The 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xe will be available in three trims, just like this year, starting from the Sahara and topping up at High Altitude. We are expecting a similar feature list as that of the 2021 year model. The base is the Sahara trim which comes with cloth upholstery, keyless ignition, roof rails, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a 9-speaker audio system by Alpine.

*2021 data for reference

The mid-spec trim is Rubicon which further adds features like front and rear locking differential, automatic LED headlights, single-zone automatic climate control, and heated side mirrors. Sitting at the top of the ladder is High Altitude trim which comes with all the bells and whistles like leather upholstery, split-folding rear seatback, and 552-watt audio system.

Which Trim should you buy?

The best trim is undoubtedly the mid-spec Rubicon trim as it gets all the major off-road upgrades like the front and rear locking diffs, and that does add up to make the Wrangler a pretty capable off-road vehicle. It also comes with other luxuries like premium cloth upholstery, heated side mirrors, automatic LED headlights, and single-zone automatic climate control.

Release date:

We are expecting the release of the 2022 model by the fall of 2021.

The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is the first of a kind plug-in hybrid Wrangler, which means there is an engine that is supplemented by an electric powertrain, and they work together to make a perfect hybrid drivetrain. The engine is basically the same 2.0L inline-four engine, and supporting it are two electric motors, one at the front of the engine and one at the front of the gearbox, and this system has a total output of 375 hp and 470 lb-ft torque. As you can see, it is a lot more powerful and torquey than the normal Wrangler and also the motors fill in the gaps which we also call turbo lag, and that makes the overall power delivery quite seamless.

The system is paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission, which we have seen in other Jeep models as well, and there is nothing very exciting about this, however, this powertrain is a plug-in hybrid and that means that you can drive it solely on electric power only for 25 miles since after that the 17.0-kWh lithium-ion-nickel-manganese-cobalt battery pack certainly runs out of juice. Talking about driveability, the Wrangler 4xe is pretty much one of the most powerful Wranglers next to the 392 version, and that makes it engaging to drive as well. Though you will feel the extra weight it is carrying, it's not a deal-breaker by any means.

*2021 data for reference

The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is essentially the first-of-its-kind SUV, so there is not any direct competitor to it, but when compared to some of the SUVs which come close to it, the Wrangler is still pretty much the most powerful here. But that doesn’t mean it will be the fastest as well as it is also the heaviest here. In fact, the lesser powerful Toyota RSV4 is faster than the Wrangler, and as expected, the least powerful Escape PHEV is the slowest, which puts out 221 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque.

There aren’t any official ratings from the EPA regarding how fuel-efficient is the new Wrangler 4xe so we will have to wait for the numbers, but the speculations are that it will do around 50 MPGe, and if that is true, the Wrangler 4xe will have some serious numbers for the driving range on its side. The Wrangler 4xe comes with a fuel tank capacity of 17.2 gallons and a 50 MPGe fuel-efficiency figure will certainly give it a range of over 750 miles, which is insane, to say the least.

*2021 data for reference

Compared to others, the Wrangler 4xe will have a huge advantage in terms of both the fuel efficiency and drive range as Wrangler has the biggest tank here, while the Ford Escape comes last with the smallest tank capacity of 14.2 gallons. However, the Ford Escape returns a mileage of 44 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway, and 41 mpg when combined. On the other hand, Toyota loses to Ford in terms of efficiency.

The interior of the 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is going to be quite similar to that of the ongoing model in terms of design and feel. The interior is designed keeping in mind that it will get dirty quite often, so ease of use has been given priority. It is in no way a utilitarian cabin, and you get quite a lot of creature comfort features to keep your life inside better.

The base trim comes with cloth interiors, while the upper ones have leather inserts in some parts. Also, the more premium offering comes with ventilated and heated seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a powered seat, and a lot of gizmos to play with. The seats are quite upright, and though they help with the visibility, they are just not as comfortable as one would expect them to be.

*2021 data for reference

The Wrangler has pretty much the most spacious cabin here with more space than any of its competitors in both the front and back row. While the seats are the most spacious, the cargo space took a hit as it is the smallest one here among all, measuring 27.7 cubic feet. Despite having the smallest cabin, the Toyota RAV4 offers the largest cargo volume of 33.5 cubic feet. On the other, the Ford Escape takes the sweet spot and offers 30.7 cubic feet of cargo volume. Some of the key interior features are:

• Automatic climate controls
• Optional heated seats and heated steering wheel
• 6-way adjustable driver’s seat
• Lumbar support
• Rear seat easy-entry access
• 4-way adjustable passenger seat
• Removable full-folding bench rear seat
• Removable rear windows
• Manual Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column
• Urethane Gear Shifter Material

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xe will come with the same 7-inch touchscreen in the Sahara trim with Jeep’s Uconnect infotainment system that is available in the current 2021 model as well. As you climb up the trim levels, it gets a bigger 8.4-inch touchscreen. This is one of the best systems in the class with modern graphics and a very easy-to-use interface. The display is bright and crisp and can be seen under direct sunlight as well. We really liked how simple the interface is, and the system is completely lag-free and the touch is also super responsive. 

The controls for heated and ventilated seats are also integrated into the screen. If we talk about features, it gets Bluetooth connectivity, wireless smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice commands, USB inputs, and has four charging ports. This system is paired to an 8-speaker audio system as standard. However, you also get an optional 9 speaker Alpine premium system. Some of the key infotainment highlights are:

• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Digital radio and Bluetooth
• An 8.4" Uconnect 4C touchscreen infotainment system
• 9-speaker Alpine audio system
• In-built navigation
• SiriusXM support
• Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xe isn’t a lot different from the normal Wrangler in terms of looks. Personally, we are quite sure that all of us love the way Wrangler has always looked. That proper old-school offroader look has always helped the Wrangler to attract a lot of attention. The design may look old school but is certainly quite modern with those all-LED headlamps with LED DRLs which give the Wrangler a very commanding presence.

The only design change that sets the 4xe model look apart from the normal models is the Blue accent on various parts, which is quite obvious of a mark that the vehicle is either a hybrid or electric. With all doors and roof panels being user-removable, the Wrangler can get from a city SUV to a jungle safari SUV just like that, and that makes the Wrangler even more unique in the current lineup of off-roader SUVs. We all secretly love the Wrangler for its butch appearance and unmistakable road presence, and that is what makes it special.

*2021 data for reference

Here in this competition, the Wrangler is pretty much the biggest, and while the width is just a couple millimeters less than that of the Ford Escape, the Wrangler still is bigger overall. Also, the Wrangler has the best approach, departure, and break-over angle here, which is quite obvious and is the only one sold as a hardcore offroader. Some of the key exterior highlights are:

• Soft top and hard top options
• Mesh sunbonnet and solid sunbonnet
• 18-inch wheels
• 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires
• The body-colored grille and fender flares
• Tinted windows
• Variable Intermittent Wipers
• Automatic LED headlights with LED DRLs
• LED taillights

The boxy shape has never been considered safe, and unfortunately, all the vehicles built on this design are plagued with issues regarding safety. The 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xe hasn’t been tested yet by both the NHTSA or IIHS. On the other hand, IIHS has given the 2021 regular Wrangler a “Good” rating for all the tests other than the very tricky small overlap front crash test where it received a “marginal” rating. This is primarily because it is quite easy for a Wrangler to tip over to its side in an event of a crash. To compensate for all this, the 4xe has offered many optional driver aids. Some of the key safety features include:

• Advanced brake assist
• Advanced multistage front airbags
• Electronic roll mitigation
• Electronic stability control
• Hill Start Assist
• Parkview Back-Up Camera
• Traction control
• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic high beam headlights

2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime

When it comes to looks, the old-school design of the Wrangler certainly is a lot better than how the Toyota RAV4 Prime looks. Also when it comes to offroading, the Toyota RAV4 simply can’t hold a candle against the Wrangler as it is pretty much the undisputed king of offroad. Also, the Wrangler is bigger and better than the RAV4 in pretty much all aspects and gets a more powerful drivetrain as well. However, all that comes at a cost, and while we don’t know the price of the 2022 model Wrangler yet, one thing we can confirm is that it is going to cost a lot more than the RAV4. If you’re ready to shell out that huge sum of money, then certainly you won’t feel bad about your decision of buying the Wrangler.

2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs 2021 Ford Escape PHEV

The Ford Escape looks like a teenage kid when compared to the Wrangler. The only two things going on for the Escape are that it has a bigger cargo area and it is hell a lot cheaper than the Wrangler. Other than that in pretty much all other areas, the Wrangler is better. But when seen in isolation, the Ford Escape is an overall decent car for city driving and long drives. But the Jeep Wrangler, with its unrivaled performance both on-road and off the road, comes as an inevitable option when it comes to buying a proper SUV.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is the first-of-a-kind SUV, and it still maintains the ruggedness and off-roading capabilities of the Jeep. It is the best hybrid off-roading SUV for sale at the moment. We were skeptical about how the Hybrid version is going to perform, but it is definitely unblemished in every way. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe has started a genre of off-roaders that never existed earlier, and we do not doubt that it is the way for the future, and we can confirm that soon Ford and Land Rover will definitely bring PHEV model for Bronco and Defender respectively, and when that happens, then the Wrangler will have some worthy contenders. Till then, the Wrangler 4xe is the undisputed king.