2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe First Drive Review: The One You Want

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the most awarded sport utility vehicle ever and a big part of the nameplate’s success is the brand’s willingness to adapt to an ever-changing market.

When the modern generation of the Grand Cherokee was introduced, Jeep answered the call for a larger version and the first-ever three-row version was the first to market. Since reaching dealerships, the Grand Cherokee L has proven to be a hot commodity, followed by the rollout of the traditional two-row model. The next big step in the evolution of the Grand Cherokee is the plug-in hybrid 4xe model, which we recently spent a day testing in Texas.

Based on that day of seat time on- and off-road, the Grand Cherokee 4xe is sure to be the next big hit for the Jeep brand, as the addition of electrification only makes for a better SUV.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is offered in five forms – 4xe, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve. They all look very similar to the non-hybrid versions. There is some package-specific badging and unique blue trim that varies by trim level, but other than that, the 4xe is designed to blend in with the crowd.

However, what looks like your average new Grand Cherokee actually packs 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, making it one of the most powerful models in the segment. Those numbers are achieved with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motors that are powered by a 400-volt battery pack. All of that power is sent to all four wheels by means of an eight-speed automatic transmission and either the Quadra-Trac II or Quadra-Drive II four-wheel-drive system.

Now, when most people hear “hybrid,” they assume that the vehicle is going to offer some crazy fuel economy numbers, but that isn’t really the case with the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe. This is a big, heavy SUV and running on only the gasoline engine, it is expected to returned a combined fuel economy number of 23 miles-per-gallon (10.2 L/100 km). Yet when you factor in the electric assist, the Grand Cherokee 4xe gets a rating of 56 MPG-equivalent (4.2 Le/100 km). That is a solid number, but more importantly, the big 4xe offers 25 miles (40 km) of all-electric driving on a full charge. That means that someone with a shorter commute, or someone who can plug in at work, will be able to make much of their daily drive without using any gasoline.

In short, the Grand Cherokee 4xe offers solid fuel economy, 25 miles of all-electric range, great power and the ability to tow up to 6,000 pounds without any sort of compromise.

Our time behind the wheel of the 2022 Grand Cherokee 4xe began in downtown Austin, Texas, in a Summit Reserve model with a fully charged battery. The 4xe package includes a button panel that lets you select between Hybrid, Electric and E-Save modes. Hybrid mode lets the vehicle decide when the gasoline engine runs and when the vehicle operates on battery power, picking the power application that is most efficient at any given time. Electric mode somewhat locks the vehicle into all-electric driving mode, but if you hammer the throttle hard from a stop or when climbing a steep hill, the gasoline engine will engage. However, under normal driving circumstances, the gasoline engine never engages when driving in Electric mode. Finally, E-Save mode keeps the gasoline engine running to preserve battery power. When turning on the Max Regen system, E-Save will actually charge the hybrid drive battery up to 80% full while driving with the gasoline engine running.

Since our test vehicle came with a fully charged battery, we started the day driving the Grand Cherokee 4xe in Electric mode. We drove through some dense stop-and-go traffic before getting into suburban areas that were a bit freer-flowing. Austin is predominantly flat, but there were some hills along the way, so the start of the drive route represented a very normal commute for many Americans. Driving on that route with some light, spirited pulls, I made it 27.2 miles (43.8 km) before the gasoline engine engaged and Hybrid mode was forced due to the low battery levels. Had we not stopped for a drink at 25 miles (40 km), the Grand Cherokee 4xe would have gone more than 28 miles (45 km) on all-electric power on that drive route and the expected range was exceeded without any sort of special driving efforts. Keeping up with traffic on acceleration and cruising at, or slightly above, the speed limit yielded 10% better than the expected range.

Once the Hybrid mode is active, the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe operates like a traditional hybrid, with the gasoline engine starting and stopping as needed, letting the electric motor system do the work when there is low torque demand. The gasoline engine is so quiet that you can barely notice when it is running while driving at highway speeds, so most drivers will have to rely on the gauges to know whether they are driving on gasoline or battery power. Best of all, when you really put the hammer down from a stop or a roll, the two power systems combine to provide the full force of 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque in a hurry, making this model quicker than the Hemi-powered Grand Cherokee.

While the big Grand Cherokee is not the first choice of most Jeep-buying off-roaders, it is still engineered to handle the roughest conditions possible. As mentioned above, the 4xe is available in Trailhawk form for those who want the best off-road capabilities. During my seat time with the 2022 Grand Cherokee 4xe, I had a chance to tackle an off-road course with an Overland model. Best of all, the battery was fully charged, so I got to experience silent off-roading.

If you have never been off-roading with an electric vehicle, it is a pretty interesting experience. There is a unique functionality aspect, as the instant-on torque makes it easier to creep and climb over obstacles. There is no easing into the throttle more and more as you wait for enough engine speed to create the torque needed to climb over a big rock. You hit the throttle, the power is there and you are up over that rock, which is great in tight spaces.

However, the more interesting aspect of off-roading with the Grand Cherokee Overland 4xe is the silence. There is no engine noise, so all you hear is the sound of the tires on the surface and the sounds of nature. When driving through smoother dirt, it is nearly silent, shy of the sound of dirt and rocks crunching under the tires. You can hear the birds sing and the wind rustle through the leaves, making for a very peaceful experience, but it does all of this with gobs of all-electric torque.

A unique aspect of our time with the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe was the opportunity to pull a classic vehicle on an open trailer. Back in the 1970s, the United States Postal Service had a fleet of all-electric Jeeps and the automaker borrowed a pristine example of one of those old school EVs from a dealership in Ohio. When strapped down to the car trailer, the combo weighs around 5,500 pounds, making it a great load for the Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe.

The instant torque application of the 4xe model allows it to accelerate smoothly from a stop without breaking a sweat and when cruising down the road with the 5,500-pound load, the hybrid Grand Cherokee makes short work of the trailer weight. While a 6,000-pound capacity is a bit light for most automotive trailer loads, the Grand Cherokee 4xe will comfortably pull most average boat and horse trailers.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe costs more on paper, but the package includes some unique content and it’s eligible the $7,500 federal tax credit for driving an electric vehicle. The base 4xe model starts at $59,495 after destination but before tax credits. This model is most comparable to the non-hybrid Grand Cherokee Limited 4×4, which starts at $48,440, but in addition to the hybrid drive system, the 4xe package includes the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, the passenger screen, 18-inch wheels, a premium nine-speaker Alpine sound system and the dual-pane sunroof.

When you step up to the off-road-ready Trailhawk 4xe, the pricing starts at $64,280, the Overland 4xe starts at $67,555 and the Summit trim level starts at $71,615. For comparison to the non-hybrid models, Trailhawk starts at $56,030, Overland starts at $58,035 and Summit starts at $62,095, so the price difference between hybrid and non-hybrid versions varies by trim level, but so do the standard features.

That being said, the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is better than the non-hybrid version in every form, so the up-charge is worth every cent when you factor in the premium features and the all-electric driving capabilities.

In the same way that electrification made the Jeep Wrangler better, the addition of the 4xe plug-in hybrid drivetrain to the Grand Cherokee has made the most awarded SUV even better. The seamless electric integration in Hybrid mode is ideal for longer drives while the Electric drive mode is perfect for the average daily commute. Add in impressive off-road abilities, a long list of standard premium interior amenities and the ability to comfortably tow three tons and you have yourself the most attractive all-around model in the segment.