Jeeps come in a variety of sizes these days with multiple powerplant options to choose from. The latest offered the roar of the tested four-door Wrangler Rubicon.
Here, power is supplied by a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 and plug-in hybrid system, and several electric motors are used to improve fuel economy and smooth acceleration. Jeep calls the hybrid 4-by-E to highlight its legendary four-wheel system. He has tested the 4xe (the alphanumeric abbreviation for Jeep) before and found it to be very effective and efficient.
Better gas mileage and easier to plug into old school 110/120 garage outlets. An overnight charge gives you an electrical range of 20-25 miles. With 240 outlets, a full charge takes less than 3 hours.
The white (the only color without the $495 surcharge) Rubicon arrived just before the Christmas cold and had nearly 20 miles on a full charge. Sadly the cold weather limited the amount we could charge another car in the garage. So I mostly ran on gas, leaving disappointing mpg, but then it was below zero for a few days, hampering mpg all the time.
What I love about the 4xe is that it runs on a hybrid power supply that combines gas and electric by default. Or just press the button on the left dash to select all electrical options including Save Electric. When I play off-road, I imagine that I can use electric power to smoothen my acceleration and avoid emissions in the wilderness to keep it clean for other outdoor enthusiasts.
Additionally, driving in Save-E helps the engine and brakes regenerate some of the power back into the battery. For example, when driving around town, I changed from 10% power to 25% power to get a few extra miles on electric so I could start when I needed to.
This Wrangler is all a Jeep, except for the 4xe system. That is, the interior is mostly utilitarian, but not Spartan. There is a 4WD shift lever that has proven to be necessary and helpful for better traction on snow, or a 4WD shift lever to engage the low-pass setting for muddy and splashy water. Many people who have sunk nearly $70 grand into a Jeep can claim to do it, but wisely, they certainly can. In fact, you can pump 30 inches of water if you ask.
The little turbo I4 here sounds like it’s working pretty hard and can groan pretty often but when the battery power helps provide electric assist from a standstill the power is fine and the It definitely looks smooth. There’s plenty of road noise, too, thanks to the big off-road tires and canvas roof overhead.
I certainly prefer a solid top in the winter, but this tester featured Jeep’s amazing Sky One Touch Power Top, which folds down the middle section of the roof’s canvas for a great outdoors when temperatures and monsoons permit. This unique feature isn’t cheap at the $4,145 option, but it includes a rear window defroster and wiper, plus a removable rear quarter window.
The doors are also removable on the Wrangler, but this special roof prevents the windshield from folding.
It’s also cool that Jeep has added four auxiliary buttons below the center stack-mounted info screen and power window controls. That way you can add light bars and other accessories that can be easily programmed to work with the Switch.
When driving off-road, the stabilizer can be disengaged with the button on the stack for more suspension travel.
For those of us who keep our SUVs between the highway white lines, the Rubicon 4xe is easy to control. The steering is very light (good for off-road), but blurry enough to require extra care when navigating sharp turns and corners. , does not affect steering direction much.
The ride is significantly better and quieter overall than the Bronco we tested last year. But it’s a jeepie with two solid axles, so there’s some bounce. Still, many buyers claim they want it because it offers a more exhilarating everyday driving experience.
Speaking of which, the seats provided are comfortable and supportive enough, at least in the front, for everyday driving. There is room for three adults in the back seat as well, but it helps if everyone is talking. Headroom is generous and infinite with the roof retracted. There’s also plenty of cargo room behind the second row of seats, and the Jeep we tested included an all-weather floor and cargo mats for $170.
The Rubicon has front seat heaters and steering wheel heaters as part of the $1,195 winter package, and it also added remote start, making it a favorite with Wisconsin and Northerners, so it wasn’t without comfort perks. The seats were also leather, and the dashboard was trimmed with a soft material. It’s all black but trimmed in bright blue, the color most automakers use to denote electric battery-assisted models. Leather adds $1,995 to the price tag.
The info screen is modest at 8.4 inches, but easy to read and use thanks to the UConnect system and large volume and tuning knobs. I had no trouble adjusting the screen and its features. Plus, it’s not overpowering like the mega screens on some of his SUVs.
Good news for off-roaders, too. There are grab handles everywhere, from the A-pillar to the dashboard. Because I don’t have a running board. But a regular jeep entry will help strengthen your upper body.
No wireless chargers here, but plenty of power plugs. Also note that the sun visors are cheap hard plastic.
The price seems to put this in the luxury category when you always imagine a Wrangler intended for serious off-roaders that are primarily mud-packed wheels, whether it’s a 2-door or a 4-door.
The base Willys 4xe Sahara model starts at $57,500 including shipping, and the premium High Altitude listing starts at $63,235. Of course, any Wrangler can go off-road, but the Rubicon 4xe base is $60,190 including shipping. Many options in our test SUV brought this to $69,385. This can cause inhibitions about bouncing off trees, bushes, and rocks.
If not, well, more power to you! But don’t forget to plug it in whenever you get the chance.
FAST STATS: 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe
hit: Off-road capability, plug-in hybrids, Jeepy looks. Space for five, ample stowage, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, stabilizer disconnect for off-road riding, good ground clearance. Light handling, rich grab handles, 4 auxiliary buttons, power folding top.
Miss: Expensive, vague steering, bumpy ride, noisy tires, noisy engine, no running board, no wireless charger, low fuel consumption when using only petrol.
Made in: Toledo, Ohio
engine: 2.0 liter turbo I4, plug-in hybrid, 375 hp/470 torque
contagion; infection: 8 speed automatic
weight: £5,318*
Wheelbase: 118.4 inches
length: 188.4 inches
cargo: 27.7 to 67.4 cubic feet
Traction: 3,500 lbs.
MPG: 49 electric gas/20 gas only
Electrical range: 25 miles
MPG: 16.7 (tested, prefer premium)
Base price: $60,190 (shipping included)
invoice: $59,752
Main options:
Leather seats, wrapping panel bezels, $1,995
priority package. 29V (cold weather group, heated front seats, remote start, heated leather steering wheel), $1,195
Trailer Towing/Heavy Duty Electric Group, $995
All-weather mat $170
Sky One Touch power top (removable rear quarter window, rear window defroster, rear wiper/washer, storage bag), $4,145
Integrated off-road camera, $695
Test vehicle: $69,385
sauce: Jeep, www.kbb.com
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