The Grand Cherokee 4xe will soon be available in Australia, where Toyota is well-known in the off-road segment.
Automakers are known to avoid calling out their competitors. It’s not uncommon to hear phrases such as best-in-class or leading the segment. This is why it’s often referred to as Toyota can do what we do.
According to Cars Guide, that comment about Toyota was exactly what Jeff Ellsworth, Jeep’s Global Head for Marketing, said. Ellsworth made the comment during the international launch Grand Cherokee 4xe. He then spoke kindly to Toyota, before declaring Jeep supremacy. Cars guide quotes Ellsworth saying that Toyota has some advantages in off-roading but it is going to be Jeep for rock crawling.
This is a very specific request for a vehicle such as the Grand Cherokee 4xe plug in hybrid. It’s not often that a two-row SUV can be seen crawling across rough terrain. Nor is it a luxury model with electrified options. The Grand Cherokee 4xe is priced at just below $60,000 in the US. It comes with a 17-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that allows for an electric-only range up to 25 miles. The engine’s turbocharged turbocharged four-cylinder engine of 2.0-liter capacity produces 375 horsepower (280 kW) and electric power.
The Grand Cherokee 4xe’s Trailhawk trim level seems to be the best for rock crawling. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system is added to it. This allows for an adjustable ride height and a ground clearance of 11.3 inches (28.7 cms). An electronically controlled, limited-slip rear differential is part of the Quadra-Drive II active transmission case. A sway bar disconnect system is available for very rugged terrain. And, as any rock-crawler will tell you: having a lot of suspension articulation can make it easier to clear obstacles.
Jeep clearly wants to have a larger share of Australia’s market, where Toyota is deeply rooted. Will this direct appeal from Jeep convince Land Cruiser owners to switch to a Grand Cherokee? When the vehicles are available in showrooms, we will know the answer.