First Drive: 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Review

Key Features:

• Just as capable as gasoline counterparts
• Will do off-roading in all electric mode
• Tried and proven engines

Direct Competitors:

• BMW X5 xDrive 45e
• Volvo XC90 Recharge
• Kia Sorento PHEV
• Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV

When we drove and reviewed the all-new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee late last year during its Canadian debut, we appreciated its premium interior, advanced technology, and overall great packaging. Back then, we had said its only real flaws were its dated V6 and V8 drivetrains. This all changes with the 4xe variant, the first-ever plug-in hybrid Grand Cherokee in history. We flew down to Austin, Texas, to give it a spin during its North American launch.

Pricing of Jeep’s plug-in hybrid SUV

Jeep has been attempting to bring its vehicles upmarket to take on more premium brands. While it’s true that the Grand Cherokee has always worn different hats – rivaling more mainstream models in its lower trim levels, while offering luxury levels of fit and finish on more expensive versions – the 2022 model pushes this ethos even further. 

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe | Photo: Jeep 

Five trim levels with price starting at over $70,000

As a matter of fact, the 4xe is what Jeep calls “the full package”, which explains why its prices are so high. It comes in five available trim levels: base, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit and Summit Reserve, with pricing ranging between a steep $75,195 and a whopping $89,295. 

This then allows Jeep’s plug-in hybrid SUV to rival different kinds of vehicles. While it’s technically a mainstream model that would normally take on a Kia Sorento or Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV, its pricing puts it more in BMW X5 xDrive 45e or Volvo XC90 Recharge territory.

Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe interior

Except for a few more options to manage the available electric range, there isn’t much in a Grand Cherokee 4xe to distinguish it from its gasoline counterparts. And that’s a good thing because we like the 2022 Grand Cherokee’s interior. Build quality is impeccable and the use of premium materials like real leather and wood trim do a bang-up job of spicing up this cabin. 

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe interior | Photo: Jeep 

All versions of the Grand Cherokee 4xe come standard with Stellantis’ Uconnect 5 infotainment interface and 10.1-inch screen. Rear passengers also get a duo of 10.25-inch displays, while an optional passenger screen is also available up front. 

Summit and Summit Reserve models offer more upscale cabins

Scale things up to the Summit and Summit Reserve models, and you’ll receive a slew of neat creature comforts like massaging seats, a McIntosh premium audio system and an Amazon Alexa virtual assistant, just to name a few.

Another great quality of the 4xe is that it doesn’t lose on cargo space even with the high-tech drivetrain. Fold the rear seatbacks down and you end up with 2,005 litres, which puts the Grand Cherokee up there among the segment leaders.

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe interior | Photo: Jeep 

Performance and driving impressions

The 4xe’s drivetrain is essentially a carry over from the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, except that the 17.3-kWh battery pack was installed underneath the vehicle’s floor instead of underneath the rear seat.

The 375 horsepower 4xe is the quickest Grand Cherokee currently available

That battery is good for a claimed 40 kilometers of electric range. When it’s not running on electrons, the Grand Cherokee 4xe relies on a hybridized and turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder gasoline engine. Total combined horsepower sits at a staggering 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. As a matter of fact, Jeep claims the 4xe is the quickest Grand Cherokee of the lineup so far. That’s of course until it decides to bring back the Trackhawk.

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee lineup | Photo: Jeep 

We had the chance to drive the 4xe from Austin and into the Texas wilderness for some good old-fashioned off-roading. The first section of our trip was done in all electric mode where we had no problem covering the claimed 40 kilometers of electric range. 

But that’s because we were driving during warm Texas weather. Expect that range to drop during a cold Canadian winter. Another letdown with this drivetrain is that it isn’t equipped with a heat pump. So, the moment the thermometer drops below 0 degrees Celsius, expect the gasoline engine to kick in each time.

Powerful electric motor with

That all being said, we were charmed by the 4xe’s smoothness in electric mode and how powerful the small electric motor is. Since it’s squeezed within the eight-speed automatic transmission, the 4xe operates the same way as if the vehicle were running on gasoline. 

Can Jeep’s new PHEV SUV actually off-road?

Once we arrived at our destination, Jeep employees ordered us to follow them through an off-roading trail. There, trail guides helped us drive over steep sections of rock, muddy chasms and, at times, sketchy downhill sections. Never did the 4xe feel less capable than a conventional Grand Cherokee. 

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe | Photo: Jeep 

A neat feature of the 4xe drivetrain is that one can charge it at home, then ask the vehicle to keep the energy for later like, say, off-roading. There’s something appealing about conquering a trail without burning any fuel at all.

Is the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Worth It?

We like how well the 4xe’s drivetrain performed in a variety of different situations. The available electric range is also more than enough for a daily commute, as long as it’s done during a warm summer’s day. We’ll even add that when this drivetrain runs on gasoline, it’s considerably more frugal than the V6 or V8 options, steadily staying below the 10L/100 km mark.

However, that price tag is a hard pill to swallow. We get that some consumers could cross shop this vehicle with an Audi or a BMW, but considering a well-equipped 4xe knocks at the door of $100,000, we’d suggest staying with the European models instead. They’ll look and feel more premium and, in the BMW X5’s case, will get you more electric range (52 kilometers). 

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