The Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid is perhaps the most advanced vehicle to come out of Toledo, and the Wrangler is as comforting an off-road vehicle as you could want. Still, it’s also a loud, demanding highway companion with few creature amenities. While hiking is fantastic, the journey there isn’t always as enjoyable.
Following the unprecedented success of the first legitimate direct competitor of the model in decades, the still-new Ford Bronco Jeep designed a mid-cycle update that upgrades the Wrangler with several new features. Although there are technical and stylistic modifications (mainly up front), some of the most excellent additions include a quieter interior, significant in-car technology updates, newly available power seats, and increased availability of the 4xe engine.
I just had some ride time in the most luxurious 2024 Wrangler, a $71,520 High Altitude (with destination), to experience these enhancements. Although that is a high price, this version is intended to be noticed among the G-Wagens and Bentaygas of Aspen as much as on the neighbouring Mount Baldy routes. Still, it was a decent display of the 2024 Wrangler’s improvements, many of which are included in the base model.
Jeep Wrangler 4xe: More PHEVs and New Technology
The 2024 Wrangler has just minor external alterations. Jeep’s iconic seven slots are still there, but the grille now wraps around the lights, and they are thinner. This gives the familiar bodywork a new look and makes place for the optional Warn winch, weighing 8,000 pounds and installed by the factory on Rubicons, which also comes with a new Dana 44 HD total float solid rear axle and an up to 100:1 crawl ratio. Although there are ten new wheel styles in all, including the attractive 20-inch High Altitude wheels, the real news of this upgrade is what’s inside.
Fans of the Wrangler will note a significantly changed dashboard, with bespoke stitching and soft-touch materials even on the lower-end versions, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen screen as the focal point. The centrally located window switches and other complex controls are still there, but the large screen offers a lot of utility and looks far better than the previous pair of 7.0 and 8.4-inch panels.
The UConnect 5 system from Stellantis is running on the large screen. It is simple to use, extremely configurable, and supports up to five distinct user profiles. Thanks to over-the-air update capabilities, it should remain current for a long time. Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation with predictive search, Alexa virtual assistant integration, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are included. In addition, Jeep consists of a digital library of over 3,000 adventure tracks called “Trails Offroad,” of which only 62 (known as Jeep’s “Badge of Honor” trails) are accessible without a membership.
More 4xes and additional trims are also available. The $51,890 Sport S 4xe is the most significant. The nation’s most popular plug-in is now available in an entry-level version that is $7,000 less expensive than last year’s model, but there are also new Willys ($56,630) and Rubicon X ($71,590) 4xes. A “Power Box,” a 30-amp supplemental power source for devices like coffee makers and other camping equipment, is now available for 4xe models.
Cozier and Silent
The Wrangler provides more comfort and better refinement despite all the extra technology. On higher models, the Wrangler now has eight-way motorized front seats—a first for the vehicle. It took a while for Jeep’s engineers to ensure that every power component in the seats was adequately waterproofed since this car has detachable doors and a 34-inch fording depth that drivers utilize.
The most excellent thing about these seats is that they are quieter as you drive on the highway, making them a bit more comfortable than they were before.
Elevated-trim, More sound-absorbing foam, thicker carpets, and acoustic glass help block out wind and road noise in Wranglers. Although the Genesis G90 is not as quiet as a whisper, the Wrangler feels more serene and has improved hearing. Like many prior Wrangler highway excursions, the Bluetooth phone conversations in February were an absolute shoutfest. That is no longer the case since the Wrangler has improved speakers, an active noise reduction technology while calls are in progress, and seven microphones instead of just two.
Jeep has also added extra protective equipment. Side curtain airbags in the first and second rows are standard on all models of Wrangler S save the basic model. These days, typical features include adaptive cruise control with stop (but oddly, not “go”) and front collision warnings. It’s an improvement over the previous list of ADAS functions.
Jeep Wrangler 4xe High Altitude Wrangler
The High Altitude, added to the Sahara models in 2021 as a package, is one of many speciality Wranglers released in recent years, including the 4xe and Rubicon 392. However, it takes a different approach than most of its brothers. The 20-inch wheels and monochromatic paint job of the High Altitude, which mimics big-wheeled G-Wagens and Land Rover Defenders—whose price range the High Altitude flirts with—telegraph urban elegance, much like the black accents seen on many Wrangler models.
Nappa leather covers the power seats inside, and a full-length Sky one-touch power top is mounted above the seats with a single touch. When it is retracted, some of the High Altitude’s high-end Alpine stereo system—of which Kool Moe Dee would be proud—can be seen more clearly. Along with the Power Box, all available off-road camera views and driver assistance features are included. Though the inside seems finer than past Wranglers, there’s still painted metal everywhere, so don’t anticipate a Grand Cherokee.
Only the 4xe powertrain, which combines an electric motor and 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder to produce 375 horsepower, 470 pound-feet of torque, and a 21-mile electric range, is compatible with High Altitudes. It only comes with an eight-speed automatic and is only available as a four-door, much like the other 4xe models.
The High Altitude’s road manners remain unchanged despite the new wheels and tires, and this is still not a car meant for on-road handling. It isn’t as docile as the Ford Bronco when you push it hard on winding paved roads; you’ll wind up fighting understeer or hanging the tail out. But as said above, it’s much quieter.
Although Jeep claims it is up to five decibels quieter than before, it seems much more modest—especially with the cloth top in place. There is less thrum at highway speeds, and in electric mode, it is quiet at slower speeds. Although the engine is still audible when you floor it, it seems like a better long-distance partner than it did before.
Despite its abundant appearance, the High Altitude has a Trac-Lok anti-spin rear differential and all of the 4WD gear found in the Sahara. (The Rubicon beckons if you want the lowest axle ratios and the most aggressive gear.) All you’d need is a second set of wheels and tires if you wished to have more excellent off-road capabilities for those 20-inch dubs, which are still equipped with all-terrain tires.
After all, this is still a Wrangler—just a nicer one, perfect for those long winter travels.
