrangler 4xe for weeks on end if you choose. Thing is, the more you plug in (perhaps while working or sleeping), the less gas you use, since a fully-charged 4xe battery can power about 20 miles of all-electric driving before the gas engine needs to fire up. Drivers can control when and how their stored electric power is used, running in full-electric mode at the start of their drive, or in gas-hybrid mode when setting off while saving their 20-mile EV range for later. That’s not among the PHEV models with the most range, but still gives the driver the option of choosing exactly how the plug-in hybrid system works from one moment to the next.

It’s all facilitated by an interesting array of hardware used to electrify a proven and existing powertrain. At the core is a 2-liter four-cylinder turbo engine, an 8-speed automatic transmission behind it, and a four-wheel drive transfer case with solid axles attached at either end. That’s the same setup as a non-4xe Wrangler with the four-cylinder turbo engine.

For 4xe duty, a few parts are simply added or replaced. First, a big Panasonic battery pack is bolted beneath the rear seat where it’s safe and dry, it powers the two electric motors integrated within the 4xe’s driveline. The first of these motors is a machine called an Integrated Starter Generator (ISG), which replaces the engine’s starter and alternator. It’s a powerful electrical generator and electric motor combined into a single unit that can be driven by the engine to generate tremendous amounts of electricity, or driven by that electricity to apply tremendous amounts of torque to the engine. Think of it as an electric supercharger that’s also its own generator, and you’re in the right universe.

There’s another even bigger electric motor inside the transmission, replacing the torque converter. When the engine isn’t running, this electric motor drives the Wrangler 4xe all by itself. When the engine is running, both electric motors can be used to boost the output of the four-cylinder engine. The end result is instant-on torque response and some serious power figures.

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Why Did They Sell So Many?

There are various reasons the Wrangler 4xe was so popular. First, in many markets, it came with rebates and incentives to help make the price more digestible. The Wrangler 4xe also got drivers a ‘green plate’, meaning they could access HOV lanes, and a plug-in port for accessing prime parking and charging spots while out and about. That made this very powerful Wrangler a very convenient machine to live with.

It was also convenient for drivers on short-distance commutes. Consider a theoretical driver who lives less than 20 miles from work and who can charge both at work and at home. This driver virtually stops using gasoline for stop-and-go commuting, the exact situation where non-hybrid Wrangler models are thirstiest. While the 4xe could save you plenty of gas money in many situations, it could also reduce your gas station visits from a few times a month to a few times a year.

Of course, in the middle of this there was a well-known global pandemic that ties in by accelerating two existing trends. First, shoppers were increasingly looking to spend big money on machines built for outdoor adventure, which put the Jeep brand at a natural advantage. Second, more of those big spenders were considering sustainability in their major purchases, SUVs included. Big-dollar shoppers were increasingly likely to spend their money on something with a plug, even if it cost more.

Completely silent EV operation makes it easy for drivers to avoid waking kids and pets when arriving late or leaving early. You can start the 4xe’s gas engine once you’re out of your neighborhood if you like. The whisper-quiet operation also has a way of making it easier to hear and spot wildlife as you creep along that new trail you’re exploring. This could be the ultimate SUV for bird watching.

Perhaps more than all that, the abundant electric torque and low-range multiplication add a fun new Wrangler experience to take in while off-roading. It’s fun new experiences from the hottest new models that shoppers spending Wrangler 4xe money are after, after all. Remember, the Wrangler 4xe is built to the same off-road standards using the same hardware as non-hybrid-powered models, meaning it’s available across trim grades right up to the Rubicon, with no hit to the capability that Jeep Wrangler drivers expect.

So, with some lucky and clever timing, the Wrangler 4xe arrived at the perfect time to be the fuel-conscious, plug-in adventure 4×4 that much of its audience was after.

Sources: Jeep