2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe: A powerful, plug-in electric off-roader

[MUSIC] For the first time ever fans of the Jeep brand will be able to get their taste of the electric driving lifestyle behind the wheel of this. The all new Jeep Wrangler four by E plug in hybrid. [MUSIC] Electric blue details for the badges body in tow hook federally differentiate the four by E on the outside, but there are bigger changes hidden behind the scenes. The four by E is powered by jeeps two litre turbo four with a little electrified extra. A high voltage starter generator hangs off of the engines front end of the main electric drive is mounted to the HB transmission at the rear Downstream you'll find the same four by four systems, differentials and lockers as the non Hybrid Wrangler. Altogether you're looking at 375 horsepower and a very generous 470 pound feet of torque, which when combined with the four by four systems low speed crawling hardware makes this the most capable Wrangler yet according to Jeep There are three modes that allow the driver to choose how to use the 17 kilowatt hour batteries juice. Electric uses just the battery for the first 21 miles of mostly silent driving at 49 miles per gallon equivalent hybrid prioritizes the battery but also adds in the combustion engines power as needed for acceleration or speed. eSAVE prioritizes the combustion engine to preserve or generate charge for the battery, which is useful for saving a little bit of low speed evie rains for the end of a long highway stretch. There's also a max region setting that can be applied to all three modes. It's close to a one pedal driving mode giving full regenerative braking on lift, but not quite since it still creeps forward at very low speeds. With the best range and in my opinion, the best pedal field, this was the mode that I did most of my driving in reaching 23.8 miles of silent fady driving before the combustion engine kicked in. I think that was likely aided by the standard road friendly all-season tires. You should expect less from the Rubicons knobby tires and significantly left at highway speed. The Wrangler still has the aerodynamic profile of a pallet of bricks after all. Plugging into a level two home or public charging station like the solar powered ones that Jeep is currently installing at many popular trailheads across America, free to use by the way for four by owners, that's gonna juice the pack up and around two and a half hours at a regular home wall outlet that stretches to around 12 hours from flat Of course, the most important thing about the four by E is that it's still a Jeep Wrangler with all of the off road capability that the name commands. And so we had to put this to the test by doing some Jeep stuff. For this I swapped into a more rugged Rubicon model with a 33 inch tires dropped into four by four low lock the diff and engage full electric drive mode to tackle an off road course. The four by eight forwarded water up to 30 inches, deep and full electric mode without electrocuting anyone involved, the battery packs actually tucked beneath the rear seats inside the cabin where it's climate controlled and protected from bumps, punctures, and score. Scrapes. The 4 by a Rubicon with its impressive 77.2 to one crawl ratio and gobs of electric torque on tap. Made easy work of some pretty severe climbs up solid and fairly smooth rock faces. Made easier with the latest generation of select speed controls smoothing out the hill essence and especially those defense. I also really enjoy just how absolutely and strangely silent the whole four by II off road experience was. As much as I normally love the sound of a powerful combustion engine, focusing on the scrub of the tires over the terrain was actually really cool. As was more easily hearing my father's commands and the nature surrounding the trail. This is the great outdoors after all. The 2021 Jeep Wrangler for buy. He starts at 49,490 bucks for the base Sahara, or 53,190. For the Rubicon that's including destination charges but before up to 70 $500 in plug in tax rebates or any state specific incentives Deliveries that are slated to begin at the start of 2021, which is right about now. And yet we've got more specs than pricing details as part of our full first drive review over on the road.show.com.