3 Reasons Tech-Savvy Drivers Can’t Stop Talking About the 2024 Wrangler 4xe

Just a few years ago, finding electric vehicles for sale near St. Albert wasn’t easy unless you were willing to sacrifice style and performance, and even then, only a few models were available. Flash forward to the 2024 model year, and the EV landscape is drastically different. From brand-new nameplates to legacy automakers, it seems every manufacturer has gotten in on the EV trend. Though many Canadians are more open to driving an EV, some remain skeptical of abandoning the familiarity of a traditional combustion engine-powered vehicle.

If you’re curious about EVs but aren’t quite ready to make the leap, plug-in hybrid models like the Jeep Wrangler 4xe represent the perfect compromise. Launched in 2021, the Wrangler 4xe was Jeep’s first-ever plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and thanks to the power of the Jeep brand, it quickly became the best-selling PHEV on the market. Buyers found the combination of Jeep’s legendary Trail Rated off-roading capability and next-generation hybrid technology irresistible.

Whether you’re buying a Jeep to capably tackle Alberta’s brutal winters or you like how it feels to spend a sunny summer afternoon open-air cruising across your favourite backcountry trail, the updated 2024 Wrangler 4xe is an adaptable SUV with embedded technology that optimizes fuel efficiency and puts the newest convenience and infotainment technology at your fingertips. From connected services to near-silent off-roading, its next-gen technology, features, and systems could explain why Canadian drivers are going gaga over the Wrangler 4xe.

#1 - The 4xe Hybrid Powertrain

Jeep’s engineers set out to design the most capable hybrid powertrain––one that could withstand Jeep’s rigorous testing and earn the venerated Trail Rated badge. The stakes were high for the Wrangler 4xe, Jeep’s first-ever PHEV. Luckily, Jeep hit a home run, equipping the Wrangler 4xe with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine and two electric motors that draw power from a 17 kWh lithium-ion battery.

The first electric motor sits adjacent to the gas engine, acting as a starter motor and generator, while the second one resides within the Wrangler 4xe’s transmission to power the driveline. A control system marries the three separate powertrains, allowing drivers to select from hybrid, electric, or e-save modes via dash-mounted buttons. The system automatically shifts to gas power once the electric motors run out of juice. Drivers can easily monitor battery charge levels on the digital display within the gauge cluster.

As for range, choosing the all-electric mode offers an estimated 35 km of zero-emission driving. The hybrid mode takes you roughly 592 km––nearly enough to cover a round trip from St Albert to Calgary––before you have to hit the gas pump or connect to a charging station. Fuel economy ratings for the 2024 Wrangler 4xe come in at 4.8 Le/100 km. That’s not too shabby for a powertrain that pumps out 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque.

If you’re new to electric vehicle technology, you might not know about regenerative braking. Put simply, electric motors can self-charge while you operate your vehicle. Whenever you coast or apply the brakes, your electric motor recaptures energy. Hit the throttle, and the engine resumes consuming battery power. Regenerative braking won’t add a lot of range, but on a hilly drive, you’ll add a few kilometres on the downhill side.

#2 - Uconnect 5 Infotainment and Connected Services

Every 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe has a central dash-mounted 31 cm infotainment touchscreen wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The screen runs on the responsive Uconnect 5 operating system, which includes the innovative Hybrid Electric Pages. Drivers can interact with these pages to monitor the hybrid system and track critical data like charging time, regenerative braking performance, and battery levels.

For 2024, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe comes in six trims: the Sport S, Willys, Sahara, Rubicon, High Altitude, and Rubicon X. All trims offer a nine-speaker Alpine Premium Audio System and SiriusXM satellite radio, as well as a Wi-Fi hotspot. Additional Uconnect connectivity comes via Jeep Connect, an app-based system with an array of connected services subscription options that offer enhanced safety, convenience, and security. Simply open the Jeep app on your phone, and you can lock or unlock the doors, remote start the engine, or locate your vehicle in the St. Albert Center mall parking lot.

The available 4G Wi-Fi hotspot offers a 15-metre range for connecting up to eight devices at once. The newest Uconnect 5 system also permits two smartphones to wirelessly connect to the infotainment system simultaneously. While the driver’s smartphone displays directions on the screen, the front seat passenger can stream music from their device. The screen interface makes it easy to toggle between phones and adjust the settings with just a few taps.

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe’s Uconnect system can store up to five user profiles for easy personalization of music, seat and mirror position, and music presets. The system is also compatible with Alexa home devices. Together, the array of available connected features simplifies smartphone interactivity and adds conveniences you’ll come to rely on, like the ability to start your Wrangler 4xe from inside your home on frigid winter mornings.

#3 - Improved Driver-Assist Technology

The 2024 Wrangler 4xe offers numerous driver-assist technologies to simplify common driving challenges and keep occupants out of harm’s way. Not just a back-up camera, Jeep’s ParkView Rear Back-Up Camera displays a view of the area behind your Wrangler 4xe on the touchscreen when you shift to reverse and overlays moving gridlines to guide you as you back up or back out of a parking space. Adding the optional Park Assist System means you’ll be alerted if the vehicle is getting too close to an object.

Highway drives are less fatigue-inducing with the optional Adaptive Cruise Control system, which works when you set the cruise control. Using sensors embedded in the front of the vehicle, the system senses the distance between you and the car ahead and automatically adjusts speed to maintain a consistent distance. In stop-and-go traffic on Anthony Henday Drive, the Adaptive Cruise Control system can bring your Jeep to a complete stop without the driver ever touching the brake.

If your adventures include tackling backcountry trails, you’ll want the available front-facing camera added to your 2024 Wrangler 4xe. The camera displays a live feed of the trail ahead, with tire path lines displayed to show you the best route over rocks and uneven terrain. The camera is even outfitted with a washer nozzle to wipe away dirt and mud, so your visibility is always clear.

The Future of Electric Vehicles Lives at Jeep

Long known for building rugged, go-anywhere 4x4 rigs, Jeep reimagined off-roading with the Wrangler 4xe. The iconic automaker’s first-ever plug-in hybrid provides drivers an opportunity for near-silent off-roading. Without engine noise, you’ll hear the crunch of gravel under the tires and experience true open-air exploring where man-made distractions are gone. With the top down, the doors off, and the windshield folded flat, creeping along a remote trail in electric mode lets you experience nature in an all-new way.

The redesigned 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe wears the Trail Rated badge right next to its charging port––a true example of tradition and new technology co-existing. Who better than Jeep to redefine off-roading? Whether you’re at home in St. Albert or prefer to disappear into the woods, the Wrangler 4xe will take you there more safely and efficiently than any other Wrangler that came before it.