The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is being touted as the “most fuel-efficient Jeep ever,” but is it worth the high price tag? Let’s take a closer look at this plug-in hybrid SUV.

Most Fuel-Efficient Jeep Ever

The Grand Cherokee 4xe boasts an EPA-estimated 56 MPGe and 26 miles of electric-only range. This is impressive for a Grand Cherokee, but the plug-in-hybrid option is expensive. Is it worth the extra cost?

Luxurious and Confident on the Road

The Grand Cherokee’s luxurious interior and robust four-wheel-drive system make it akin to a Kia Telluride that’s graduated from off-road boot camp. With a firm brake pedal, linear steering, and a smooth ride, the Grand Cherokee moves with confidence. Unlike its Wrangler 4xe plug-in-hybrid sibling, the Grand Cherokee 4xe is subdued and quiet at speed.

Potent Powertrain

A 270-hp turbo 2.0-liter and two electric motors bring the total output to 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, a combination potent enough to make passengers ask, “This is a four-cylinder?” However, we noticed some hesitation when accelerating hard from low speed as the gas engine and electric motor bickered over whose turn it was.

Rocky Transitions and Serious Faults

In the Wrangler, we noted this powertrain’s rocky transitions between gas and electric propulsion, although they were somewhat lost amid the Wrangler’s general cacophony. In the vastly more polished Grand Cherokee, the powertrain’s hesitation and its abrupt transitions stand out. Eventually, the powertrain suffered a more serious fault, and the hybrid system went silent.

Quickest Version of the New Grand Cherokee

Before the hybrid-system failure, we were able to perform instrumented testing and found that the 4xe is the quickest version of the new Grand Cherokee. It springs to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds and hits 100 mph in 13.9 seconds, right as it reaches a quarter-mile.

High Price Tag

The Grand Cherokee 4xe starts at $61,660, which is $16,830 more than the base four-wheel-drive V-6 Laredo. The 4xe, though, skips the Laredo trim and is available only in Limited, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve grades. Comparing like trims, the 4xe’s upcharge over the V-6 variants with four-wheel drive ranges from $8685 to $10,010—although that can be at least partially offset by the PHEV’s $7500 federal tax credit. Our Overland test rig rumbled in with a $77,525 price tag.