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The Jeep Wrangler has long set the standard for off-road performance, but there’s change on the horizon for the trusty 4×4. According to Jeep, an EV version of the Wrangler is coming in the years ahead.  

Is Jeep making an EV Wrangler?

A Wrangler 4xe drives on a trail with a dramatic desert mountain scenery in the background. Jeep claims a Wrangler EV is on the way in years ahead.
Jeep Wrangler 4xe | Jeep, Stellantis

Jeep revealed that it still plans to create an EV version of the Wrangler 4×4. 

According to AutoExpress, Jeep CEO Christian Meunier made statements clarifying the brand’s intentions for an all-electric Wrangler. 

“The great thing about electrification is that it makes a Jeep more capable,” said Meunier. “It gives us more torque; it makes it smoother and more precise.

“Then the architecture around it, the suspension system, the axle you’re going to use, can be anything – a solid axle or independent suspension.”

Meunier explains that the intention for shifting the Wrangler to an EV is to further maximize its off-road capabilities. The packaging flexibility of an electric platform would allow Jeep to explore new options for all-terrain handling and performance. 

It does mean, however, that Jeep could fundamentally change the architecture of its vaunted 4×4. The Wrangler has always remained consistent with its body-on-frame design featuring solid axles and mechanical four-wheel drive. As Meunier hints, an EV Wrangler could switch to independent suspension with individual electric motors at each wheel. Such details aren’t confirmed, however. 

It won’t be the first EV off-road SUV

Rolling out an EV Wrangler will be a massive shift for the Jeep brand – but it won’t be the first time the industry has seen an all-electric off-roader. 

Other manufacturers are already releasing EVs with off-road performance. Most notable among them is the Rivian R1S, which the brand bills as a dedicated off-road SUV with full-electric performance. 

The difference with the EV Wrangler is that it will be the first time that the industry’s benchmark for 4×4 performance depends on electric power alone. 

Is the Wrangler 4xe an EV?

Close up shot of the hood of a blue Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe | Jeep, Stellantis

No, the Wrangler 4xe is not an EV. Though it does use an electric motor to assist its conventional gas engine. 

The Wrangler 4xe is Jeep’s first step in electrifying its famous off-roader with plug-in hybrid technology. So far, it’s been a resounding success. Meunier said that nearly 38 percent of Wrangler sold in a single quarter last year were 4xe plug-in hybrid models. 

It’s no shock that the PHEV Wrangler is popular. Combining electric and gasoline power means the Wrangler 4xe gets great power while considerably boosting efficiency. Plus, it offers a limited all-electric driving range to help you get around town without burning fuel. 

When will the EV Wrangler arrive?

AutoExpress says that the EV Wrangler likely won’t arrive until 2027 at the earliest. 

That reasoning comes down to Jeep’s current model lineup and overall trajectory. The brand just released a mid-cycle refresh for the Wrangler JL, and both the Wagoneer S and Recon EV are on deck for production. Jeep will have to finish the life cycle of the current-generation Wrangler and roll out its other new models before switching to its EV Wrangler. 

Until that happens, we’ll continue to watch how Jeep implements electrification across its model lineup. 

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Staff Writer, Producer - SUVs

Scott Prewitt

Scott Prewitt joined the MotorBiscuit team in 2023 as a Staff Writer for the SUV section. During college, he began his career in journalism as Editor in Chief of The Creightonian. After graduating from Creighton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, News and Public Relations, Scott spent time in a local newsroom. He soon found his way to the world of automotive journalism and has been writing about cars since 2017.

A passion for all things automotive began at a young age. Playing Gran Turismo racing games in the early 2000s sparked an interest in cars and Scott began devouring Car and Driver stories when he was in the fourth grade. Since then, Scott’s enthusiasm for autos has grown to become the focal point of his career as a journalist.

By combining the skills that earned him the News Graduate of the Year 2016 and the Omaha Press Club Recognition & Academic Scholarship with a craving for knowledge of automotive industry, Scott covers a wide range of content from breaking news about the latest SUV models to designated off-road and overlanding rigs. His reporting is informed by personal experiences like road trips, intriguing automotive history, and time spent poring over various outlets and YouTube channels. Scott is drawn to car culture because, in his own words,  “these vehicles are a combination of purpose-built engineering and emotive, expressive design.”

The personal aspects of the autos world are of particular interest to Scott, and he is fascinated by the relationship between humans and cars. Years of writing for dealerships across the country and time in the corporate communications world lend to his expertise as a writer here at MotorBiscuit.