2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Review: Lots to Love, but Thirsty and Expensive

The 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Summit Reserve comes with all the bells and whistles and real off-road capability. But it also only delivers 25 miles of electric range and comes with a price tag north of $80,000, meaning it might be tough finding buyers who can really use it.

Thirty-three years ago, Jeep rolled out the first ZJ, more commonly known as the Grand Cherokee. To show the world that the premier four-wheel-drive manufacturer could combine roominess, performance, and versatility into a family-friendly mid-size SUV.

It set a high bar in the 4WD world. Luxury amenities, a 190-horsepower 4.0L AMC straight-six engine, and the choice of either a manual five-speed or a four-speed automatic.

The original price for the Limited version, which achieved 21 mpg on the highway, was $28,925

Today, Jeep’s 2025 Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe is the company’s crown jewel of electrified offerings. It’s also the pinnacle of six total levels within the Grand Cherokee 4xe lineup.

Not only is this model luxurious and comfortable, but it also has a powertrain that is different from that of its gas-only version. The difference is the 4xe’s two small electric motors. One is 44 horsepower, replaces the conventional starter, and helps recharge the batteries. The second is a 134-horsepower electric motor inside the automatic transmission to drive all four wheels.

These two electric motors add extra muscle to the 2.0L turbo four-cylinder under the hood. The hybrid configuration delivers a respectable 470 pound-feet of torque and 375 horsepower when the electric motors kick in to assist the little four-cylinder.

In short: I spent a week and some 500 miles in this well-optioned Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe. There’s no doubt it’s powerful, luxurious, comfortable, and carries the strong Jeep lineage of being a very capable four-wheel drive. However, in a world of heavy competition within the mid-size, luxury hybrid SUV market, I feel this Jeep is a disappointment. Blame its high price and dismal hybrid-electric performance. 

2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Review: At a Glance

On paper, the mid-sized 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe hybrid looks quite attractive — especially to those who are looking for a luxury 4WD SUV that promises decent economy. The specs show a 270-horsepower 2.0L turbo in-line four combined with a 400V Li-ion battery pack feeding the electric motor.

The hybrid system tacks on some 800 pounds to the curb weight of the gas-only version, but the battery pack and the dual electric motors help it accelerate considerably faster than the standard Summit Reserve.

The 4xe’s hybrid-electric configuration also adds nearly $10,000 to the gas-only model’s MSRP — and the 4xe doesn’t qualify for the big federal tax break afforded some other plug-in electric hybrids. 

Driving Modes: What’s Best

My take is that the combined gas and electric power allows the posh 4xe hybrid to pull its best when driving in Hybrid Mode. It accelerates with authority from stops. That’s doubly impressive on the road, when your right foot digs deep into the throttle to pass slower vehicles or climb long grades.

Slip the drive selector into the Electric mode, and it drives like any other electric car. Except that it weighs nearly the same as a loaded Ford F-150 V-8 Crew Cab 4×4.

As for driving range in the electric mode, the best I observed was a dismal 22 miles. That’s when traveling along Oregon’s Highway 101 in and around the city of Newport and during a couple of 200-mile road trips over the Coast Range and into Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The EPA’s official estimate is 25 miles.

What I observed during my week with the 4xe is that those strong bursts of electric-boosted muscle are short-lived. The battery pack is small and depletes quickly when called upon to move the Jeep quickly.

Tiny Electric Driving Range

With all that in mind, the attractiveness of the luxurious Summit Reserve 4xe starts to wear off unless you’re someone who lives in the city or resides in upscale suburbia. In other words, places where this Jeep can be kept plugged in all the time. (A fast-charging Level 2 system for home charging is another $1,500-2,000 in added cost one has to consider when changing to hybrid/electric modes of transportation.)

Another characteristic I noted when driving in the Electric mode is that as soon as the battery level drops to less than 10%, the charge indicator starts flashing. Then, the Jeep’s computer system instantly brings the turbo four-cylinder gas engine back online, at least until the battery pack can get more juice in play.

So I ended up switching to the e-Save mode during a 6-mile drive into town to lock out the batteries as soon as the ignition turned on. That mode uses the gas engine, so the batteries could be saved for when the PHEV turbo-four needs that extra burst of power or silent around-town cruising.

Premium vs. Regular: Decisions at the Pump

Buying a hybrid electric vehicle means the owner is probably concerned with maximizing fuel economy. The 4xe isn’t the best on the market when it comes to mpg.

First of all, Jeep recommends filling the 19-gallon fuel tank with premium, not regular unleaded. The AAA gas price watch website shows national premium gas averaged more than $0.50 per gallon than regular unleaded — about $9.50 more every time the Grand Cherokee Summit 4xe’s tank is filled compared to that of the gas-only model.

Another thing to consider is how much fuel you can buy for the price difference between the 4xe and the gas-only model. The 2.0L Turbo four-cylinder hybrid Summit I drove added about $9,600 to the MSRP of the standard model with the gas V6.

The V6 doesn’t suggest premium fuel, and at $3.25 per gallon for gas (the national average in early 2025), you could drive about 65,000 miles on the savings by not going the plug-in hybrid route. (The standard V-6 gas engine’s 22 mpg is the same mileage I observed driving the 2.0L 4xe more than 600 miles around western Oregon.)

Just something to consider.

Editor’s Note: Jeep advises that the 4xe requires minimum 87-octane regular fuel. But it recommends the use of higher-octane fuel and says that “the use of 91 or higher octane premium gasoline will allow these engines to operate to optimal performance.”

Capable, Comfortable Air Suspension

The Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe is a delightfully comfortable 4WD SUV. The Quadra-Lift air suspension makes the ride and handling quite pleasurable on- and off-pavement, and the isolation from road noise is what you’d expect from a luxury-class SUV.

The Quadra-Lift air suspension is standard on the Summit Reserve and several other Grand Cherokee trim levels. The system uses air springs at each corner instead of traditional coil springs, thus giving the springs the ability to raise and lower the vehicle at the touch of a button or automatically.

The suspension has more than 4.0 inches of travel and is adjusted through two buttons located near the drive mode selector.

Clever Drive Modes a Class Advantage

Another cool aspect of the 4xe is its drive mode system called the Selec Terrain. There are seven modes, selectable by turning the rotary knob on the center console, each one to maximize traction and control depending on the terrain and road conditions.

I kept my Summit Reserve in the “Auto” mode that allows the traction system to automatically adjust to the road and terrain conditions. I could have just as easily turned the knob to snow, sand/mud, rock, track, sport, and tow modes.

Each mode instantly optimizes the air suspension level along with changing transmission shift points, throttle sensitivity, torque output, and traction control to maximize traction over a wide range of driving conditions. Jeep rules the road in this arena.   

Summit Reserve Options: A Pricey Jeep

Standard features such as Selec Terrain and Quadra Lift make the Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve an exceptional plug-in hybrid SUV when it comes to both on- and off-road capabilities. It’s unequalled by the competitors.

But, the Summit Reserve, whether the 4xe or gas-only model, is saddled with a very high price tag. Especially once the luxury options and enhanced safety features packages are figured into the bottom line. 

As noted earlier, the base MSRP for the 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe I tested was $79,145. The Advanced Pro Tech Group IV costs an additional $2,865 so the driver could enjoy the benefit of the Jeep’s heads-up display and the night vision detection system.

Add in the $905 for the manual second-row window shades and wireless phone charging pad, plus the $1,795 destination charge and $595 for the silver paint, and the MSRP suddenly hit $85,305. That’s a high price compared to this Jeep’s competitors such as the Volvo XC60 T8, Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e, Mazda CX90, and even the Kia Sorento Hybrid.    

Grand Cherokee: Love-Hate Relationship

When someone drops more than $80,000 on a vehicle, there are certain expectations as to quality, performance, and comfort that come along for the ride. That said, this is a rare occasion during my decades of testing vehicles that I truly felt a love/hate relationship.

What I Did Not Like

The touchy, aggressive, herky-jerky hybrid braking system. I was very disappointed in the comparably pathetic range in Electric mode, from driving the relatively flat highway 6 miles to town to running a few errands and doing a little grocery shopping before driving back home.

It took nearly 15 hours to recharge the battery using a standard 110V home outlet. I was disappointed in the poor fuel economy and how noisy the turbo-four was when pressed hard. I also lamented the parking brake automatically engaging every time the Jeep is put into park.

What I Loved

The luxuriousness of the Summit interior was a delight. Palermo leather seats, massaging front seats, the killer audio system, and the neat four-zone automatic climate control all made this a home on wheels.

And that coziness only benefited from a plethora of safety warning systems, Active Driving Assist, and a long list of other features.

As for performance, I liked the slightly heavy steering, smooth air ride, and the added power the hybrid-electric system brings to the table. I loved how easily it provided traction, pulling a boat up a wet launch ramp, its surefootedness in snow and sand, and how quiet the interior is on the highway.

It comes with a full-size spare and has very good cargo storage with the rear seats down.

A multitude of controls for driver and passenger comfort help tailor the ride experience for everyone. The big sunroof, and the “night vision” screen that lets you know when humans (or animals) are present on the roadway when there are no street lights add even more

Two ports for USB-A/C drives let you have his-and-hers playlists. Having a 120V outlet in the rear seat is nice for kids during long road trips. And I loved having washers for the front/rear cameras and a deicing mode for the wipers.

2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Summit Reserve Review: Conclusions

My final take: The Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve trim level is as posh as one can get in the Jeep line. But stepping up to the plug-in 4xe hybrid isn’t worth the money unless you are a die-hard Jeep fan.

Jeep’s hybrid PHEV is not only the priciest, but it also gets the worst electric driving distance of its competitors. Likewise the 2.0L turbo-four suffers in fuel economy because of the added weight of the battery pack.

Yes, this Jeep has a wonderful air suspension and 4WD system, and the safety features are top-notch. But in reality, how many owners of Grand Cherokee Summit Reserves are going to take them across the Rubicon Trail? For a romp in the vast Oregon Dunes or down some muddy forest backroad? Probably none.

The typical Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve buyer, be it the standard gas model or the plug-in hybrid, will most likely be pavement pounders — drivers who occasionally venture into the backcountry via gravel roads, tow a boat, camping trailer, or ATVs from time to time.

They like to look good and feel good about their station in life. The Jeep Summit Reserve 4xe will handle all those needs with ease.