Our Long-Term 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Hasn’t Needed Repairs in Over 2 Months
Our long-term 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe hasn’t been especially lucky during our ownership, having spent a significant amount of time with dealership service departments and accruing over $7,000 in repair bills. We recently shared an update on its cumulative fuel efficiency in our hands, but we didn’t discuss how we’ve felt about driving it since it last rolled out of a dealership service department.
Related: What MPG Does Our Long-Term Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Trailhawk Get in the Real World?
The results are mixed. Squarely in the plus column is that our Jeep hasn’t needed further repairs; we’ll be thrilled if that remains the case until we eventually sell or trade it in. It also continues to be a solid family carryall that has room for a whole family and their stuff while comfortably absorbing bumps with its off-road-tuned air suspension and beefy all-terrain tires.
In the negative column is a growing sentiment among our staff that the disassembly and reassembly required to fix the Jeep following our off-road antics has prematurely aged the SUV, giving it a creaky and rattly interior that feels older than it really is and a driving experience that can be unrefined.
Road-Trip Regrets?
News Editor Jennifer Geiger took the Jeep for a family vacation over the Fourth of July holiday, and while it still does the job, it may be getting longer in the tooth than expected as it approaches a mere 8,000 miles on the odometer. She reports:
“I took the Grand Cherokee 4xe on a road trip last summer and ‘comfy’ was how my family of five described it, from the ample entertainment screens to the generous legroom and cargo space. Fast forward one year and another road trip later, and it still does those things well, but it’s slipping in a few other key areas, namely drivability. In fact, it feels like it’s aged several years in the span of just one. Poor ride composure and numb, nonlinear brakes are two big pain points. It feels unsettled and rickety over bumps, and the regenerative brakes are tough to modulate with the pedal.
“Overall, powertrain refinement is low with awkward transitions between gas and electric power, low-speed transmission lurching and a lot of noise — especially in Hybrid mode.
“It is hitting its estimated fuel economy, though; we put 463 miles on the Jeep during its last trip and averaged around 24 mpg, slightly above its 23 mpg combined rating from the EPA. But I’m not convinced the extra fuel economy for awkward powertrain trade is worth it at this point, especially since a four-wheel-drive Grand Cherokee with the regular 3.6-liter V-6 engine has a 22 mpg combined rating.
“I’m still a huge fan of the easy-peasy Uconnect infotainment system, but the Grand Cherokee is losing points with me due to its mounting list of issues.”
More From Cars.com:
- After Another Round of Repairs, Our 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Trailhawk Is Finally Back to Normal (We Hope)
- 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe: What Makes a Trailhawk a Trailhawk?
- How Much Electric Range Does the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Have in Colder Weather?
- Here Are the Recalls for Our Long-Term 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe (So Far)
- Shop for a Jeep Grand Cherokee
What’s Next?
We’re going to see if our Jeep continues to feel creaky and aged, or if it’s just shaking out the cobwebs after such a long time out of service. We’ll test how its plug-in hybrid powertrain handles a Chicago summer and keep piling on the miles as best we can.
Related Video:
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
