Sad about the demise of the Jeep V8? The incoming 2023 Grand Cherokee 4xe hybrid might cheer you up

If you’re sad there won’t be another petrol V8 or diesel-powered Grand Cherokee, Jeep Australia reckons its incoming 4xe (four-by-e) will scratch that itch.

Speaking to CarsGuide at the local launch of the Grand Cherokee five-seater, Head of Jeep Product Rick Crichton responded with a resounding “definitely” when asked if the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) will satiate performance-hungry buyers.

“We haven’t announced specs on the 4xe model yet. When it comes time for that, I think the traditional V8 buyer is going to look at the specs of this car and they’re going to go ‘wow, this will fit the bill’,” he said.

Jeep revealed the Grand Cherokee 4xe PHEV in 2021 for overseas markets, which pairs a 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder engine with an electric motor for a combined output of 280kW/637Nm, and is earmarked for an Australian arrival later this year.

The PHEV flagship boasts a braked towing capacity of just 2720kg, while the discontinued 184kW/570Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel could haul 3500kg.

The incoming Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe also features a 17kWh battery that is good for 40 kilometres of all-electric driving range, with the hybrid system returning a respectable fuel consumption figure of just 4.1 litres per 100km – at least in overseas testing.

The previous-generation Grand Cherokee was available with a 5.7-litre petrol V8, outputting 259kW/520Nm, while the performance-focused SRT served up 344kW/624Nm from a 6.4-litre Hemi bent eight.

There was also the hardcore Trackhawk that used a supercharged 6.2-litre petrol V8, punching out a supercar-scaring 522kW/868Nm to all four wheels and able to dispatch of the 0-100km/h sprint in just 3.7 seconds despite tipping the scales at 2.4 tonnes.

The 4xe powertrain will be made available exclusively on the top-tier Summit Reserve trim in five-seater form for Australia, meaning it will sit above the current top-spec two-row Overland that is priced at $98,450 before on-road costs.

Speaking on the SRT and Trackhawk grades specifically, Crichton hinted there could be a new performance halo in the Grand Cherokee line-up in the future, which will likely be electrified as Jeep moves to increase its EV sales in overseas markets.

“I guess there has been a lot of exciting variations of Grand Cherokee in the past, and we’re excited to talk about what future variations of Grand Cherokee might come, and they’ll be subject to future announcements,” he said.

The only engine currently available across the 2023 Grand Cherokee line-up in Australia is a 3.6-litre petrol V6, outputting 210kW/344Nm regardless of five- or seven-seater configuration and grade.