Jeep Wrangler 4xe first entry on Wards 10 Best Engines list for 2021

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Jeep’s plug-in hybrid Wrangler 4xe has won a spot on the Wards 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems for 2021, grabbing the award in its first year on the market.

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WardsAuto , a U.S. auto industry publication, annually rates its ten best engines — and has added “propulsion systems” to the title in order to include electrified vehicles — but for whatever reason, doesn’t release the list all at once. Instead, it will tease with one winner each day, in random non-alphabetical order, until all are revealed on September 24, 2021. We’ll report on the full list then.

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The Wrangler 4xe’s system uses a 2.0L four-cylinder engine with two electric motors. When fully charged, it can travel up to 35 km on its battery alone. When that stored charge runs out, it reverts to conventional hybrid gas-electric operation. It’s rated by Natural Resources Canada at 4.8 Le/100 km.

Stellantis said that in Canada, the Wrangler 4xe became one of the top three best-selling plug-in hybrids (PHEV) in the second quarter of 2021, just weeks after it went on sale. The PHEV is available on the Jeep Wrangler Sahara, Rubicon, and High Altitude trims. In addition to Canada, the Wrangler 4xe is also sold in the U.S., Europe, and China.

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In describing Jeep’s win, WardsAuto managing editor Tom Murphy said the vehicle’s all-new 400-volt PHEV system makes it more efficient and “compromises nothing on the trail,” adding that on the highway, “you need to really pay attention to notice when the four-cylinder turbo shuts down and you’re sailing along in battery-electric mode.”

WardsAuto judges test-drove 39 vehicles with all-new or significantly improved powertrains, available in the U.S. Of those nominees, 18 are full hybrids or battery-electric. For the first time, and going forward, WardsAuto has eliminated its price cap, which last year was US$65,000, saying that even though that had risen from its original cap, it “failed to encompass some of the industry’s latest innovations.” However, the editors added that it isn’t expected to tilt the award toward exotics, as the goal is still to recognize “great powertrains” in “mainstream, affordable vehicles.”

Automakers representing the 39 nominees are Acura, Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Genesis, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Polestar, Porsche, Ram, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo. Ten of the vehicles eligible for the 2021 award were named to the 10 Best list for 2020.