Meet the $129,950 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe

Jeep has finally launched their first foray into the murky waters of electrified drivetrains, with the 280kW, $129,950, Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe. The plug-in hybrid will be available in August, and will sit alongside the existing Jeep Grand Cherokee 5 and 7-seat variants.

This hybrid Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe still has a petrol engine, but is a step on the ladder to Jeep’s “Zero Emission Freedom” aims. None the less, Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is the most fuel-efficient, Grand Cherokee we’ve seen.

Jeep Grand Cherokee models are produced at the new Detroit factory, called Mack.

The 2.0-litre turbocharged l-4 PHEV 4xe drivetrain uses 2 electric motors, a 400-volt 17.3-kWh EV battery pack, 2.0-litre turbocharged, four-cylinder engine and TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission.

Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe can drive for 52km (NEDC) of electric range-only range, and manages 3.2L/100km overall. Like all EVs, electric power steering and electric air conditioning are used so that the petrol engine of this hybrid is free from the drains of belt-driven steering and climate control.

The battery has its own heating and cooling, vital for proper performance. The system has its own heater unit, but the chiller shares the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s air-conditioning refrigerant.

An important feature is the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s 4xe’s Integrated Dual Charging Module (IDCM) combining a battery charger and a DC/DC converter in a small single unit, and a Power Inverter Module (PIM) that is also smaller than you might expect. They sit under the body, protected with steel shields, and as with all the high-voltage electronics, are sealed and waterproof.

The charge port’s push-open/push-close cover is on the left front mudguard so the owners can drive nose in at charging locations. As well as LED charge indicators on the charge, there is an LED battery level monitor on top of the instrument panel.

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ABOVE: 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe

The all-important charge time ranges from under 10 hours (Mode 2) to under 3 hours (Mode 3 @7.4kWh). Plug-in hybrids always take longer to charge their small EV batteries than a dedicated EV because of the lack of additional on-board infrastructure. It is intended for owners to be able to plug in at home, and at the office.

There are E-Selec modes that allow the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe to be set optimally for daily commuting in pure-electric mode, or highway road and off-road in near silence. Hybrid, Electric, and eSave buttons change modes as desired, but as the battery runs low, then operates like a regular hybrid.

Regenerative braking captures some of the energy normally lost when slowing down, even in 4X4 mode. Thankfully, Jeep has used a regular 8-speed automatic rather than a useless CVT. This gives Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe a towing capacity of 2,722 kg.

Rather cleverly, Jeep Grand Cherokee has the front axle bolted directly to the engine which Jeep claims improves the drive feeling. The cabin is said to made crafter from premium materials, which adds a touch of luxury to off-roading, albeit American luxury.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee uses, Quadra-Trac II with Quadra Lift Air Suspension.

To denote the additional pizzaz of the electrified system, Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe gets the subtle touch of special treatment. It gets a Gloss Black roof and a new window moulding that begins at side mirror and finishes at the base of the backlight

Jeep Grand Cherokee range has a front wireless phone charging pad, 2 USB Type C connectors, and a 10.25-inch frameless LCD instrument display. Two dozen different menus can fettle such settings as those in the driver-assist suite which includes: Active Driving Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition and Night Vision

Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe has LED cabin lighting, 5-colour ambient lighting, McIntosh 19-speaker system and a kick-to-open power liftgate.

Summit Reserve 4xe standard equipment highlights:

Driveline

2.0L I4 DOHC direct-injection Turbo PHEV engine
8-Speed Automatic Transmission
Quadra-Trac II Active 4×4 System with Selec-Terrain and Quadra Lift Air Suspension

Interior

Quilted Palermo Leather-trimmed seats – available in Black and Tupelo
12-way power with 4-way power lumbar adjustment for driver and passenger seat with memory
Driver and Front Passenger Seat Massage Function
Ventilated First and Second-row Seating (Outboard)
Four-Zone Automatic Climate Control
Dual-Pane Panoramic Sunroof
10.1″ Uconnect 5 Nav with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
10.25″ Multiview Display Cluster
Premium McIntosh High Performance Audio System with 19 speakers and 950-watt amplifier

Exterior