2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe expanded its lineup with the introduction of the 30th Anniversary edition, bringing the total to six trim levels. These included the base trim, 30th Anniversary, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve. Prices began at $61,660, with the Summit Reserve reaching $80,320 before any upgrades. The Trailhawk trim, which was tested, featured a panoramic sunroof, Luxury Tech Group II, and Advanced ProTech Group II, bringing the MSRP to $72,630. A federal income tax credit of $3,750 could reduce the cost to $68,880. The Trailhawk was distinguishable by its sky blue exterior detailing and matte-black hood decal, along with unique wheels and all-terrain tires. However, the interior fell short of luxury expectations, with excessive plastic and gloss black surfaces that attracted dust and fingerprints. The controls were not user-friendly, except for the steering wheel controls, which were easy to use and provided excellent radio tuning and stereo volume control.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received subtle styling updates, including gloss black trim on the front bumper and a squared-off rear bumper design. New wheel designs and colors were introduced, and the rear VW logo was illuminated. While the ID.4 was easily recognizable as an EV, it lacked the traditional SUV profile and ground clearance, which might have been a drawback for some buyers. The ID.4 was built on VW’s MEB platform, designed specifically for EVs, and shared qualities with VW’s gasoline-car interiors, such as a minimalist design and a sense of quality. The base ID.4 Standard model, despite having a manual driver’s seat, did not feel like a significant downgrade from the higher-level ID.4 Pro S. Leatherette upholstery with recycled fiber inserts was standard for 2023.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured a plug-in hybrid powertrain combining a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a 17.3-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack and an 8-speed automatic transmission. This setup produced 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, with a towing capacity of up to 6,000 pounds. The Trailhawk trim came with a standard four-wheel-drive system, Selec-Terrain technology, and a height-adjustable air suspension, providing 10.9 inches of ground clearance. The Grand Cherokee 4xe offered an EPA-estimated 25 miles of all-electric range and 23 mpg in hybrid mode. However, during testing, it only achieved 21.2 miles of electric range and averaged 19.3 mpg in Auto mode. The vehicle excelled off-road but had drawbacks in daily driving, such as an unrefined gas engine, uneven power delivery, and noticeable body lean in curves.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered a new 62-kWh battery pack for the base Standard and S models, with RWD only. The Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus models retained the 82-kWh pack and were available with RWD or AWD. The single-motor RWD models delivered 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while the dual-motor AWD models produced 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The smaller battery pack reduced curb weight by 240 pounds, enhancing acceleration and handling. The ID.4 provided a comfortable and refined ride, though it allowed too much body roll on twisty roads. Regenerative braking was present but did not support one-pedal driving, offering a more familiar experience for new EV drivers.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe struggled with practical storage and cargo space due to its off-roading hardware. The Trailhawk trim featured eight-way power-adjustable front seats with leather and artificial suede upholstery, but the interior was only available in black. The front seats were firm and flat, while the rear seats lacked support and legroom. Cargo space measured 37.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 70.8 cubic feet with them folded, which was small for a midsize SUV.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered more interior space than other affordable EVs, with ample front and rear legroom and headroom. It provided 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with them folded. While it fell short of gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, it was practical for an affordable EV. The ID.4 had a towing capacity of 2,200 pounds for RWD models and 2,700 pounds for AWD models. Interior updates for 2023 included a conventional lid for the center console and improved phone storage.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe boasted up to six screens, including a 10.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 10.3-inch front passenger infotainment screen. The Trailhawk trim featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Uconnect 5 technology, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, navigation, and Jeep Connect services. The system had a simple interface but suffered from low-contrast graphics. The Trailhawk also included an Alpine premium sound system and optional tech features like wireless smartphone charging and a camera-based digital rearview mirror.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 came standard with a 12.0-inch touchscreen, replacing the previous 10.0-inch screen on lower trims. The infotainment system received software updates for improved responsiveness, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remaining standard. The ID.4’s user interface featured sharp graphics and natural-language voice recognition. However, the haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel were distracting, though voice recognition often made them unnecessary. The ID.Light system provided ambient lighting and navigation assistance.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and a reversing camera with rear parking sensors. The Trailhawk trim added active blind-spot monitoring and the Advanced ProTech Group II, which included intersection assist, a surround-view camera, front parking sensors, automatic reverse braking, and a Night Vision system. The NHTSA gave the Grand Cherokee 4xe a five-star overall rating, while the IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+ rating, though the latter did not specifically test the 4xe model.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests. The 2022 model, similar to the 2023 version, earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests and front crash prevention. The ID.4 came with standard driver-assist features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear park distance control, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and VW’s Travel Assist 2.0. For 2023, it added Park Assist Plus, an automated lane-change feature, and a 360-degree camera system.