New 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid: prices, specs and details
Jeep's plug-in hybrid line-up is expanding, with a 4xe version of the fifth-generation Grand Cherokee joining the smaller Compass and Renegade models
The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid is now available to order in the UK. The hybrid is the sole engine choice here, but there are four different trim levels to choose from. It completes Jeep’s electrified line-up; the Renegade, Compass and Wrangler are all available as plug-in hybrids too.
Sitting as the flagship Jeep model, the Grand Cherokee 4xe starts from £69,900. That’s for the Limited trim, which includes 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, two large screens and ventilated seats, plus a host of smart driver assistance features. Overland is next, adding a panoramic sunroof, extra body-coloured trim and premium Nappa leather seats for an extra £4,000.
Trailhawk is Jeep’s off-road-focused trim level, and so you get all-terrain tyres, extra skid plates for underbody protection and additional 4x4 capability. This model costs £75,900 before options. Sitting at the top of the range is the Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve. Its £82,900 price includes bigger wheels with a polished finish, walnut trim, an upgraded 19-speaker sound system and an additional touchscreen for the front passenger.
According to Jeep, the plug-in hybrid Grand Cherokee 4xe should be able to cover over 30 miles on electric power in urban areas and will have a total cruising range of up to 435 miles before a fill-up is needed.
Fuel-economy figures from the industry-standard WLTP testing procedure aren't yet available, however the car’s £15 first-year road tax fee indicates that CO2 emissions will be between 51 and 75g/km. Consequently, Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax for company-car drivers will be between 15 and 20%.
Combined, the 4xe’s two electric motors (powered by a 17kWh battery) and 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine produce 375bhp and 637Nm of torque. As with any plug-in hybrid, the battery can be topped up from a charging point, or with energy recovered by the car’s regenerative braking system.
Drivers get a choice of three drive modes: Hybrid, Electric and eSave. In Hybrid, the car determines the best way to optimise battery and engine power to maximise economy and performance, while Electric allows you to travel as far as possible on battery power. Meanwhile, eSave will retain the battery’s charge for later use.
The latest Grand Cherokee boasts refreshed styling inside and out, as well as independent front and rear air suspension. There are five rough-terrain modes – Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow and Mud/Sand – and Jeep is confident the move to hybrid power hasn't dented the Grand Cherokee's off-road prowess.
In addition to packing four-wheel drive and nearly 29cm of ground clearance, the 4xe’s electronics are sealed and waterproofed, so you can ford up to 61cm of water in it. To demonstrate the model's off-road capability, Jeep says a Grand Cherokee 4xe was able to cover the entirety of the formidable 22-mile Rubicon Trail in California's Sierra Nevada mountains on electric power alone.
Inside, the new Grand Cherokee features a 10.1-inch digital driver’s display and central infotainment touchscreen and the latest iteration of Jeep’s Uconnect infotainment system, which is claimed to be five times faster than previous versions and capable of receiving over-the-air (OTA) software updates.
You can also get a set of 10.1-inch screens in the rear; these run Amazon’s Fire TV service, so passengers in the back can stream movies and TV shows among other things.
