Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe revealed

The all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid has been unveiled in the US and it will arrive in Australia in 2022, joining the new-generation Grand Cherokee range that goes on sale here late this year.

When it arrives, the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe will replace diesel power with a plug-in hybrid powertrain expected to comprise a petrol engine and two electric motors, making it Jeep Australia’s first electrified model.

Full details will be announced during the Grand Cherokee 4xe public debut at the 2021 New York motor show in August, but things like a contrasting black roof, unique alloy wheels and a charging port located above and behind the front wheel help identify it.

Jeep plans to have 4xe plug-in hybrid variants of every model in its range and an EV in every SUV category – small, medium, large and upper-large – by 2025.

Jeep has been slower than most rival brands to adopt electrification and this new rollout, revealed overnight as part of parent company Stellantis’ $47 billion electrification strategy, shows a change in tack.

It’s not known how much the new Jeep Grand Cherokee PHEV will cost when it arrives here next year, but the outgoing GC range currently opens at $59,950 and comprises nine variants, with four V6 diesels ranging between $65,950 and $82,950, and the V8-powered SRT ($95,950) and Trackhawk ($139,950) topping the line-up.

Jeep’s global boss, Christian Meunier, previously said new-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe will at least match the performance of the current diesel, with “more capability off-road” and a “strong towing capacity”.

However, it’s not yet clear whether the 4xe will match the 3500kg towing capacity of the Grand Cherokee’s current 184kW/570Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6.

Other engine options for the new petrol-only Grand Cherokee will include carryover powerplants including a 3.6-litre V6 (217kW/348Nm) and a 5.7-litre V8 (266kW/529Nm).

Jeep Australia recently also deleted diesel versions of the Wrangler, but is yet to officially confirm whether it will introduce either the Grand Cherokee or Wrangler 4xe locally.

However, Meunier made it clear when the bigger new fifth-generation Grand Cherokee was unveiled in February this year that the PHEV will be sold here.

“There won’t be a diesel on the [new] Grand Cherokee,” said Meunier.

“Without diesel, with 4xe, with [petrol] V6, it’s going to be a home run. I have zero doubt. The product is going to be awesome for Australians, they’re going to love it,” he declared.

One potential sticking point, however, could be that the 4xe appears to be based on the shorter five-seat version of the new Grand Cherokee – not the seven-seat Grand Cherokee L that will be launched here in late 2021.

“We don’t want to be followers in Australia. We’re going to be leaders in electrification. We’re going to be [there] before the others,” said Meunier earlier this year.

“All the Jeeps are going to get electrified. We’ll have a full arsenal of electrification technology that we’re implementing on all the Jeep products, and you’ll see lot more in the future,” added the Jeep global boss.

The new hybrid powertrain for the Grand Cherokee 4xe is expected to come from the Wrangler 4xe, which is currently North America’s top-selling PHEV, incorporating a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine augmented by two electric motors.

Pumping out more power and torque than the outgoing V6 diesel, the electrified 2.0-litre powertrain develops 280kW and 637Nm, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll offer a 3500kg towing capacity.

The electric motors are fed by a 17kWh lithium-ion battery that provides the Wrangler 4xe with a 40km EV cruising range on a full charge. Expect a similar electric-only range from the Grand Cherokee 4xe.

Apart from plug-in variants of large luxury SUVs, the only real rivals for the Grand Cherokee PHEV are likely to be hybrid versions of the new Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and Prado, which aren’t expected until at least 2025.