The Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe Is the Green Enthusiast's Choice

The Jeep Wrangler 4xe makes a lot of sense. A rig built to wander far off the beaten path, deep into the wilderness isn't necessarily the best use-case for a fully electric powertrain. But when that far-from-home use involves rock crawling and spending time miles from anyone else, the silent torque of an electric motor certainly helps. A plug-in hybrid is a great solution and, now, you can get one in the Wrangler's best trim.

The Wrangler Willys has long been a default enthusiast choice. While the trim does not get the trick disconnecting sway bar or the locking front diff from the top-dog Rubicon, it does get you the must-haves at a much lower price. Wrangler Willys comes with a rear limited-slip differential, a factory lift, and big mud-terrain tires. The gas Willys Sport model starts at $34,045 and is the bare-bones enthusiast spec Wrangler of my dreams. The slightly more upscale Wrangler Willys goes for $38,040 in two-door spec and $42,090 for a four-door.

But, the 4xe isn't that cheap. Though the Willys is now the cheapest trim for the hybrid Wrangler, it starts at a pain-inducing $55,590 before tax incentives. It does get kit like a premium Alpine nine-speaker stereo and LED headlights standard, in addition to those off-road goodies.

Customers can place orders starting today. Deliveries will start by the end of the year and, though it won't be cheap, we expect it to be quite popular. With a higher starting price up until now, the 4xe has already become America's best-selling plug-in hybrid.

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