It’s no secret that more of the brands you’ve known and loved for years are putting out electric variants of your favorite models at what feels like the speed of light. The Jeep Wrangler is no different. This popular off-road SUV can be purchased as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) called the Wrangler 4xe, giving you all the rugged capabilities you already loved about this adventurous beast in a more fuel-efficient, more environmentally-friendly model.
If you’re considering a Jeep Wrangler 4xe for sale, you might be wondering what the benefits are of getting a plug-in hybrid as opposed to a regular hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). There are actually several reasons a PHEV is specifically appropriate for Wrangler drivers, and we’ll cover those below. From electric range to greater flexibility on your adventures, the Wrangler 4xe has a ton to offer drivers.
Excellent Range for More Adventures
Jeep Wrangler drivers don’t buy their Wranglers for running errands in town or handling school drop-offs. If you have a Wrangler, it’s because you want to go on adventures. When the clock strikes five (or whenever the workday ends for you), you want to get out and explore new territory. But exploring new territory takes a lot of fuel. Luckily, with the plug-in hybrid power you get from the turbo I-4 engine and 17 kWh battery, you can go an estimated 370 miles (according to the EPA) without needing to pull over for gas or to recharge. The vehicle will intelligently switch between the power source it’s relying on to maximize your range. If you need to travel a couple of hours to get away from the grid and into the wild, you don’t want to find yourself stopping to get gas or plug in every hour. It ruins the momentum. Luckily, in the Wrangler 4xe, you won’t have to.
Control Your Charging
This is a perk specific to a PHEV that you don’t get with an HEV: the power to control your, well, power. With a PHEV, you don’t just rely on regenerative braking to charge your battery. You can plug it into a charger and decide when you get a charge. This is a uniquely good feature for Wrangler drivers, again because of their adventurous nature. You probably plan on taking your Wrangler far out into remote areas, where there won’t be much stop-and-go traffic. Translation: there won’t be much natural opportunity to recharge your battery through braking. No problem. Just find a charging station on your route, and you can plug in.
It’s also convenient to be able to plug in and charge your Wrangler 4xe on your schedule because you can plan road trips better. If you know you have a big adventure planned for tomorrow, you can plug in your Wrangler 4xe tonight and wake up to a full charge. The included Level 1 charger can get you a full charge in 12 hours. Get the available Level 2 charger, and you can get a full charge in just two hours. So when a friend calls you up and wants to go on a spontaneous adventure, you can be ready in as little as 120 minutes.
Plug-in hybrids offer the type of versatility and freedom that Wrangler drivers crave. Sometimes, you just need to fill up on gas. If you don’t make time to charge your battery, you can always rely on traditional fuel to power your vehicle, which is nice in a pinch. Then, when you can do some more planning, you can make sure to plug in before big adventures and enjoy the extended range a hybrid has to offer.
Travel In All-Electric Mode In Nature
Wranglers were made for exploring away from cement jungles and skyscrapers. If you’re going to get the most out of its four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, water-fording capabilities, and incredible approach and departure angles, you’ll want to take your Wrangler to some remote places. That means you’ll go where the air is cleaner than it is in the city. You’d probably like to keep it that way, right? It’s part of the appeal.
The great news is that the Wrangler 4xe can run in electric-only mode for an estimated 21 miles. During that time, it will emit almost zero tailpipe emissions, so you can do your best to keep the air fresh where you explore. Oh, and there’s one more perk to this: it can save your butt at times you’re low on gas.
Jeep Is Building More Chargers, So You Can Go to New Places
Jeep is actually in the process of installing solar-powered charging stations at popular trails across the United States, so you don’t need to worry if you’re heading to an isolated trail, far away from most charging or gas stations. Jeep might just have put a solar charging station there. Plus, charging stations from several brands are being installed at a rapid rate around the country. In fact, the number of EV charging stations grew by 16 percent in the second half of 2023 alone. If you’re worried you’ll struggle to find charging stations on the road, it just doesn’t look like that will be the case.
You Still Get the Classic Wrangler Features
Opting for the Wrangler 4xe doesn’t mean sacrificing any of the features you love about the Wrangler. You still get the incredible ground clearance that lets you roll over uneven terrain with ease and available all-terrain tires for tackling mud and dirt. You can still remove the doors and roof for that open-air thrill and choose between the many roof types, including the soft top, hard top, Sunrider Hardtop, and Sky One-Touch Power-Top.
Every Wrangler 4xe is trail-rated, meaning you get incredible articulation on uneven roads, amazing ground clearance, water-fording capabilities, and phenomenal maneuverability on trails. It’s the Wrangler you know and love, electrified. It’s also available in the trims you know and love from the traditional gas engine model. These include the Willys, with its huge off-road tires and steel rock rails; the Sahara, with its luxury adventure features like a trail camera and premium seat materials; and the super-rugged Rubicon, with its hefty WARN winch and electronic sway bar disconnect. You don’t lose anything by switching from the traditional gas-engine Wrangler to the Wrangler 4xe—you gain flexibility.
Getting a PHEV Simply Makes Sense for Wrangler Drivers
The spirit of the Wrangler driver is undeniable. You look for fewer restrictions and more freedom to explore further. That’s exactly what a PHEV has to offer. With a plug-in hybrid powertrain that uses both gasoline and battery power, you can cover more ground without stopping to fuel up and plug in. When you’re low on gas, you can rely on electric-only mode. When you’re low on a charge, you can rely entirely on gas.
If you want the freedom to take spontaneous road trips, a Level 2 charger can have you ready to go in two hours. If you want to reduce tailpipe emissions and respect nature, you can drive in all-electric mode. These aren’t features that are only appreciated by city and suburban dwellers. You’re a Wrangler driver, and you need the freedom that a PHEV has to offer.
