Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Hybrid Rally Drive Review

Sometimes you hear that people who have a birthday celebrate. And so, in the year that the Grand Cherokee celebrates its 30th birthday, Jeep is launching a new model. One that should also be future proof, because it’s hybrid. Is that the case too?

Any car expert knows: Jeep Grand Cherokee can rightly be called one of the pioneers of the modern SUV. Big, capable, luxurious, sports. Or is that not what you expect from a new top model from Jeep? Of course it is. And so expectations are automatically high when Jeep announces a new addition to the Grand Cherokee family.

With the fifth generation, the brand has deleted all four elements mentioned in terms of intention. The latest Grand Cherokee is a grown-up, elegantly designed, and very quick that promises to be able to handle itself off the pavement as well. Also in the only motorization that visits the Netherlands and Belgium: 4xe Plug-In Hybrid.

Are you saying the hybrid powertrain in the Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Yes, you read that correctly. For us here in Europe, there is no better V6 or muddy V8 in the Grand Cherokee. We get a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder, assisted by an electric motor. Together, these two give you a power of 380 hp. In terms of power, the 4xe is a far cry from its American siblings, the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and the 5.7-liter Hemi V8.

Another thing Americans get that we don’t: an optional third row of seats. There are seven of them in the Grand Cherokee, but we have to deal with a maximum of five people in two rows of seats. It is unfairly distributed around the world, although we can live without the third row of seats. We find it even more unfortunate that the Hemi is completely impossible. If only because of the sound.

Of course we understand why the eight cylinder doesn’t make it to this side of the big lake. Something about consumption and production, and its inevitable impact on purchase prices in the Netherlands. Fortunately, this partially electric Grand Cherokee ensures that we can once again choose a Jeep over the German premium, to name just one thing. That’s the competition Jeep is targeting right now with this model.

The interior of the Grand Cherokee is beautiful

In the Summit Reserve version that we’re driving, it quickly becomes clear how the brand approaches this. Lots of leather, real wood, patterned stitching, screens, a of high quality the sound system, decorative moldings and high-quality lighting shine at you as soon as you enter. We must say: the interior is beautiful, rich but not luxurious and beautifully finished. Everything works, is in logical places and is thought out. Climate control and physical buttons deserve extra points in our opinion. There is nothing more annoying than searching through the menu to find out how to lower the temperature while driving. Such an old-fashioned button is not so bad.

You won’t just find wood on the door panels and dashboard – as long as you check it out on the options list. If desired, you will also be treated to a matching wood finish on the steering wheel. With real wood, there is no sticky dirt. We deliberately say ‘steering wheel’, because the car itself may be quite large, but the steering wheel is compact and … beef meat. As in: you have enough to love and hold on to, but he’s not fat either.

Well, such a steering wheel does not exist only to be played randomly or to be beautiful. You have to steer and that’s what we did, near Malaga, Spain. We can tell you: in the Spanish sun, that attractive front end with the characteristic grille, those elegant lines and the classic trapezoidal wheel arches come into their own. You can see at a glance that this is a Jeep. And that is exactly the intention.

A big Jeep doesn’t feel big

As expected, the hybrid Jeep Grand Cherokee holds its own in the Spanish mountain landscape. It is eager, even in the most economical driving mode and often you do not even feel that you are on the road with a behemoth of almost 2.5 tons. In fact, in the most sporty mode, the Jeep will pull you from a standstill to 100 km / h in seven seconds. A huge success, as far as we’re concerned.

Also in the Jeep curves it feels much smaller and more manageable than it actually is. It leads strongly and is easy to install. You know there’s a lot of weight being moved, but it’s not very visible. We would, however, swap the 21-inch rims that are currently on the bottom for a standard rim size. These bosses are a little more open about bumps in the road. And that despite the half-function damping.

We have not really gone far with this elegant American, but off-roadlight he did
We do and he can handle that well. You have enough ground clearance (200 mm) to play and have fun. If you want to drive through large puddles: it can go up to 61 cm deep, 10 cm more than its predecessor. For tougher jobs, we’d recommend the Trailhawk version instead of our Summit Drive. Mainly because the Trailhawk has an electronically controlled limited slip differential on the rear axle, which distributes torque not only between the front and rear wheels, but also between the left and right rear wheels.

All Grand Cherokees can be seen on this car

A Jeep wouldn’t be a Jeep if the Grand Cherokee wasn’t loaded Easter eggs he would stay. The designers of the car remained silent about the number of teeth and where you can find them. We will reveal one: on the left rear window you will find, very subtly, the silhouettes of all generations of the Grand Cherokee from the last 30 years. Still good, right? It can be an equally big challenge to find all the safety systems available in the car. We challenge you; there are 110.

It is doubtful whether the Jeep Grand Cherokee can handle the German tolls. After all, Europeans are proud of their beloved perfection. But the links are definitely there. And yet: you buy a Jeep like that because you love Jeep and want to drive something that says Jeep on it. And because it fits your budget. The latter remains something, because a ton (or 93,000 euros in Belgium) is still a lot of money.

Specifications of Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Plug-In Hybrid Summit Reserve (2024)

Engine

1.995 cc
four-cylinder turbo hybrid
380 pk @ 5.250 tpm
400 + 245 Nm @ 3.000 tpm
Drive

four wheels
8v directly
Performance

0-100 km/h in 6,3 s
up 210 km/h
Consumption (average)

2.6 l/100 km
66 g/km CO2
Measurements

4.914 x 1.968 x
1.858 mm (lxwxh)
2,964 mm (wheelbase)
2.409 kg
94 liters (petrol)
533 l (luggage)
Price

€103.700 (NL)
€93.000 (B)