When Jeep introduced its plans to transition 100% of European gross sales to electrical and 50 p.c in North America by 2030, electrifying the automaker’s fleet appeared inevitable. It is not any shock then that when a plug-in hybrid version of the Jeep Wrangler 4xe hit the market in 2021, everybody went a bit loopy over the enduring automobile.

From racking up extra awards than you possibly can rely on one hand in its few years available on the market to outselling all of Toyota’s plug-in hybrids mixed, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe had a maintain available on the market that no different PHEV might fairly catch as much as. The autos’ actual success, although, appears to lie in Jeep and guardian firm Stellantis’ advertising and marketing efforts. The automobile’s award on the Women’s World Car of the Year Awards wasn’t a fluke, the 4xe is booming.

Here’s why — and the way — the Jeep Wrangler 4xe turned so widespread that firms left and proper had been breaking down precisely why Americans fell in love with the hybrid car.

In order to provide the newest and correct data attainable, the info used to compile this text was sourced from numerous producer web sites and different authoritative sources, together with Jeep, Stellantis, and CNN Business.

One In Four Jeep Wranglers Sold Were 4xe Models In 2022

Jeep made firm historical past in 2023. On a summer season day in the direction of the top of August, one fortunate buyer in New Jersey bought the five-millionth Jeep Wrangler. The Jeep in query was a 2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Rubicon twentieth Anniversary Edition paired with $5,000 price of Jeep Performance Parts as a prize to have fun the benchmark.

But, that fortunate New Jersey 4xe proprietor was only one extra of the numerous who lined as much as purchase the hybrid Wrangler when it dropped.

Why The 4xe Tops The Charts

Plug-in hybrids nonetheless stay on the rarer aspect in comparison with electrical autos and commonplace hybrids. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, plug-in hybrids made up 1.4 percent of quarterly light-duty car gross sales in 2021. Hybrids, however, surpassed six p.c and electrical autos took second place with 3.4 p.c. But, within the PHEV universe, a big and boxy Jeep Wrangler takes the top prize.

Despite its traditional gas-guzzling engine with poor fuel mileage, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe outsold autos synonyms with “plug-in hybrid,” like Toyota’s fleet of PHEVs. The 4xe made up 43 percent of total Jeep Wrangler U.S. sales in 2023 with 67,429 autos bought. In comparability, the Toyota Prius, the posterchild of PHEVs, bought 38,052 fashions in 2023 as of December. Sales of the Jeep Wrangler 4xe elevated by 56 p.c in comparison with the yr prior.

Stellantis reported that as an organization, plug-in hybrid U.S. sales soared 124 percent in 2023 in comparison with 2022. The model additionally boasts the highest three bestselling PHEVs within the U.S. with the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, and the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid.

A Trophy Case Of A Car

The 4xe’s resume is a bit mind-boggling and eye-watering. Not solely does it rank up high by way of gross sales and recognition, however the auto awards season made it clear that the PHEV jeep mannequin was a standout. The Wrangler took residence an award from the Hispanic Motor Press and was named the Adventure Vehicle of the Year.

At the 2022 Women’s World Car of the Year Awards, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe was named the very best four-by-four available on the market. A crew of jurors from 40 nations backed the choice. On high of all of it, the Wrangler 4xe won GearJunkies’ title for greatest four-by-four car of the yr in 2021. In awards present phrases, the Jeep’s success appeared to translate to a clear sweep.

Awards embody:

• Hispanic Motor Press – Adventure Vehicle of the Year 2023
• Canadian Black Book – 2023 Residual Value Award
• 2022 Women’s World Car of the Year Awards – Best 4×4
• GearJunkies – Best 4×4 2021
• WardsAuto – Wards 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems – 2021

The 4xe Offers Over Double The Gas Mileage Of An ICE Jeep

Despite Jeep Wranger’s dependable repute (roughly 80 p.c of the model’s 5 million Wranglers are nonetheless on the highway, stated Stellantis), the car in its 100% gas-powered type would not precisely scream sustainable. Luckily, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe doesn’t compromise the brand’s off-roading excellence simply because its now a plug-in hybrid.

49 Combined Gas And Electric Fuel Economy

According to the Department of Energy’s Fuel Economy, the 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe falls just short of the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe’s fuel economy with 49 combined city and highway MPGe. With gas-only driving, the mannequin drops all the way down to a mixed metropolis and freeway gas financial system of 20. In comparability, the 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4WD with a 6.4-liter, eight-cylinder, automated eight-speed comes out at 14 mixed metropolis and freeway MPG.

While the 4xe may have vastly improved its fuel economy, it would not rank primary amongst different plug-in hybrids for mileage. For instance, the 2024 Toyota Prius Prime SE presents a mixed metropolis/freeway fuel and electrical gas financial system of 127. That quantity drops to 52 with out an electrical cost.

2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Technical Specifications

(Data sourced from Jeep and Car and Driver)

The Jeep Wrangler 4xe Ranks First Among PHEVs

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Jeep Wrangler 4xe exceeds in sales compared to any other plug-in hybrid, in keeping with Stellantis. The car could have horsepower reaching 375 ponies with a large torque alongside it, but the car’s gas financial system falls in need of the others. What units the plug-in hybrid Wrangler apart from the rest? How does the PHEV examine?

How It Compares

The second hottest plug-in hybrid within the U.S., additionally a Jeep, begins at an analogous value level because the Wrangler 4xe. However, the 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe presents a faster acceleration fee in comparison with the Wrangler’s preliminary exams. Both vehicles sport 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque whereas the Grand Cherokee 4xe heats as much as 60 MPH in 5.3 seconds as an alternative of between 6.5 to six.8 seconds. The Cherokee also climbs up the ranks in terms of fuel economy. The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe presents a fuel and electrical mixed metropolis and freeway gas financial system of 56 MPGe with a 26-mile electrical car vary.

The third top-selling PHEV is the Chrysler Pacifica. The 2024 model has an acceleration fee of seven.3 seconds whereas the car’s horsepower is considerably much less highly effective than both Jeep with 260 horsepower, in keeping with Car and Driver tests. The vary is the place the Chrysler shines, nevertheless. With 540 miles of vary, the car has a fuel and electrical mixed metropolis and freeway gas financial system of 82 MPGe. The plug-in hybrid vehicle can reach 32 miles of all-electric range.

So what makes the Jeep Wrangler 4xe promote at such the next fee than different fashions? Marketability.

What Makes The 4xe So Marketable?

Stellantis refers to Jeep Wrangler as one of many “most recognizable nameplates in the industry,” so you wouldn’t think it would need much help with its marketability. But what Jeep has performed prior to now few years with the model’s technique marks an revolutionary strategy to promoting vehicles.

The All-American model has appeared set on switching the general public’s minds about eco-friendly vehicles and the people who find themselves behind the wheel. Jeep celebrated International Day of the Girl with a video that centered round ladies in motorsports.

The “Rebelle With a Cause” mission highlighted the Rebelle Rally, an all-female rally race throughout 1,500 miles of the Nevada and Californian desert. Former rally champions have fun the vacation that goals to spice up gender equality by driving the Jeep Wrangler 4xe.

“Two-time Rebelle Champion and Jeep Wrangler 4xe driver Nena Barlow…espouses the Jeep brand pillars of adventure, freedom, authenticity and passion as she works to empower a new generation of women off-road drivers with training sessions designed to inspire confidence and welcome new entrants into the sport,” Jeep stated in a press release.

Campaigns like that is probably not the driving issue behind the Wrangler 4xe’s surging gross sales; nevertheless, it does show the vehicle’s capability and performance on rough terrain all whereas advertising and marketing the car to a wider viewers than Jeep has reached earlier than.