CHICAGO—Jeep revealed a new 20th anniversary edition of the Wrangler Rubicon 4xe at the Chicago Auto Show today, a plug-in hybrid with 21 miles of pure electric range. The vehicle qualifies for the full $7,500 federal tax incentive for electric vehicles, taking the starting price from $69,585 to $62,085.
In addition to the plug-in, Jeep also unveiled the gas-powered 2023 Wrangler Rubicon 392 (also 20th anniversary edition), which starts at $90,895. Both versions are available to pre-order now while Jeep produces a limited quantity at its plant in Toledo, Ohio. They are slated to arrive at dealers by June 2023.
Plug-in hybrids are geared toward customers who are interested in EV tech but are not comfortable going 100% battery-powered. "Today, the Rubicon model represents about a quarter of overall Wrangler sales, with more than 700,000 sold worldwide, and include the electrified Rubicon 4xe, the best-selling and most capable PHEV in America," Jeep says.
The brand last unveiled two plug-in hybrids at the Detroit Auto Show in September, also under its 4xe brand: the Grand Cherokee 4xe 30th Anniversary and Wrangler Willys 4xe. Jeep has been slower than others to launch a fully electric vehicle, but its first will hit the streets in 2024.
"There are people who aren't sure electric is for them, but the plug-in tech is great," says Jim Morrison, head of Jeep USA. "You get 21 miles on pure electric, but if you get range anxiety you can use gas. More and more people are looking for our 4xe technology and we are getting new customers."
This is not the first Wrangler plug-in hybrid; that one launched back in 2020, MotorTrend reports. However, it is the most performance-focused yet, Jeep says, with a slew of new features designed for off-roading.
"We wanted to make the most high-performance plug-in we could," says Brandon Girmus, Wrangler brand manager. "We added steel bumpers, more ground clearance—an extra half inch—heavy duty rock sliders, and a front camera on the grille for off-roading."
The grille design is more compact than previous Rubicons, and has a large "triple grille guard" that looks ready to go head-first into battle. In the trunk, customers will find an 83-piece tool kit.
In terms of its electric performance, 21 miles of pure electric range is about mid-range for 2023 models. On PCMag's list of PHEVs under $40,000, there are several 5-seat SUVs that can travel 30-plus miles on pure battery power (and are cheaper than the Rubicon).
When we asked Girmus how Jeep arrived at 21 miles of electric range, he explained it was a function of what size battery could fit in the vehicle's design.
"Twenty-one miles was based off of what size battery we could fit," Girmus says. "It's all about optimization. You want a battery that performs well but doesn't take away from the interior cargo size, since it sits under the base of the seat."
The electricity from the battery also complements the vehicle's gas engine, giving it a combined 49MPGe when not in electric-only mode.
While this new 20th anniversary edition Wrangler Rubicon may be on the soft side for electric range considering the market, it makes up for it in style and off-roading capability that feels uniquely Jeep.