The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4XE PHEV Offers 25 Miles of Zero Emissions Freedom

PHEV is a big step in Jeep, as the company claims this is the second chapter of its "zero-emissions freedom." The carmaker has taken the plug-in hybrid engine of the Wrangler 4xe in its entirety and has incorporated it into its midsize SUV with two rows of seats.

Under the hood of the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4XE we have a turbocharged 2-liter I-4 Turbo four-cylinder engine that goes to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It's paired to a hybrid system. The total system output is 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. Now on just gas power alone it gets 23 miles per gallon. Combined between highway and city driving the MPGe rating is 56 miles per gallon and on top that you have 25 miles of all electric driving range.

It incorporates an electric battery of 400 volts and 17 kWh . It includes an integrated dual charging module that combines a battery charger and DC/DC converter in a single compact unit, and a small footprint Power Inverter Module.

Here are all the trims of Grand Cherokee Jeep offers for the model year of 2022.

• Altitude $45,225
• Limited $46,440
• Trailhawk $56,030
• Overland $56,035
• Limited 4xe PHEV $59,495
• Summit $60,095
• 4xe PHEV $61,660
• Trailhawk 4xe PHEV $64,280
• Summit Reserve $66,575
• Overland 4xe PHEV $67,555
• Summit 4xe PHEV $71,515
• Summit Reserve 4xe PHEV $76,095

The arrival of the fifth iteration also brought with it the L variant, the first time in 30 years that Jeep has dared to put 3 rows of seats on the Grand Cherokee. It was essential, the vast majority of customers in this segment opt ​​for configurations with capacity for more than five occupants.

There is a difference of 290 mm in length and 127 mm in wheelbase between the two.

Also, for this review Torque News test-drove the 2022 Grand Cherokee's Overland 4xe trim, which is Jeep Cherokee's off-road PHEV trim.

Exterior

As you look at the exterior of the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee not how the flat of the center of the hood pops down on either side giving it a really nice distinctive look. Especially it really looks cool from the driver's point of view because the driver clearly can see where the end of the vehicle is from his driving position.

Notice that with the Jeep Loo there is a nice blue accenting around it. Under the we have the LED daytime running lights with the LED headlamps, fog lights down below. Also note the parking sensors integrated into the front end, as well as some front cameras.

The rims of the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4XE are also smaller to make way for tires more suitable for off-road driving. These details are accompanied by equipment designed for this type of driving (off-road), including Quadra-Lift air suspension with up to 11 inch of ground clearance to offer better approach, departure and breakover angles.

The suspension is also lowered at highway speeds to improve control and performance at high speeds. And I am sure that this second use case will be much more common on a day-to-day basis.

Jeep Grand Cherokee 2022: Interior and equipment

The theme of discretion continues in the cabin where the 4xe does not necessarily try to stand out from a Grand Cherokee only thermal. All that makes this version recognizable are the displays for the electric range and the hybrid system, as well as the controls installed on the left of the steering wheel to alternate between Hybrid, Electric and e-Save modes. The latter makes it possible to preserve the electric autonomy for a later use.

Jeep takes the opportunity to add a small button above the multimedia system to activate regenerative braking or one-pedal driving.

Being more expensive than regular versions of the Grand Cherokee, the 4xe is already very well equipped as standard.

The biggest surprise comes when we enter the cabin of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, it not only impacts the eyes, but also the rest of the senses such as touch and smell . The inserts are made of genuine wood and metal, while the lining is a combination of Palermo and Nappa leather for seats, door panels, among others.

But this interior is not only perceived as very luxurious, but also modern, the central touch screen is 10.1” with the Uconnect interface and wireless compatibility with Android and IOS. The instrument cluster is digital, with a 10.15” screen and there is also a Head Up Display.

As if these were not enough screens, the passenger next to the driver also has a 10.1” screen that is invisible to the driver , and from where you can access certain vehicle settings or music, for example.

Of course there's automatic climate control that's 4-zone, a moonroof, heated and cooled seats, a wireless charger, and every other convenience item that comes to mind.

Of all the above, we should mention the 950-watt audio system signed by McIntosh, it sounds incredible and even more, there is an app in the infotainment system to display moving needles on a blue background on the screen in tune with the change in decibels, a detail that will amuse audiophiles.

Although there are no 3rd row seats, the 2022 Grand Cherokee offers a lot of space. The rear seat occupants will travel in absolute comfort and with a gigantic trunk capacity, enough to carry a month's worth of luggage.

As for security, absolutely nothing is missing; 8 airbags, ESP, 360° camera, night vision and ADAS.

Driving

4xe is just as capable as a regular Grand Cherokee when driving on some pretty intense obstacles. This is also testified by other reviewers whom I looked up online before preparing this review. The height-adjustable Quadra-Lift air suspension (standard on the Trailhawk, Overland and Summit versions) improves ground clearance and thus better overcomes difficult obstacles. The off-road capabilities of this plug-in hybrid are pretty impressive.

When transitioning between the engines you hear some curious noises coming from the gearbox. But the box continues to impress with its performance and reaction times.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee's natural habitat is highways where it can drive fast without demanding any sacrifice in passenger comfort.

The new Grand Cherokee is now at the level of its German rivals in all aspects , which, added to the good positioning that Jeep has, will allow it to maintain itself and continue to establish itself as a reference in the category.

But this very remarkable evolution comes with a cost, which is reflected in the invoice, if in terms of refinement, equipment and luxury, the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee is at the level of the German ones, it is also at the price.

With the price of gasoline still on the rise, it is clear that the arrival of an electrified engine in the Grand Cherokee lineup does it a lot of good. The idea of ​​reducing the operating costs of this iconic model is indeed very enticing, and even with this mechanism, it loses nothing in terms of off-road skills, comfort and versatility. Like its brother, the Wrangler 4xe, it is not equipped with a heat pump. So expect the combustion engine to activate in cold weather.

My conclusion is that despite its price, the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4XE is just as capable as the internal combusion versions. It offers a smooth ride and has good towing capacity.

Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebok, Linkedin and Youtube.

Reference: Autocosmos, RPMWeb.