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No, the most popular plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in the United States isn’t the Prius. It’s not even the Toyota RAV4 Prime. Instead, it comes from a singularly unexpected source: Jeep. That’s right; one of the names synonymous with devil-may-care off-roading is scoring major points with the green car crowd. Specifically, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe takes the cake as the most popular PHEV in America. 

Stellantis says American buyers took home 67,429 Jeep Wrangler 4xe models in 2023, making it the best-selling PHEV in the U.S.

The Jeep Wrangler has always been popular. But not among environmentally-conscious circles. That was until Stellantis and Jeep unveiled the 4xe model, a plug-in hybrid variant of the perennial fan-favorite. Jeep dropped the workhorse 3.6L Pentastar V6 in favor of a hybridized turbocharged 2.0L inline-four-cylinder architecture.

While numerous die-hard Wrangler aficionados rejected such a prospect, the hybrid 4xe was an instant hit. Stellantis claims that Jeep sold 67,429 Wrangler 4xe models in 2023. While that sounds like enough by itself, it earns the 4xe a few bragging rights. 

For starters, that substantial sales figure represents a 56% year-over-year increase for the hybridized Wrangler. Moreover, it’s 43% of total U.S. Wrangler sales. That’s counting the presence of the much cheaper 3.6L Sport and Willys trims. If that wasn’t enough, the Wrangler 4xe outsold the Grand Cherokee 4xe by 21,745 units.   

A silver Jeep Wrangler 4xe Willys PHEV shows off its modularity in the desert.
Jeep Wrangler 4xe Willys | Stellantis

It’s understandable, too; the Wrangler 4xe is much more efficient than the average 3.6L Pentastar-powered Wrangler. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its fuel economy site, the Wrangler 4xe manages 49 MPGe using its hybrid four-cylinder architecture. 

Better yet, with over 20 miles of electric range, the 4xe could deliver commuters without tapping its gas engine for support. The gulf grows compared to the soon-to-be-extinct dinosaur juice-swilling Rubicon 392 and its roughly 15 mpg combined fuel economy figures.

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).