2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Overland Review

By
Jesse Hidde
and
July 26, 2023
4
min
We test drive and review the new Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Overland- is the most fuel efficient Jeep ever made worthy of the "Jeep" badge? Click here to learn more about it.
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe charging at a station with solar energy
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The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Overland

Since 1992, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has define the mid-size SUV over the course of five generations; in so doing, it's become an American vehicle icon. In 2023, the Grand Cherokee is still defining that phrase – and as drivers become more conscious of their environmental footprint, it's doing so by being the most fuel-efficient Jeep you can buy.

While the phrase “fuel-efficient” isn’t typically what you associate with a Jeep, it's definitely a welcome addition for anyone who’s driven one. The improved gas mileage comes from Jeep's new plug-In hybrid powertrain, which makes this SUV stand out from the rest. This powertrain opens up a multitude of options on how to get where you’re going in an economical, environmentally friendly, and even quiet way. Put all those together and you have one of the most exciting Jeeps to come along in a while: the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe.

Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Overland Specs and Details

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is an electrified luxury SUV with a starting MSRP of $60,460 before government incentives. With its new plug-in hybrid powertrain, the Grand Cherokee 4xe produces 375 hp, 470 lb-ft of torque, and has a towing capacity of up to 6,000 pounds, making this a more than capable SUV for whatever life throws at you. Just to put that into perspective, the towing capacity is just 200 pounds less than standard gas version of the Grand Cherokee. The 4xe also features an  8-speed automatic transmission, 18-inch wheels featuring all-season tires standard (with the option to upgrade to 20-inch wheels if you want). And despite carrying a water-protected battery pack, the Grand Cherokee 4xe also features a full-size spare.

Inside the spacious interior, the Grand Cherokee 4xe Overland trim (starting MSRP: $71,265) comes loaded with tech, including a high-resolution 10.1-inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility plus navigation; another screen in front of the driver for your gauges; and a variety of USB ports throughout the cabin to keep everyone’s devices charged. There are also heated and cooled black leather seats and a panoramic sunroof so people in the back seat can enjoy the weather too.

Our review vehicle was also equipped with a passenger-side touchscreen with an HDMI input – just in case there aren't enough screens for your eyeballs to stare at. It’s covered with privacy glass, so the driver can’t see what you’re watching, and preventing it from distracting the driver.

While driving, the Grand Cherokee 4xe is quiet and comfortable, with really nice handling, which is made better by the ability to lower the car’s ride height from inside the cabin to give it better aerodynamics. Alternatively, you can also raise the ride height if off-roading is in your future.

But this is only the beginning of how the Grand Cherokee 4xe puts the luxury in luxury SUV. You can opt for not just one, but two different tech packages.

2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee Tech Packages

The first package, known as Advanced ProTech Group III, includes a heads-up display, surround-view camera system, and for those who love spy gadgets, a front-facing night vision camera with pedestrian and animal detection. Perfect for when you’re hunting for ’coons late at night!

Second, there’s the Luxury Tech Group 4 package. Highlights include wireless charging for your phone, seat memory for both the driver and the passenger, and power front seats with a massage function.

There’s even a Rear-Seat Entertainment Group, which adds 10-inch screens to the back of both front seats with Amazon Fire TV built in for all your streaming needs. Each screen also features a headphone jack, a USB port to charge your kids' tablet while they’re playing a game or watching a movie, and an HDMI input to use either screen for anything else you need. Maybe a gaming system? A laptop? You decide!

But now let’s talk about the most interesting part of this car, the electrified part. The plug-in hybrid powertrain in the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe allows for a variety of options when it comes to how you get from point A to point B.

Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe interior view of driver's side looking into sunset

Three Distinct Driving Modes

With a turbocharged 2.0L Inline 4-cylinder engine combined with electric motors, you get three distinct driving modes, allowing you to alter how you use the two fuel types at your disposal.

First is the E-Save mode, which turns on only the gas engine and makes this a normal everyday Grand Cherokee. This mode is good if you want to save your battery’s charge for zero-emissions driving down the road.

Next is the Electric mode, which shuts off the gas engine completely, and uses only electricity to get the car moving. With 25 miles of range, the Grand Cherokee 4xe has less EV range than Toyota’s RAV4 Prime, but it is still more than enough for your everyday commute around town. This mode is a great option if work is a few miles from home, if you need to hit the grocery store, or if you need to make a quiet and clean getaway from your in-laws' house.  

Finally, we have the mode that puts the two together: Hybrid mode. Combining the strengths of both the gas engine and electric motors – by which we mean their horsepower, torque, and acceleration – you get the best of both worlds. In Hybrid mode, the 4xe is a quick, zippy Grand Cherokee with great fuel economy. With a full tank of gas and a fully-charged battery, you’ll get an estimated 470 miles of range from the Grand Cherokee 4xe, or an EPA estimated 56 miles per gallon – good for a Jeep, and an impressive number, period.

It’s worth pointing out that, yes, you can drive your Grand Cherokee in Hybrid mode even the battery is discharged. In Hybrid mode, the engine is automatically used to help charge the battery as well as provide propulsion – but doing so will bring your estimated mileage down to about 23 miles per gallon. You can also charge the battery back up to 100 with an external source: it only takes about two and a half hours with a Level 2 charger.

And because this Jeep is electrified, it qualifies for government incentives its gas-powered relatives don’t, which will save you even more money when it’s time to sign paperwork.

Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Wrap Up

So, there you have it, the 2023 Jeep Cherokee 4xe Overland. The most exciting Jeep to come along in a long time, except for maybe the Wrangler 4xe! It’s an electrified luxury SUV that puts the lux in luxury and comes in a variety of trim levels with loads of cool features. Plus, it does all of that with the best fuel economy in the entire Jeep lineup. Whether you’re shopping for plug-in hybrids, or just Jeeps in general, the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe should definitely be on your radar.