The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Plug-In Hybrid Carries Five-Figure Upcharge

2022-06-18 23:15:44 By : Mr. Stephen Meng

Let's not sugarcoat the data. The 4xe logo affixed to the side of the plug-in hybrid electric 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee is going to be costly. Be prepared to set aside an extra $10,000 or so for the 4xe Grand Cherokee over an equivalent model with the entry-level V-6; no matter which 4xe you pick, it'll cost at least $60,000, making the Grand Cherokee 4xe the most expensive of the 2022 Grands. Want it for fun? Okay. Want it as a money-saving economic play? That might take some time to pencil.

This is not truly surprising once you consider a few factors that stack on top of each other to achieve the lofty price tag. There's the I had it first premium. It's the first year of the Grand Cherokee 4xe, and firsts are costly. Jeep also limits the 4xe to higher trims and only sells it with four-wheel drive, which automatically ups the entry price. Last, remember that the Wrangler 4xe is also more expensive than its pure gasoline counterparts (minus the Wrangler 392). Case in point: the plug-in Wrangler Rubicon 4xe is almost $12,000 more than the Wrangler Rubicon with the standard 3.6-liter V-6 and 6-speed manual. The $76,095 top-end Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe is likewise costlier, demanding a $10,935 jump up from the V-6-powered Summit Reserve.

So, what does the 4xe powertrain get you? A plug-in hybrid setup that gets 25 miles of all-electric range and 56 MPGe. The hybrid system consists of two electric motors, a 400-volt battery pack, and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that combine for 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. It's backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission.

That same $76,000 it'll cost you to grab a top-level 4xe would suffice for the old Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, which has an MSRP of $71,270. The (previous-generation) SRT Grand Cherokee's 6.4-liter V-8 Hemi made 475 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque—and delivered a paltry 13 mpg around town under ideal conditions.

Our knee-jerk reaction is to declare the 4xe the most expensive Grand Cherokee ever, but we quickly remembered the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, which topped the charts at $90,070 thanks to its monstrous 707 hp, 645 lb-ft supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 Hemi. And remember, the redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee's sportier SRT and Trackhawk models—should they return to the lineup—have yet to do so, so there could be pricier new-generation Grand Cherokees yet.

There are, of course, cheaper 4xes available for less than $76,000, though the price gaps between those models and their gas equivalents also are high. Five trims will be offered for the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe: 4xe, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and the aforementioned Summit Reserve. There are no entry-level Laredo, mid-grade Altitude, or mid-premium Limited trims for the 4xe. All are offered in four-wheel-drive and have the same hybrid drivetrain. 4xe is not offered for the three-row 2021 Grand Cherokee L (although we've included pricing at the bottom for reference). The Grand Cherokee 4xe will be built at the Detroit Assembly Complex-Mack plant and is heading to dealerships in Spring 2022.

The base Grand Cherokee 4xe starts at $59,495. It comes standard with the Selec-Terrain traction management system (Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow, Mud/Sand) and the Quadra Trac II 4x4 system with a two-speed transfer case, 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio, and 47.4:1 crawl ratio.

It has standard Capri leather seats, a 10.1-inch center touchscreen, a 10.25-inch front passenger interactive display, Uconnect 5, panoramic sunroof, heated first and second row seats, 506-watt nine-speaker Alpine audio system, adjustable height power liftgate, and tons of standard safety features.

The 4x4 Trailhawk 4xe starts at $64,280, over $11,000 more than a base non-4xe Grand Cherokee Trailhawk ($53,070). As the most off-road capable of the Grand Cherokees, the Trailhawk trim comes standard with low-range Selec-Speed Control, the Quadra-Drive II 4x4 system, the Selec-Terrain System, and the Quadra-Lift air suspension. It also has skid plates, blue tow hooks, Jeep Off-road Pages, and the sway bar disconnect.

The Trailhawk gets 18-inch wheels, Goodyear Wrangler Territory all-terrain tires, unique front and rear fascias for optimal approach and departure angles, the Trailer-Tow package, automatic power-folding heated memory mirrors, cargo tie-down loops, all-weather floor mats, and a 360-degree surround view camera system. A Trailhawk hood decal, black roof, and black roof rack rails further distinguish the exterior.

The Overland 4xe starts at $67,555 ($10,455 more than a four-wheel-drive Overland V-6) and its four-wheel-drive system is Jeep's Quadra-Trac II setup, which adds the ability to precisely mete out engine torque to the front or rear axle as needed. Selec-Terrain and Hill-descent Control are standard.

Overland models slather the seats and door panels in Nappa leather, add ventilation to the front chairs, and boast a stitched-leather dashboard cover. Navigation, ambient interior lighting with a five-color selection, 20-inch wheels, chrome front tow hooks, approach-lit door handles, passive entry, electronic release for folding the second row flat, a foot-activated adjustable power liftgate, length-adjustable front row cushions, and a 950-watt 19-speaker McIntosh audio system are included.

An available Off Road Group beefs up the Overland's off-road cred, upgrading to Quadra-Drive II 4WD with low-range gearing, steel underbody skid plates, an electronic limited-slip rear differential, and smaller 18-inch wheel with "rugged" tires.

The Summit 4xe starts at $71,615 ($11,455 more than a regular Summit 4x4). On top of the already luxe Overland, the Summit adds quilting to the Nappa leather seats, Berber floor mats, "Absolute Oak" wood trim, 16-way power front seats with available massage function (with five profiles and three levels of pressure intensity), a four-zone climate control setup, a second-row floor console between the seats, specific 20-inch wheels, Summit-specific LED fog lamps, illuminated door sills, and a 360-degree parking camera.

The Summit also adds a few safety features, such as Active Driving Assist (lane-keep assist self-steering function), driver drowsiness monitoring, cross-traffic collision warning, traffic sign recognition, and automated parking assist.

The Summit Reserve 4xe starts at $76,095. It's the best-of-the-best, the most insanely luxurious Grand Cherokee of all. The interior is crazy, with quilted Palermo leather, ventilated second-row seats, open-pore Waxed Walnut wood trim, suede-like A-pillar and headliner material, and 21-inch wheels, a first for the Grand Cherokee.