Skip to main content

Plug-in hybrid variants of Jeep Wrangler, Compass, Renegade will rumble into CES

Although it’s not a brand we normally associate with CES, Jeep will travel to this year’s edition of the annual electronics show to announce gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid variants of the Wrangler, the Renegade, and the Compass. The three models will wear the 4xe nameplate when they arrive in American showrooms before the end of 2020.

While Jeep hasn’t announced technical specifications, looking across the pond sheds light on what to expect from the plug-in version of the Renegade and the Compass. The European-spec models jointly made their debut at the 2019 Geneva Auto Show with a turbocharged, 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood to spin the front wheels, and an electric motor over the rear axle to turn the back wheels. The layout provided through-the-road all-wheel drive, meaning there’s no mechanical connection between the front and rear wheels, and it delivered approximately 240 horsepower. It’s not too far-fetched to imagine Jeep will need to make minor, market-specific tweaks to the duo, but we’re not expecting huge changes.

Related Videos

The Wrangler is bigger, heavier, and much more adventure-oriented, so it will get a different system. While nothing is official yet, rumors point to a setup in which Jeep’s venerable 3.6-liter V6 works with a pair of electric motors that deliver instant torque. This promises to be a real boon off-road, as the motors can drive the SUV on their own for short distances. Chrysler’s Pacifica minivan will likely receive the same technology when it gets a midcycle update for the 2021 model year.

Visually, it will take a well-trained eye to tell Jeep’s hybrids apart from their plugless siblings. They’ll inevitably have an extra flap for the charging port, and they’ll wear 4xe emblems out back, but stylists won’t give them a full stand-alone design. Inside, much of the technology (like the infotainment system’s touchscreen) will be designed for the hybrids.

Jeep will announce more information about its first production-bound plug-in hybrid models at CES 2020 next week, and the three SUVs will go on sale during the 2021 model year. Expect to hear more electrification-related announcements from the brand in the coming years; it pledged to offer every nameplate in its range with some form of electrified drivetrain (whether it’s hybrid or fully electric) by 2022.

Editors' Recommendations

Tesla Cybertruck prototype spotted with minor changes
A Tesla Cybertruck prototype.

What appears to be a new Tesla Cybertruck prototype has been spotted testing on public roads.

As relayed by Electrek, Twitter user Greg posted a photo Thursday showing a Cybertruck with a different front-end design from what we've seen previously. The front bumper has a more distinct rectangular opening, possibly for cooling. This prototype also has triangular side mirrors, as opposed to the squared-off ones seen previously.

Read more
Why you should consider a plug-in hybrid in 2023
2020 audi q5 tfsi e first drive review phev 19

EVs are all the rage — and it makes sense. Electric vehicles allow you to avoid high gas prices and feel good about not impacting the environment as much, plus they’re usually sleek, stylish, and fast.

But in 2023, owning an EV isn’t for everyone. After all, charging stations, while improving, still aren’t as common as they should be -- and depending on your car, they sometimes aren’t all that fast. If you’re worried about those issues, there’s an alternative — a plug-in hybrid (also known as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or PHEV). These are cars that essentially offer the best of both worlds: A battery and electric motor for quick, clean trips around town, and a gas engine for longer road trips.
What makes a PHEV so great?

Read more
10 electric cars with the longest range
Lucid Air

Electric cars are becoming increasingly common, but there’s still one issue that new EV buyers run into — range anxiety. Because charging isn’t as easy or as quick as filling up a tank of gas, range can make or break an EV — it dictates how far you’ll be able to drive before you run out of juice.

Electric cars will continue to gain longer and longer ranges over time, but there are already some impressively long-range cars available. Here’s a look at the electric cars with the longest range.
Lucid Air Dream Edition

Read more