2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe SUV

The 2021 Wrangler 4xe is available in three trims namely the Sahara 4xe, Rubicon 4xe, and High Altitude 4xe. The price for the Sahara 4xe trim starts at $51,025 and goes up to $56,845 for the High Altitude trim, excluding additional charges. Very few vehicles in the market are as capable as the Jeep and offer a hybrid powertrain. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe will compete with the likes of Toyota RAV4 Prime, Ford Escape PHEV, and Honda CR-V Hybrid in the American market 

The 2021 Wrangler 4xe is available in three trims namely the Sahara 4xe, Rubicon 4xe, and High Altitude 4xe. The price for the Sahara 4xe trim starts at $51,025 and goes up to $56,845 for the High Altitude trim. All the trims come with a hybrid powertrain with a 17 kWh battery pack that is good enough for 21 miles of pure electric range and delivers high efficiency of 49 MPGe as per the official ratings. All the trims come with part-time AWD configuration in traditional Jeep fashion and offer the same level of ruggedness and off-road worthiness that we expect from Jeep vehicles. 

Which trim should you buy? 

We believe that the Sahara 4xe trim would be the most suitable trim for many buyers. It is priced less than other trims and offers almost all the features except the advanced safety ones as standard. It also gets leather-trimmed upholstery with a leather-trimmed shift knob and steering wheel as well. Despite being a base trim, it gets you a premium Alpine audio system with the latest Uconnect 4C NAV infotainment system. Also, you can opt for the Advanced Safety Group Package for active safety features like adaptive cruise control, advanced brakes assist, forward collision warning, automatic high beam headlights, etc. 

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is equipped with a unique drivetrain configuration previously unseen on any Jeep vehicle. It gets a small 2.0L turbocharged engine that makes 270 hp coupled with a 44 hp electric motor connected through the accessory belt and a 134 hp electric motor at the rear. Together the system puts out 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid powertrain is coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission with a torque converter unit. The power can be transferred to all four wheels whenever desired via the part-time 4WD system. A battery pack of 17.0 KWh powers the hybrid drivetrain and provides an all-electric drive mode of up to 21 miles. 

The performance is good with a 0-60 mph sprint done in under 6.0 seconds. And can tow up to 3500 lbs with ease, thanks to its class-leading torque. It gets three drive modes namely the Hybrid mode, Electric mode, and ESave mode. The hybrid mode either uses the electric powertrain or the IC engine depending upon the driving condition. The Electric model uses only electric power to propel the vehicle up to 21 miles without needing it to charge the battery pack again. The eSave mode works with both the powertrain simultaneously to offer the best efficiency and can also charge up the depleted battery pack with the help of the IC engine. 

The Jeep Wrangler is the most powerful of the lot and provides very good performance for its size and weight. It does a 0-60 mph sprint in about 6 seconds, followed by Toyota RAV4 Prime with 5.7 seconds, Honda CR-V Hybrid with 7.5 seconds while the Ford Escape is the slowest and takes about 8.7 seconds to complete a 0-0 mph sprint. In terms of performance, the Wrangler 4xe can definitely be considered a segment leader. 

How does the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe handle?

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is definitely a more capable off-roader than its urban-biased competitors. So we don’t expect it to be a corner lover and obviously, it isn’t. Owing to its boxy profile and taller dimension there is a noticeable body roll and it is not advisable to not throw it around the corners more frequently as it clearly doesn’t like it. The steering feel is acceptable but on some occasions, understeer was clearly prominent and we didn’t like it as many of its rivals offer a much better and direct steering feel. 

Also, the hybrid drivetrain needs to be calibrated more accurately. As in urban conditions and with the Hybrid mode on, you’ll notice sudden engagement of engine and disengagement too. It’s not a bad thing and that’s how it is supposed to perform but the transition between the two powertrains should have been more seamless. The suspension setup offers good comfort and the high-speed stability of the Wrangler 4xe is commendable as well. With ginormous torque on offer, the Wrangler 4xe is ready to take on any terrain. 

2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Braking Performance

An effective braking system is very imperative for safe driving. It is a known fact that the higher the curb weight, the higher the momentum and hence it becomes imperative to use larger-sized rotors to provide effective decent braking performance. The Wrangler 4xe is equipped with 12.9-inch rotors at the front end and 13.6 -inch rotors at the rear end. So, the size of the rotors seems adequate especially while considering its higher curb weight of 5222 lbs. With the help of an anti-lock braking system and regenerative braking system further enhancing the braking efficiency, we expect to provide acceptable braking performance which is on par or better than its competition. 

The Honda CR-V is equipped with smaller rotors on each end and yet it offers decent braking performance and comes to a complete stop from 60 mph within 130 feet of stopping distance. It is followed by the heavier RAV4 Prime and it stops within 143 feet of stopping distance which is considerably longer than the Ford Escape which weighs less and stops within 128 feet of stopping distance. We expect the Wrangler 4xe to offer nearly the same stopping distance as that of the segment best. 

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is definitely a good performer and performance comes at a cost. In this case, it's the fuel economy. The Wrangler is definitely not very fuel-efficient when compared with its competition. It offers a combined EPA-rated MPGe of 49 MPGe and combined MPG stands at just 20 mpg. So with a tank of 17.2 gallons, it can travel up to 345 miles which is pretty average in our opinion. All the competitors, though less powerful, offer much better fuel efficiency. With a battery pack of 17.0 KWh, it can offer a fully electric range of about 21 miles. 

The Ford Escape Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient SUV of the lot and offers a staggering 41 mpg in combined driving conditions. With a fuel tank capacity of just 12 gallons, it can travel up to 492 miles in mixed driving conditions. It is followed by the Wrangler 4xe with just 345 miles. The RAV4 Prime is not the most fuel-efficient but owing to the larger fuel tank of 14.5 gallons, it offers 536 miles in combined conditions. The Honda CR-V hybrid offers 532 miles in combined conditions. 

The interior of the 2021 Wrangler 4xe is very similar to the regular Wrangler and you’ll hardly notice any changes in the interior except in the infotainment display which gives information about the hybrid system status like battery charge, pure electric range, and different drive modes. The dashboard is minimalistic and ergonomic just like the conventional Wrangler. The Wrangler 4xe comes with a black standard interior and can be had in other dark saddle interior colors too, The Sahara 4xe trim comes with leather-trimmed seats with Sahara embroidery, and even the steering wheel and shift knob are trimmed in leather. The Rubicon 4xe trim gets premium cloth upholstery with front bucket seats. 

The High Altitude 4xe comes in leather-trimmed upholstery and front bucket seats. The driver’s seat is 6-way manually adjustable with 2-way manual lumbar support. The height can be adjusted too for better visibility of the road ahead. For better comfort, all the trims are equipped with an automatic climate control system and the rear window defroster is available as standard with the High Altitude trim. The rear seat is 60/40 split and foldable to accommodate more cargo if necessary. The cargo capacity is limited to 27.7 cu-ft behind the second-row seats. You can also opt for many optional interior features like heated front seats, panel storage bag, windshield tie-down by Mopar, soft top window storage bag, premium door trim panel, remote start system, and many more as per your requirement. 

The Wrangler 4xe comes with class-leading headroom and legroom across the second row, thanks to its boxy profile. Even the shoulder room provided by it across both the rows is class-leading. The Honda CR-V hybrid provides the maximum cargo capacity of 39.2 cu-ft, followed by RAV4 Prime with 33.5 cu-ft, Ford Escape PHEV with 30.7 cu-ft, and Wrangler 4xe with just 27.7 cu-ft. Some of the standout interior features are: 

• Leather upholstery (Sahara and High Altitude)
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel (Sahara and High Altitude)
• Steering mounted audio controls 
• Reclining front seats 
• 60/40 split and foldable rear seats 

What’s there in the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe to keep you entertained?

The 2021 Wrangler 4xe is equipped with FCA’s UConnect 4C NAV infotainment system and an 8.4-inch touchscreen display. The interface is easy to use and intuitive. It gets a plethora of features and you can’t complain about anything here. Some basic features like Bluetooth connectivity, remote USB port, SiriusXM services like Guardian, Radio service, TrafficPlus, Travel Link, satellite radio, and 4G LTE hotspot are standard. The infotainment system also supports GPS navigation. Also for seamless smartphone integration, you get access to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. For a pleasant musical experience, the Wrangler 4xe gets an Alpine premium audio system as standard. Some of the standout infotainment features are: 

• 8.4-inch touchscreen display 
• UConnect 4C NAV interface 
• 4G LTE hotspot 
• Android Auto 
• Apple CarPlay 
• SiriusXM services 

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is just like a conventional Wrangler with some subtle differences in exterior styling. The front fascia imbibes two circular LED headlamps with daytime running lamps and a signature Jeep seven-slot grille. The Sahara and Rubicon trims get black-colored front and rear bumpers while the High Altitude trim gets body-colored bumpers. The Rubicon 4xe gets a dual vented hood as standard. 

The side profile is as boxy as it can get and the flared-out wheel arches give it a rugged look The Sahara and Rubicon trims get soft rooftops as standard while the High Altitude trim gets hard rooftop as standard. The rear profile completes the boxy look with squarish LED taillamps and the spare wheel is mounted on the tailgate that opens horizontally. Overall, the exterior design is reminiscent of the classic Willys Jeep in a modern avatar. 

The Wrangler 4xe is definitely the king of the road when it comes to its exterior dimensions. It is taller, heavier, and longer than its competition. It also sits on a longer wheelbase. As a result, it offers better passenger room than most of its competitors. However, it lacks in cargo capacity and other rivals excel with higher cargo capacity. It offers a class-leading ground clearance of 10.1-inches which is a clear testimony of its better off-road compatibility. Some of the standout exterior features are: 

• LED headlamps with DRLs
• LED tail lamps 
• Softtop and hardtop options
• Outside tire carrier
• Dual vented hood (Rubicon)
• Deep tinted sunscreen windows

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe has not been fully tested by the NHTSA or the IIHS. However, it is very similar to the 2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and the NHTSA has given it an overall 4-star rating for front collision testing and a 3-star rating for roll-over test which was pretty much expected from a tall car like it. However, with an increase in weight due to the hybrid system we expect the roll-over ratings to improve. 

Most of the basic safety features like airbags, stability controls, anti-lock braking system, etc are available as standard. But most of the active safety features are optional and need to be selected via optional packages like Safety group and Advanced safety group which provides features like adaptive cruise control, advanced brake assist, full-speed forward collision warning, blind-spot, and cross-path detection, and rear park assist system. Some of the standout safety features are: 

• Electronic roll mitigation 
• Hill start assist 
• Optional automatic headlamps
• Optional adaptive cruise control
• Optional rear park assist 
• Optional full-speed forward collision warning 

2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Limited

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is a very different vehicle from the Toyota RAV4 Prime. But both the SUVs incorporate hybrid drivetrains for better efficiency and performance. However, the RAV4 is much more fuel-efficient in all its drive modes while the Wrangler 4xe clearly blows away the RAV4 with its performance despite being much heavier than it. The RAV4 is more urban biased while the Wrangler 4xe can be your daily driver as well your weekend off-roader. However, the Wrangler 4xe is more expensive than the RAV4 Prime 

2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs 2021 Ford Escape PHEV

The Ford Escape PHEV is definitely a well-rounded package as compared to the Jeep Wrangler 4xe. It offers nearly the same towing capacity as that of the Wrangler 4xe and is more fuel-efficient as well. However, it can’t beat the Wrangler 4xe in terms of performance and off-road compatibility. The Ford Escape PHEV offers better interiors, an infotainment system, and more standard safety features than the Jeep Wrangler 4xe. So a clear winner between the two would depend upon your desired purpose. 

2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid 

The 2021 Honda CR-V hybrid is a more urban-biased SUV and a more practical SUV as compared to the Wrangler 4xe. It offers class-leading cargo capacity and better efficiency than the Jeep Wrangler 4xe. However, it is very subtle in performance as compared to the mighty Wrangler 4xe. The Honda CR-V hybrid offers more car-like handling for its size and is definitely a better family hauler than the Wrangler 4xe. The Wrangler 4xe offers higher ground clearance and unmatched off-road compatibility 

The new Jeep Wrangler 4xe improves on the already desirable 2021 Wrangler and offers better efficiency along with a guilt-free driving experience. However, the hybrid drivetrain needs better calibration for a more seamless drive. The unmatched off-road ability is very much here but we would have liked more safety features as standard considering its price. The interior and infotainment systems are quite good for the segment but not the best. So, if you need a hybrid do-it-all vehicle then it has to be the Wrangler 4xe. But if you need a more efficient, comfortable, and car-like driving experience then you can look out for other hybrid vehicles.