Fuel Economy

2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe misses EV range estimate by 16%, is less efficient than the V6

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Mar 23, 2021, 4:30 am

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is not as fuel efficient as its counterparts.

Photo courtesy of Stellantis

Stellantis doesn't have many electrified vehicles in its U.S. portfolio. With the exception of the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, the closest thing that buyers could get to an electrified power plant up until this year was the mild-hybrid Ram engines. It doesn't help that they also have one of the least fuel efficient lineups out there as well.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is upon us. It's a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that was said to allow for a Jeep-estimated 25 miles of all-electric range.

Jeep's estimates were off. Way off. Sixteen percent off. The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe only has 21 miles of all-electric range, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the governing body over the testing of these figures. It is good for 49 MPGe and 20 mpg. With gasoline and electric power combined, the SUV's range on a tank is 370 miles.

2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xeThe 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe delivers more horsepower and torque than other Wranglers. Photo courtesy of Stellantis

The Jeep's powertrain consists of an electric motor, 17- kilowatt-hour battery, eight-speed automatic transmission, and turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine working in unison. It delivers 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, which is only bested by the new Wrangler 392, which comes with a V8 under the hood that offers 470 horsepower.

Adding insult to injury, it can't go as far as other Wranglers on a single tank as well. The new fuel economy figures make the Wrangler 4xe less fuel efficient than the 2021 Jeep Wrangler two-door and the 2021 Jeep Wrangler four-door. All the models come standard with four-wheel drive and have an available eight-speed automatic transmission.

When equipped with the eight-speed automatic transmission, two-door gets 22 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway according to EPA estimates when equipped with a similar 2.0-liter turbo-four setup. The four-door, when equipped with the same power plant, gets 21 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Their fuel tanks give the two- and four-door Wranglers 402 and 385 miles of range, respectively.

The Wrangler 4xe also isn't as efficient as the company's V6-powrered Wranglers. Those deliver 21 mpg combined in either two- our four-door formats. Drivers get access to 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in both.

What's more, the Wrangler 4xe is one of the priciest Wranglers you can buy. It has a starting MSRP of $47,995.

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New subcompact crossover

Honda announces freshened HR-V for 2023

The new HR-V is based on the Civic.

Honda

With the release of the all-new Civic and its performance variants, Honda's lineup grew more exciting this year. Even so, the automaker can't forget about its bread and butter models, which in the United States means SUVs. Its smallest, the HR-V, is getting an overhaul for 2023 with fresh styling and a more responsive powertrain. Honda hasn't elaborated on pricing or given out an exact release date for the HR-V, but we know the SUV is coming this summer.

2023 Honda HR-VThe new HR-V gets fresh styling and a more responsive powertrain.Honda

The 2023 HR-V gets a new grille with a longer hood and sweeping roofline. Honda notes that the new HR-V is based on the Civic, so while we don't have full powertrain and tech details for the new SUV, we can draw some inferences from that information. The new Civic comes standard with a 158-horsepower four-cylinder engine and a CVT, which would be a reasonable choice for the HR-V. As it did in the Civic, the base will likely also bring a lively driving experience and confident handling to the HR-V.

2023 Honda HR-VThe HR-V will hit the streets this summer.Honda

Honda says the HR-V features a large greenhouse with door-mounted mirrors and a low cowl for better visibility. LED headlights and tail lights are standard, and the new rear-end design features a more rounded, grown-up shape than the previous model.

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New engine design

Stellantis announces strong twin-turbo inline-six

The 3.0-liter twin-turbo engine delivers big power numbers.

Stellantis

The old saying that there's "no replacement for displacement" isn't quite as accurate as it once was. Turbochargers and the latest engine designs have made it possible to extract major power from smaller, more efficient power plants. Stellantis' latest announcement proves this point, as its new Hurricane inline-six-cylinder engine will generate big power numbers from a relatively modest 3.0 liters and two turbos.

Stellantis says two variants will be available. The standard output version produces more than 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, while a high output variant delivers more than 500 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. The twin-turbo inline-six delivers that power with up to 15 percent better fuel efficiency.

Stellantis Hurricane Inline-SixIt's not yet clear which vehicles will get the engine.Stellantis

The new engine comes as Stellantis works to position itself for an electrified future. The automaker stated a goal of 50 percent a 50 percent battery electric vehicle mix by 2030, but notes that gas engines will still play a major role in its vehicle line for years to come. "The Hurricane twin-turbo is a no-compromise engine that delivers better fuel economy and an important reduction in greenhouse gases without asking our customers to give up performance," said Micky Bly, Stellantis head of propulsion systems.

At this point, it's unclear which vehicles will get the new engine, but Stellantis' brands are packed with opportunities. Dodge, whose Hellcat-powered muscle cars could be a good candidate, and then there's Jeep, with a line of off-road-ready SUVs that could greatly benefit from such an engine. The Hurricane's projected high output of 500 horsepower puts it behind the Hellcat engines power output, but it's still strong enough to make a seriously quick vehicle.

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