The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is one of the most exciting plug-in hybrids to go on sale in a long time. It has a 2.0-liter turbo I4 engine, two electric motors and a 17-kilowatt-hour battery, producing a total output of 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. It'll go 21 miles on electric power alone and can be charged in two hours from a Level 2 charger. And it's a plug-in, but it's still a Jeep: It'll go just about anywhere.

Reviews editor Craig Cole recently published an in-depth review of the Wrangler 4xe, complete with on-road impressions and engineering insights. But because I'm kind of known for being Roadshow's resident off-roader, I figured a closer look at the plug-in Jeep's dirt prowess was in order.

For this test, I have the Rubicon 4xe, which has the same ground clearance, approach angle and locking differentials as the gas-powered Rubi. Even with its plug-in powertrain, the Rubicon 4xe can still ford 30 inches of water, clamber over rocks and scuttle up dunes.