Jeep Wrangler Lineup Gets Another Plug-In Hybrid, But Don't Expect a Range Boost
NEW YORK—Jeep's refreshed Wrangler lineup includes a cheaper variant of the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid (PHEV).
The new variant, unveiled here at the New York International Auto Show, is called the Sport S 4xe. Pricing and photos are still under wraps; they'll be revealed at a "later date," a Jeep spokesperson tells PCMag. The Sport S will appear as a fifth model in the lineup below, before the current cheapest model, the $54,735 Willys 4xe.
The existing 2024 Wrangler comes in four powertrains; three are gas-powered and the fourth is the 4xe plug-in hybrid. "With the plug-in 4xe playing a lead role in the lineup, the new Wrangler takes the best and makes it better," says Jim Morrison, head of Jeep brand North America.
The Ohio-based automaker has been softer on its electrification plans than brands like GM, which has committed to 100% electrification by 2035. Jeep plans to have 50% of its sales from electric models by 2030, and plans to offer its first fully electric models in 2024.
The 4xe PHEV acts as a bridge to that electric future and is "America's best-selling PHEV," according to Jeep. All existing models, plus the Sport S 4xe, will get a new 12.3-inch dash screen, side curtain airbags, and windshield-integrated stealth antenna.
Being a plug-in hybrid, the 4xe lineup charges its battery via an external port, making it more like an EV than a traditional hybrid. The 2024 4xe lineup will keep the same 21 miles of all-electric range and 49MPGe (combined gas and electric fuel efficiency). Since there are multiple PHEVs on the market with a lower price and more electric range (many over 30 miles), this is an area we'd like to see Jeep improve for the new model year.
Instead, Jeep added a small new electrification
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