2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe: What's It Like to Live With?
How will a plug-in hybrid Grand Cherokee do over 20,000-plus miles? Is PHEV dope or nope?
| Miles Driven: | Average MPG: |
| 2,660 | 22.4 |
Latest Highlights (updated 04/26/23)
- We needed a midsize SUV so we opted for a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- We picked a plug-in hybrid to see how practical it can be ... or not
- We got it at MSRP!!
- No, we didn't get it because of the Super Bowl commercial
What do you want to know about?
What We Bought And Why
• Our test vehicle: 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe
• Base MSRP: $61,660
• MSRP as tested: $64,150
• What we paid: $64,150
We wanted a Grand Cherokee from the get-go due to its rugged yet family-friendly and comfortable nature. But the 2022 models had chip shortage issues. The best way we found to avoid that was to set our sights on a 2023. We discussed our options and voted on the 4xe trim. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) straddle that gap between hybrids and going full-electric. These days, consumers are straddling the gap of rising gas prices and an EV charging structure with teething issues. It feels like a perfect match for the times. There is a lot of hype around PHEVs but there is also extra cash involved, considering the cost premium on these cars. Let's see how the Grand Cherokee 4xe does over our one-year and 20,000-mile test.
What Did We Get?
Edmunds recommends the base 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee since it's pretty well equipped for the price. So we took our own advice. For $61,660, the base model comes with adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance plus features like blind-spot warning, heated front seats, a nice upholstery and a panoramic glass roof. We even splurged a little ($1,995) for the rear entertainment system that has Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime for the parents on our staff. Our grand total: $64,150.
Why Did We Get It?
The biggest reason we purchased a Grand Cherokee 4xe is to explore its mpg and electric range capabilities. The 4xe plug-in hybrid system was new to the Grand Cherokee lineup for 2022 and we've yet to spend a lot of time with it. We'll have plenty of time behind the wheel now. Where does the plug-in system excel and where does it stumble? How long will it take for us to see a real-world break-even point between the premium 4xe cost and its potential gasoline savings? How long can we drive this Jeep on electricity alone? This is an SUV with 4WD (four-wheel-drive) heritage that doesn't always equate to road manners. Well, we have families and kids to transport from school to soccer to grandmother's house on the weekends. We can only distract them with the rear entertainment for so long. How is this Grand Cherokee as a family mobile? Is it fair to consider this an eco-conscious purchase? We have a lot of questions to answer over the next 12 months and 20,000 miles.
Edmunds purchased this vehicle for the purpose of evaluation.
Average lifetime mpg: 22.4
EPA mpg rating: 23 combined
Best fill mpg: 22.4
Best electric range (miles): 27.0
Best total range (miles): 444.9
Current odometer: 2,660