Jeep has something pretty cool on its hands. The 2024 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Willys 4xe is a mix of old-school toughness with new plug-in hybrid tech, saving you gas without losing any of that legendary capability. And for 2024, the Willys trim adds a new tier for those who want most of the Rubicon’s hardware, but with better on-road manners and a lower price tag. Sounds like a win-win, doesn’t it?
The Wrangler 4xe’s plug-in hybrid powertrain is made up by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine, an electric motor working with a 17 kWh battery pack, and an eight-speed automatic transmission. It manages a combined output of 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, giving you more than enough power and helping keep your fuel bill down. Plus, the electric part means you can cruise quietly through trails or your commute without the engine rumbling, for up to 35 kilometres. Shockingly, even with a fully dead batter, we were able to cruise entirely in EV mode while sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic for over 20 minutes. The Jeep clearly has a strong regenerative braking system.
This Wrangler 4xe looks the part, too. As part of its facelift for 2024, it wears a blacked-out grill against vivid yellow paint that really makes it stand out, contrasting tastefully with the blue accents that are unique to the 4xe models. It also has all the practical stuff, like LED headlights for when you’re caught on the trails after dark, and protective rails so you don’t bang up the sides when you’re off the beaten path. Those rails come at the cost of side steps, though. With the added ride height of the Willys package, it made climbing into and jumping out of the Wrangler challenging for my young kids.
Inside, the Wrangler Willys 4xe has all the modern tech you’d want for both on- and off-road, including a big red toggle switch for the locking rear differential previously exclusive to the Rubicon. The refreshed dashboard incorporates an all-new 12.3-inch touchscreen running UConnect 5, making a 2023 Wrangler look like it’s from another decade. As have always been key Wrangler features, you can literally hose down the interior to get the mud out, and the hardtop is easy to take out for when you want to feel the wind.
Life with the Wrangler 4xe is interesting. You have this boxy, old-world-rugged vehicle that can park itself in the front-row spaces that have EV chargers. Plugging in the Jeep is just as easy as any other EV, except for one absolutely annoying thing: in order to protect the charge port during any potentially filthy off-roading, it has a rubber plug inside. Makes sense, but you have to take it out and put it back in every time you charge, not just for off-road days. It’s a frustrating extra step that could easily be fixed by adding a built-in seal around the charge port door, and making the plug an option for off-road days.
That frustration is at least worth it for the fuel savings. We spent most of our time in EV mode despite only plugging in at home, and using the provided 120-volt travel plug. In EV mode, the Wrangler 4xe is rated at 4.8 Le/100 kilometres, and 11.6/11.9/11.7 L/100 km city/highway/combined in gas-only mode. What surprised us is that the powertrain feels as though it received what seems like an undocumented upgrade, or at least improved software. Past Wrangler 4xe models we reviewed drew complaints about the refinement of the powertrain, particularly the roughness when the gas engine kicked in. With this 2024 model, we experienced none of that. It seems like something, probably within the transmission tuning, has been significantly improved.
A base, four-door Wrangler 4xe starts at $59,995. For an extra $5,000, the Willys package throws some extra off-road goodies into the mix, like a tougher suspension and 33-inch all-terrain tires that are all about getting through mud, rocks, and whatever else you find out there. Tack on $195 for the blinding yellow paint, as well as several other convenience and tech features, and this particular Wrangler worked out to a whopping $72,520 as-tested before destination fees and taxes. That’s a ton of coin for a vehicle with cloth seats, but it really did have everything you’d want and need in a fun-toy-turned-daily-driver.
So, if you’re looking for a Jeep with the classic off-road chops, plus some modern hybrid to make it easier on your wallet at the pump, the 2024 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Willys 4xe is worth a look. It’s tough, tech-savvy, and ready for whatever you throw at it. If the plug-in hybrid powertrain is your cup of tea, the updates for 2024 to the looks, the trim level kitting, and the way it drives make it worth taking the leap to a brand-new Wrangler versus a gently used one.
