The Jeep Wrangler is legendary for its rugged design and impressive capability on the unbeaten path. And that's mostly why the idea of an electrified Wrangler seemed ridiculous until recently. But Jeep is slowly electrifying its lineup and, somewhat surprisingly, it picked the Wrangler as the first nameplate to benefit from a full-fledged hybrid setup. And the result is the fastest and most powerful Wrangler developed so far!

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is the first Wrangler with more than 300 horsepower

2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe
Stellantis

The Wrangler 4xe is essentially an electrified version of the four-cylinder SUV. It features the same turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-pot rated at 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of twist and the eTorque starter-generator, but it's also paired to an electric motor mounted on the transmission. This motor produces 134 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque on its own.

Compared to other drivetrains available with the current-generation Wrangler, the 4xe delivers 90 horsepower more than the V-6 model, 105 horses more than the four-cylinder version, and 115 horsepower more than the EcoDiesel variant. The 4xe also delivers the most torque at a whopping 470 pound-feet. That's 210 pound-feet more than the V-6, 175 pound-feet more than the turbo-four, and 28 pound-feet more than the diesel version.

The extra oomph and the electrified setup also makes the 4xe the quickest Wrangler ever produced.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is more powerful than the 2021 Ford Bronco

Ford revived the iconic Bronco earlier in 2020 and it came with a V-6 engine that's notably more powerful than Jeep's offerings. Specifically, Ford's 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 cranks out 310 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. With the electrified Wrangler 4xe, Jeep now has a potent competitor for the Ford Bronco, one that actually delivers an extra 65 horsepower and 70 pound-feet of twist. The fact that the 4xe is capable of traveling for 25 miles on battery alone and it's just as capable as the regular Wrangler is the icing on the cake.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe makes no compromises when it comes to off-roading capability

The hybrid SUV is just as capable as the regular Wrangler, Jeep says.Because all the electronics and the battery are waterproofed, the 4xe retains the Wrangler's ability to ford 30 inches of water. All 4xe variants are fitted with Dana 44 axles front and rear, as well as two-speed transfer cases with automatic four-wheel-drive mode. There's an optional limited-slip differential, while the Rubicon trim comes with a transfer case with a 4:1 low-range, electronic locking front and rear axles, and electronic sway bar disconnect.

There are a few compromises to talk about, but they're rather small. Some models lose a tenth-inch of ground clearance compared to the gas models, while the base 4xe is about 800 pounds heavier than the non-hybrid four-cylinder model. Trunk space decreases by four cubic feet to 27.7 behind the rear seats and by five cubic feet at 67.4 behind the front seats.