Topic: 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4xe

[Blueprint]

This is yet another vehicle I was supposed to review earlier in the year. Andy here knows all about my "presser luck" - cracked windshields, fender benders, cluster specials, stolen or totalled press cars - I've had them all just prior to pick-up. It goes with the territory, it seems!

After experiencing this drivetrain in the Wrangler, I was looking forward to experiencing it in a more "daily" focused vehicle, the Grand Cherokee.

https://www.autohebdo.net/editorial/20231128/jeep-grand-cherokee-overland-4xe-2023-essai-routier/

[Blueprint]

Let's cut to the chase. The real interest here is the PHEV aspect of this JGC. My "presser luck" involved a late pick-up time, with the battery at 1%  So the first day of driving, my longest single trip of this loan, was done on gas alone 

Yet, despite adding up km's along the week up to my typical review mileage, my avg for the week was 2.3 l/100 km.

And I did measure this 5,600 lbs SUV's gas-only mileage with the nifty trip computer - 8,0 l/100 km when on gas, avg for the week. Not bad at all!

[Blueprint]

Only two engines are available in the "shorty" JGC for 2023: the Pentastar V6 or the 4xe drivetrain, the latter replacing the previously available V8's. Turns out pairing the 2.0 turbo four with a pair of electric motors provides 375 hp and 470 lb-ft, more than the old V8. Enough for a 5.9 s 0-60 sprint and a 6,000 lbs towing capacity.

That 2.0t is a fun engine, very much alive and quick to respond, despite the Hyundai Accent soundtrack. The Jeep offers a bona fide 4x4 setup, with a mechanical transfer case, a low range and driveshafts everywhere, power coming out of a conventional 8-speed automatic.

[Blueprint]

My Overland had the pneumatic Quadra-Lift suspension, giving you quite the lift kit at the touch of a button. Said suspension does not provide a cloudy ride though. The heavy, sturdy bits underneath are clearly felt from the seat of your pants and all passengers complained that this rig rode like a truck. It does provide nice elevation for off-roading, a lower ingress/egress height and surprsingly playful handling in the twisties.

[Blueprint]

Did I just say "button"? I did not count them, but they're everywhere and pulled from all the open bins at the plant. Push, pull, twist, turn, click, black, chrome, haptic - we have'm all!! The interior has a sound basic design in shape, but controls are scattered all over the place, including horizontal above the central screen, and it's both a cognitive and ergonomic mess. And that's not counting the videogame-worthy plethora of levels in the infotainment, whose small and scattered buttons aren't very reactive. Said screen is also a fingerprint magnet, as is the easily-scratched sea of piano black.

The passenger screen is optional, but it's a mandatory option, meaning Stellantis is showing base prices that don't exist.

This IP needs to be ripped out and redesigned.

[Blueprint]

Even with the Nappa leather, the JGC feels more Kia than Range Rover inside, despite the near six-figure tab of my tester ($94k before taxes). The massage feature on both front buckets was great, but actual seat comfort was pretty average. Ditto with the 900+W McIntosh audio kit, who strangely did not sound nearly as good as it promised - and advertised. All the McIntosh logos in the doors are lit up at night.

[Blueprint]

One thing the JGC does well is room - the interior of this 5-seater has more volume than many 3-rows! Rear seat does not suffer from the 14,0 kWh battery it hides, giving room for 3 accross. Trunk is nicely finished with carpeted sides.

[Blueprint]

I was standing up for that pic. Very tempting to try hill descent control, but with no winch buddy in sight I stayed up there. Blue hooks are a 4xe tell-tale.



Milder off-roading was still done for photo ops:

[Blueprint]

Not sold on this gen's styling. Front-end is ok, but the roof is too high, and the "floating roof" effect on the D-pillar cheapens the vibe. All-black paint neutralizes it.

[Blueprint]

The biggest flaw here is pricing. First off, the base 4xe misses the fed's incentive limit by quite a bunch, so no gvt money to help with the bill. Add the many overlapping trims, option packages and mandatory options that jack up the price before you start and you end up with a $94k JGC that still leaves options on the shop floor, and yet there are two higher trims to pick from. The PHEV drivetrain deliver the goods, powerful even in EV mode, frugal during hybrid operation and smooth in its transitions (except for the wonky brake pedal).

The JGC 4xe is fun to drive, great on gas, roomy and plenty capable on road and off. But build quality, ergonomics and that sea of piano black don't scream back "six figures" at you. A base 4xe set at $59,995 would be fine, but the actual starting price is set around $80k. And that's a lot.

[Fobroader]

Great review as per always. I cannot believe how popular these, and its Wagoneer bigger brother, are around here. It seems that all the soccer moms traded their X5s and Mercedes things in for these things. They're a really nice rig, I can't really blame people for liking them.

[Blueprint]

Great review as per always. I cannot believe how popular these, and its Wagoneer bigger brother, are around here. It seems that all the soccer moms traded their X5s and Mercedes things in for these things. They're a really nice rig, I can't really blame people for liking them.

Thanks Fob!

Sales appear to be down here with the latest gen. Haven't even seen the L version in the wild yet. Soccer moms are trading everything for Model Y's 

[Fobroader]

Model Y, like that horrid little Tesla thing?? Not around here, no well off household is going to send mom or dad to school pickup without a full size SUV, what is this, the third world?? 

[Blueprint]

Model Y, like that horrid little Tesla thing?? Not around here, no well off household is going to send mom or dad to school pickup without a full size SUV, what is this, the third world?? 

Sometimes you realize you’re on your way to work and driving within a cluster of Teslas. It boggles the mind: the Corolla is rarer than the Model 3 nowadays.

[revalations]

Great review as per always. I cannot believe how popular these, and its Wagoneer bigger brother, are around here. It seems that all the soccer moms traded their X5s and Mercedes things in for these things. They're a really nice rig, I can't really blame people for liking them.

I agree, you’re reviews are excellent!

The Grand Wagoneer is a very rare sight here in the Okanagan (save for the many I see loitering on the Jeep dealership lot) and even the smaller Grand isn’t very common. And everyone here is big dollar SUV crazy, can’t go far without seeing new Escalades/Denali, Range Rovers, BMW’s, etc.

Think Jeep has priced themselves out of their own market.

[sailor723]

Great review as per always. I cannot believe how popular these, and its Wagoneer bigger brother, are around here. It seems that all the soccer moms traded their X5s and Mercedes things in for these things. They're a really nice rig, I can't really blame people for liking them.

I agree, you’re reviews are excellent!

The Grand Wagoneer is a very rare sight here in the Okanagan (save for the many I see loitering on the Jeep dealership lot) and even the smaller Grand isn’t very common. And everyone here is big dollar SUV crazy, can’t go far without seeing new Escalades/Denali, Range Rovers, BMW’s, etc.

Think Jeep has priced themselves out of their own market.

I'd agree with that for around here. Back in the 90's it seemed every second vehicle you saw dropping kids off to school in upscale neighbourhoods was a JGC.  Yacht club and golf club parking lots were full of them.
Not so much today. Many of those drivers seem to have gone to Lexus, Volvo, the German trio etc   A few years ago it was Lexus RX's everywhere.....these days BMW X3's seem to have risen in numbers.

[Blueprint]

Great review as per always. I cannot believe how popular these, and its Wagoneer bigger brother, are around here. It seems that all the soccer moms traded their X5s and Mercedes things in for these things. They're a really nice rig, I can't really blame people for liking them.

I agree, you’re reviews are excellent!

The Grand Wagoneer is a very rare sight here in the Okanagan (save for the many I see loitering on the Jeep dealership lot) and even the smaller Grand isn’t very common. And everyone here is big dollar SUV crazy, can’t go far without seeing new Escalades/Denali, Range Rovers, BMW’s, etc.

Think Jeep has priced themselves out of their own market.

I'd agree with that for around here. Back in the 90's it seemed every second vehicle you saw dropping kids off to school in upscale neighbourhoods was a JGC.  Yacht club and golf club parking lots were full of them.
Not so much today. Many of those drivers seem to have gone to Lexus, Volvo, the German trio etc   A few years ago it was Lexus RX's everywhere.....these days BMW X3's seem to have risen in numbers.

I have a feeling BMW is taking a hit in Quebec. Used to see a 3-Series in every other driveway in neighbourhoods like mine, zero of them nowadays. It's all Mach-E's, Y's, 3's, EV6's etc. - and i4 when BMW. The premium crowd is going all-in with EV's. Haven't seen an X5 in years, and the X3 is rare. Those still going for ICE appear to love the Genesis SUV's and the Q5. I often think of you guys when I'm sitting at a red light with 7-8 cars around me and I'm in the only ICE-powered one - different world here!

[Guy]

Yup, same here, now a Lucid and and EQS showed up in my neighbourhood. I feel like the poor guy around with my Mach-E..

[Blueprint]

Yup, same here, now a Lucid and and EQS showed up in my neighbourhood. I feel like the poor guy around with my Mach-E..

There's an EQS here too, no Lucid yet but I saw a few in the wild - sweet-looking sedan! Lots of Ioniq 5 & 6 too. Mach-E - four on my street alone!

[bridgecity]

^ Different world out your direction.  My commute is 64km round trip and it's infrequent that I see an EV.