With the completion of the second quarter of 2022, the performance reports by automakers are coming out across North America. The carmakers are finally showing good signs of recovery after suffering from the after-effects of COVID-19 and the global shortage of components. One such auto group is Stellantis, which has reported an increase of 18 percent in retail sales in Canada. As a part of its good run in Canada, one of the models from the Stellantis, Jeep Wrangler 4xe has become the best-selling plug-in hybrid vehicle in Canada.
Launched in 2021, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe has become one of the most successful models from Stellantis in Canada of recent times. In the second quarter of 2022, the plug-in hybrid off-road SUV from Jeep surpassed super popular plug-in hybrid vehicles like Toyota Prius Prime and Toyota RAV4 Prime to clinch the title of best-selling PHEV in Canada for the second quarter of 2022.
Jeep Wrangler 4xe Sales In Canada In Second Quarter Of 2022
According to a press release from Jeep Canada, the Jeep Wrangler was an instrumental model in the encouraging performance of the brand in the second quarter of 2022. According to Jeep, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe turned out to be the best-selling plug-in vehicle in Canada.
From the 47,184 vehicles sold by Jeep in the second quarter of 2022 in Canada, 18,734 units were from Jeep. With this performance, Jeep posted a growth of 29 percent over its performance in the second quarter of 2021. Jeep has stated that the Wrangler has posted record sales in Q2 2022, with its sales topping off at 7,209 units in this duration.
Stellantis has not revealed the number of units of Wrangler 4xe sold in Canada. However, Stellantis said that around 20 percent of the total units of Wrangler 4xe sold in the second quarter of 2022 were Wrangler 4xes. Considering that Stellantis sold 7,209 units of Wrangler, around 1,440 units should be those of Wrangler 4xe.
Reasons Behind Roaring Success Of Jeep Wrangler 4xe
There is no denying that the world is accepting SUVs more openly than ever before, preferring them over sedans and even hatchbacks. However, one issue that has always plagued SUVs, especially the hardcore SUVs like Jeep Wrangler, is low fuel efficiency.
With the Wrangler 4xe, Jeep has shot two arrows with one bow. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is a true four-by-four SUV, like every other version of the Wrangler. But the impressive EPA-estimated fuel economy of 49 MPGe and an EPA-estimated electric-only range of 21 miles ensure that driving the Wrangler 4xe is much more economical than any other version of Wrangler for the time being.
Jeep Wrangler 4xe Has The Most Advanced Heart For A Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler 4xe came to Canada in 2021 and is currently available in two variants in the five-door Unlimited guise, the hard-top Unlimited Sahara and soft-top Unlimited Rubicon. Powering these versions of the Wrangler 4xe is a combination of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged 270 hp petrol engine, a front-mounted 44 hp electric motor, and a rear-mounted 134 hp electric motor.
This combination of a turbo-petrol engine and two electric motors results in a maximum power output of 375 hp and a peak torque output of 470 lb-ft. These figures make it the second most powerful version of the Jeep Wrangler after the Rubicon 392, which claims 470 hp of power and 470 lb-ft of torque. The Wrangler 4xe also gets a 17 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which returns an electric-only range of 21 miles. This battery pack takes 2 hours to get fully-charged using level 2 charging with 220 amperes and 12 hours using a 110V wall-mounted outlet.
Jeep Wrangler 4xe Is Just Another Wrangler Off The Road
Like other versions of Wrangler, the 4xe version also has a four-wheel-drive system, indicated by its suffix ‘4xe’ (pronounced as four-by-e). As the suffix suggests, the four-wheel-drive system of the Wrangler benefits from electrification. The front and rear motors provide additional instant torque, which proves helpful in rock climbing. The four-wheel-drive system of this SUV also includes Dana 44 axles and a 2-speed transfer case. Further off-road prowess is possible by 10.8 inches of ground clearance and up to 30 inches of water wading capacity.
Jeep also claims that the lithium-ion battery pack can supply power during off-roading too. In addition, the Wrangler 4xe also gets throttle by wire braking, which assists in regenerative braking for the electric motor. The person driving the Wrangler 4xe can alter the speed with the manual mode of the transmission, with the electric motor providing enhanced throttle response at the same time.
The acceptance of Jeep Wrangler 4xe will encourage more automakers to come up with newer four-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid SUVs. Till then, it seems like the Wrangler 4xe will continue competing with the Toyota RAV4 Prime for the top spot.
Source: Jeep Canada, Stellantis