Just a few years ago, Stellantis was proudly heralding the next big thing in plug-in hybrids. Jeep in particular leaned hard into the Wrangler 4xe, reminding us regularly that it is the best-selling plug-in hybrid vehicle in America, or was. Fast forward to today, and that entire strategy has quietly, but decisively, ended.
According to reporting by The Drive, Stellantis has officially discontinued every plug-in hybrid vehicle it sells in the United States, effective as the 2025 model year comes to a close. That includes the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, and Chrysler Pacifica PHEV.
Here’s what that means—and why this matters if you care about trucks, SUVs, and the future of electrification.
The Wrangler 4xe Is Officially Done
The Wrangler 4xe didn’t just fade away; it disappeared.
As first noticed by a reader and confirmed by The Drive, both the Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe vanished from Jeep’s online Build and Price tools. Stellantis later confirmed the news outright: production of all Jeep and Chrysler PHEVs is ending after the 2025 model year.
This isn’t a pause or temporary stop-sale. It’s a full cancellation.
For a vehicle that once symbolized Jeep’s electrified future, that’s a stunning reversal.
Stellantis Says “Customer Demand Shifted.”
In a statement to The Drive, a Stellantis spokesperson said:
“With customer demand shifting, Stellantis will phase out plug-in hybrid (PHEV) programs in North America beginning with the 2026 model year, and focus on more competitive electrified solutions, including hybrid and range-extended vehicles.”
Translation: plug-in hybrids weren’t selling the way Stellantis hoped, and the company is choosing to move on rather than rework the platform.
Instead, the future focus is on:
- Conventional hybrids
- Range-extended EVs
- Fully electric vehicles, where appropriate
My Real-World Take on Stellantis PHEVs
I’ve spent real time behind the wheel of Stellantis plug-ins, and my opinions are… mixed.
The Good:
I have road-tripped a V6 Chrysler Pacifica PHEV across the eastern half of Route 66 with my family. In that role, short EV trips in town, gas-powered range on the highway; it made sense. It was comfortable, practical, and easy to live with. It made the most of electrification while killing range anxiety.
The Not-So-Good:
Compared to competitors, the Pacifica PHEV lagged in highway efficiency. Like most PHEVs, it was happiest in the city, where EV miles mattered most. The V6 engine under the hood is not a match for the hybrid supremacy of the Toyota Sienna’s 4-cylinder traditional hybrid system.
The Frustrating:
I wheeled a Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe, and while the instant EV torque was genuinely cool, and silent off-roading is a unique experience, the whole package felt overly complex. The air suspension was our biggest gripe, but the added layers of hybrid hardware didn’t inspire confidence long-term.
Complexity isn’t always a deal-breaker, but it needs to feel worth it.
Even PHEV Fans (Like Me) Hesitated
My wife and I love the idea of plug-in hybrids. We’ve seriously considered buying one, including a Wrangler 4xe in Tuscadero Pink.
And yet… we never pulled the trigger.
Why? A combination of cost, complexity, and long-term questions that never fully went away. PHEVs essentially add a full second propulsion system in place, raising the cost to consumers. In hindsight, Stellantis pulling the plug makes that hesitation feel a little more justified.
The Jeep 4xe Community Was (and Still Is) Huge
This decision is going to sting for a lot of loyal owners.
I’ve been friends for years with Chris Hall, founder of the Jeep 4xe Fans Facebook group—the largest pro-4xe Jeep community on the internet. Chris was even featured in official Jeep promotional material during the height of the 4xe push.
I’ve interviewed him multiple times on my podcast, where he shared his deep history with EVs and hybrids:
“I am concerned about how Jeep will support the 4XE going forward,” Hall said. “Their track record on dealing with the battery issue was already a problem. How willing are they going to be to support a discontinued vehicle with so many issues?”
Recalls and Safety Headaches Didn’t Help PHEV Confidence
Part of why Jeep’s PHEV push ultimately stalled was a series of recalls and safety issues that plagued the Wrangler 4xe (and Grand Cherokee 4xe) over the past few years, long before Stellantis pulled the plug on production.
Back in October 2022, Jeep issued a recall covering most Wrangler 4xe SUVs due to a battery assembly issue that could lead to heat-related failure and a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers were instructed to inspect and, if necessary, replace the high-voltage battery fuse and related hardware at no cost to owners.
Those early recalls were just the beginning. Over time, the 4xe family accumulated multiple safety campaigns:
- Massive fire-risk battery recall (2024–2025): Stellantis recalled hundreds of thousands of Wrangler and Grand Cherokee 4xes for high-voltage battery defects that could lead to overheating or fire. Owners were warned not to charge the vehicles and to park them outdoors until repairs could be completed.
- Engine casting contamination recall: Another recall targeted tens of thousands of 4xe SUVs when debris from the engine casting process was found inside certain engines, a defect that in some cases led to engine failure or fire risk and triggered yet another safety campaign.
Together, these issues undercut consumer confidence in the 4xe platform, especially among buyers who expected plug-in hybrids to feel simpler and safer than legacy powertrains. Rather than boosting enthusiasm, the recalls highlighted the complexity and challenge of integrating hybrid systems into rugged off-road SUVs, and likely contributed to declining demand leading up to the models’ discontinuation.
The Wrangler 4xe Proved Capability Wasn’t the Problem
It’s worth noting: capability was never the Wrangler 4xe’s weak point.
I also interviewed Mercedes Lilienthal after she competed in the Rebelle Rally with a Wrangler 4xe, one of the toughest real-world proving grounds you can throw at any vehicle.
The vehicle could do the job. The question was whether buyers wanted this solution.
What This Means for Ram and Future Electrified Trucks
This is the part truck buyers should really pay attention to.
Stellantis says it’s pivoting toward range-extended EVs, and that keeps the upcoming Ram range-extended electric truckfirmly in play. That approach, electric drive with an onboard V6 generator, may ultimately make more sense for truck owners who tow, haul, and travel long distances.
In other words, PHEVs may be dead at Stellantis, but electrification itself is far from over.
Final Thoughts
The death of Jeep and Chrysler plug-in hybrids marks the end of a bold but flawed experiment. Stellantis took a big swing, learned some hard lessons, and is now changing course.
For some owners, this will feel like abandonment. For others, it may feel inevitable.
Either way, one thing is clear: the electrified future of trucks and SUVs isn’t going away, it’s just being rewritten.
