First Drive: 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

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Electrification is the current auto-industry fad, with every automaker seeking to infuse its lineup of vehicles with electrons to make them compliant with the next generation of mandates. Jeep and parent brand Stellantis is no exception, and is putting in the hours to make its most recognizable and popular trucks more fuel-friendly by adding a massive battery to its vehicles.

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The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is the second plug-in vehicle from the SUV-oriented brand, and is a logical follow-up to the Wrangler 4xe. Few could deny the novelty of stealthily piloting the butch Wrangler around town on its electric motors (not to mention catching the shocked glances of Leaf and Tesla owners at the local public chargers) but the plug-in powertrain felt a little out of place and awkward at times.

However, the PHEV format fits the premium Grand Cherokee quite well. It’s classy-looking for an SUV, and even luxury snobs will appreciate the lengths Jeep has gone to in the cabin of the new Grand Cherokee. Beyond the sleek integration of high-tech screens and a well-laid-out dashboard, the Grand Cherokee feels plush in the Summit and Summit Reserve trim.

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Like the gas models, there’s an array of displays offered for the passengers, including a 10.25-inch unit for the front passenger; and two rear-seat entertainment systems with streaming capabilities to help provide content on the go. The switch to a hybrid gas-electric powertrain doesn’t even impact the passenger or cargo volume.

Don’t ignore the diamond-patterned stitched leather upholstery on the seats, or the slick open-pore wood trim. There are tactile controls and an easy-to-get-used-to layout that gives the driver a flatter learning curve when getting accustomed to the SUV.

Sure, all these touches are available in gas-powered V6 and V8 models, but it’s important to point out just how slick the new-gen Grand Cherokee feels, because it explains why a smooth, quiet electric motor would be a good match here.

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Gas meets electric under the hood

Like the Wrangler 4xe, the Grand Cherokee 4xe pairs a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine to two electric motors and a 17.3-kWh battery with about 40 km of all-electric range. Altogether, the powertrain makes 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, which heartily exceeds the output of the 5.7-litre V8 engine offered in the Grand Cherokee.

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So it comes as no surprise that the Grand Cherokee 4xe feels pretty confident and capable when the whole powertrain is working together. Using an array of buttons found to the left of the steering wheel, the driver can prioritize the usage of the electric motor with the Electric mode; preserve the battery capacity with the eSave mode; or have everything work automatically in the Hybrid mode.

Frankly, the Hybrid model is the perfect setup. Everything works in unison and feels natural. The eSave mode spurs up the gas motor and has it running at all times, even juicing up the battery for on-the-go recharging. The Electric mode feels like a gimmick, and is best suited for situations where speed or power isn’t necessary.

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The highs and lows of the 4xe experience

However, the 40-km estimate of pure electric range seems spot-on, and recharging the battery takes up to 14 hours on a Level 1 charger, but less than four hours on a Level 2 charger. However, the electric motor doesn’t seem up to the task of motivating the 5,300-plus-pound curb weight of the Grand Cherokee. While the Electric mode tries to let the electric motor handle the demands of the driver, if you ask too much of it, it’ll call on the gas motor for help, and that’s when the 4xe experience falls apart.

For example, while climbing a hill on Electric mode, you’ll have your foot on the floor to get it going at any reasonable pace. But then the 4xe system will fire up and engage the gas motor, which will interpret the pedal position as a pretty urgent demand. So you go from creeping quietly to a jarring full-revving slam-into-gear experience. This happens now and then when you don’t expect it, so trust me when I say leaving it in Hybrid is the ideal mode.

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That’s perhaps the only concern with this electrified Grand Cherokee. While the EV-only mode is quiet and smooth, it feels limited in terms of power, and the transition to internal combustion is abrupt and unsettling. The 4xe powertrain delivers the equivalent of 4.2 L/100 km, which is pretty good for a vehicle of this size and performance.

A hardy regenerative braking system works in the electric mode to provide a one-pedal driving experience. When the battery is depleted, the turbo-four returns 10 L/100 km in combined driving conditions, significantly better numbers than the eight-cylinder model.

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Few compromises, same off-road credibility

The 4xe is at least 700 lbs heavier than gas-powered models, though that limits one aspect of the SUV. It’s rated to tow 6,000 lbs, a mere 200 lbs less than V6 models; and 1,200 less than V8 models. One other downside to the 4xe is a fuel tank that is 15 litres smaller than the gas-powered models.

The extra weight doesn’t bother the Jeep when going off-road. Most of these trucks will likely see the mildest off-road conditions in terms of sand, snow, and mud, but Jeep had us climbing massive rocks; steep, skyward ascents; and plummeting descents that had us hanging off our seatbelts.

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The Grand Cherokee 4xe conquered it all, though if you’ll be getting that much-rugged action, the Trailhawk, Summit, and Overland models with the Offroad Package include the Quadra-drive II 4WD system that features a smart electronic limited-slip rear differential to help conquer all kinds of terrain. These models also have an air-suspension system that helps deliver a maximum of 278 mm of ground clearance, which is a smidge below that of the best ICE models (they top out at 287 mm). Other models used the Quadra-Trac, which lacks that limited-slip feature.

For the most part, the extra battery and electric components of the Jeep Grand Cherokee do little to tarnish the rugged and luxurious appeal of the nameplate. The 4xe feels quick and can easily keep up with traffic in hybrid mode, and glide around in silence in electric mode.

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If you wanted any further indication of how high Jeep is punching with its latest Grand Cherokee, just look at the price. The asking price for the base Grand Cherokee 4xe starts at $77,290, including the 2,095 delivery fee. The PHEV is available in four other trims, including the range-topping Summit Reserve model which costs $91,390, including destination. While few other SUVs offer this combination of capability, efficiency and luxury, that price tag means it’s for the diehard Jeep fans or luxury shoppers taking looking away from established players. The 4xe powertrain needs a bit more refinement, but Jeep is finally expanding its portfolio of electrified vehicles, and hopefully, as it spreads to more models, the prices will approach mainstream levels.