Skip to main content

Do you know which PHEV SUV is the most popular model in America?  It’s the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, and that’s wild! There are more practical and comfortable options like the Toyota RAV4 Prime and Mazda CX-90 PHEV. 

Before I go into why the Jeep Wrangler 4xe is the most popular PHEV SUV in America, I’ll explain what a PHEV means. 

A PHEV is a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle that takes things a step further than regular hybrid vehicles, but they aren’t fully electric. 

You plug them in to charge the batteries. Each model has a battery-powered range, so you can drive with electricity only. They also provide a blend of power and gas or you can deplete the charge and run on gas alone. 

While the Jeep Wrangler has been a popular SUV for decades, the words Wrangler and Hybrid still feel funny together. But that could be just to me because it’s selling like hotcakes. 

The Wrangler 4xe has an MSRP of $50,695. This price doesn’t include the destination fee or dealership markups. 

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe on the beach
2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe | Jeep

It’s powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine that’s paired with two electric motors and a 17-kWh battery pack to generate 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. It’s the most powerful Wrangler available aside from the Rubicon 392 Final Edition with its supercharged V8. 

The Wrangler 4xe has an EPA-estimated range of 22 miles and can be recharged in 12 hours with an at-home outlet. It gets 49 MPGe with gas and hybrid power and 22 mpg on gas alone. 

The Toyota RAV4 Prime has an MSRP of $43,690, providing thousands in savings against the Wrangler 4xe. It has a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and three electric motors to provide 302 hp. 

It gets an EPA-estimated electric range of 42 miles, 94 MPGe, and about 38 mpg with gas only. It’s more efficient and comfortable than the Wrangler 4xe. 

But I have taken America’s favorite PHEV SUV to jump the sand dunes in Glamis. I can say that despite being a little loud and bumpy, the off-roading capabilities are irresistible. But most families want to save fuel instead of adventure, right?

Best in Hybrids & Electrics
Avatar photo
Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.