Ownership Update: What Do We Think of Our 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Trailhawk So Far?

Buying our 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Trailhawk was just the beginning of our adventures with it — and isn’t adventure the point of an off-road SUV like this? After logging nearly 2,000 miles on the Jeep, our editors have some early thoughts, and we have some early fuel economy and charging data. We also have some big plans to share.

Related: Why Did We Buy a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe?

First, the plans: Our Jeep was recently in Attica, Ind., at Badlands Off Road Park taking part in a Jeep Jamboree. One of the benefits of owning a Jeep is becoming part of an enthusiastic owners’ community, and we can’t wait to report on what that’s like. Oh, and we got to take our Trailhawk off-roading and see how it does against another plug-in hybrid Jeep: a 2023 Wrangler Rubicon 4xe. Stay tuned to see how that went.

Otherwise, how are things going so far?

Gas Mileage and Fuel Costs

Our Jeep came to us with just 38 miles on the odometer, and since then we’ve clocked another 1,881 — 345 of which were on electric power, according to the trip computer — for a total of 1,919 miles. We’ve spent $370.77 on fuel so far — not counting the electrons to charge the SUV’s 17.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack — and have averaged 21.7 mpg. That’s a little more than 1 mpg shy of the Grand Cherokee 4xe’s EPA-estimated rating of 23 mpg combined, but our Jeep is a well-equipped Trailhawk trim level with the heaviest starting curb weight (5,521 pounds) among Grand Cherokee 4xe variants and has knobby off-road tires. As summer road trip season picks up, it will be interesting to see how it affects the Jeep’s fuel economy.

All-Electric Range and Charging

While the Grand Cherokee 4xe has an EPA-rated 26 miles of all-electric range, we’ve been averaging just over 69 miles of all-electric driving per gas fill-up, according to the trip computer. What gives? First, based on experience, that 26-mile rating does seem accurate; with a full charge, we’ve been covering roughly that much ground before the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine kicks on. But between hybrid driving, recharging the battery between gas fill-ups and using the SUV’s eSave mode to generate additional electric-only range, it’s possible to get more electric miles before you need to fill the gas tank.

Charging data are more difficult to gather, unfortunately. Not every editor with home charging equipment gets the same data from their equipment, and both the Grand Cherokee itself and the Jeep app don’t provide detailed information about each charging session. Charging sessions also occurred at free public charging stations, so we’ve sometimes had to track battery state and charging time by hand.

The majority of our charging sessions, however, have been on Level 2 home setups, though Level 1 charging — a regular household outlet — has also proved adequate. Our early charging sessions also show our 4xe living up to its 7.2-kilowatt maximum charging rate — at least when hooked up to charging equipment that can deliver that much power.

Impressions So Far

I reviewed the 2022 Grand Cherokee 4xe Trailhawk, and some of my complaints persist: The gas engine is noisy and unrefined, and I have a harder time with forward visibility than I would like. I’ve also noticed with more driving that the transition from gas to electric power is sometimes abrupt and jarring, particularly at low speeds. But the ride comfort is impeccable; the city of Chicago is in the midst of resurfacing Lake Shore Drive, and even in that road’s roughest state, the Trailhawk rode smoothly and was completely unbothered.

What about other members of our staff?

Joe Bruzek, Managing Editor

Having negotiated and purchased the Grand Cherokee, I initially spent a lot of time with our most recent long-term test vehicle after driving it home from the dealership. What I immediately appreciated was its quick Level 2, 240-volt home charging speed. My 40-amp home charger maxes the Grand Cherokee 4xe’s charging capabilities (30 amps) and replenishes the battery in 2.5 hours, which nets 26 miles of EPA-rated all-electric driving range. Around the same time, I was driving a 2023 Volvo XC90 Recharge (also a plug-in hybrid with a similar battery size but $12,000 more expensive), and it took twice as long to charge the XC90 Recharge because of its less powerful onboard charger. This meant I didn’t have to wait long between running errands for the Grand Cherokee to have a meaningful amount of all-electric range for around-town jaunts.

One thing I’ll need to spend more time with, however, is the rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV built in, as I had to bail mid-setup because it was taking too long due to unfamiliarity with the system and its login requirements. This will be the next thing I dive into because I don’t want to be hammered with, “Why aren’t the screens working, dad?” each time we get in the car.

Jennifer Geiger, News Editor

It’s no surprise our long-term Grand Cherokee 4xe does a lot of things well. Its comfortable passenger space — for people and car seats — and ample cargo room stand out, as does its modern, slick and simple multimedia and controls interface. Seamless wireless Android Auto connectivity during my drives was refreshing, as sometimes these connections are glitchy or slow. It also rides nicely, with great isolation from bumps in the road; I’m sure that adjustable air suspension helps here.

What is surprising is that Jeep hasn’t really figured out the “4xe” part. First, the regenerative brakes aren’t as smooth as in other plug-in hybrids or EVs I’ve tested. There’s a clunky lurching to them that’s tough to get used to. Second, engine noise while in hybrid mode is a problem; it’s loud and sounds rough. Lastly, the transition from EV mode to hybrid lacks any smoothness and was unsettling the first time it happened during my drive.

I’m looking forward to testing out the Grand Cherokee’s rear entertainment system with my family, as well as putting its stellar off-road capabilities to the test.

What’s Next?

Obviously, we’ve really got to get the Amazon Fire TV setup figured out before the staff children suffer the indignity of a lengthy road trip sans seat-mounted entertainment. Besides that, we’ve also got some off-roading to do — and not just at the Jeep Jamboree, either. We’re also going to conduct some thorough charging tests, as well as electric range tests in a variety of conditions so you can know what to expect if you decide to buy a Grand Cherokee 4xe.

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