The innovative 2023 Jeep® Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid (PHEV) has been named “2023 Green 4×4 of the Year®” by Green Car Journal, and the 2023 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel has earned the publication’s award for “2023 Green Truck of the Year®.” The awards were presented at this month’s annual San Antonio Auto & Truck Show in San Antonio, Texas.
Electrified and more efficient propulsion systems play an important role in the Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan that commits Stellantis to cut its global carbon footprint by 50% by 2030 and to lead the transportation industry by achieving net carbon zero by 2038.
Grand Cherokee 4xe –
As the first Grand Cherokee to offer a PHEV variant, the Grand Cherokee 4xe signals the continued growth of the Jeep brand’s electrified mission of Zero Emission Freedom. The Grand Cherokee 4xe’s PHEV technology enhances the fun, freedom, and adventure that the Jeep brand is known for while providing unprecedented performance, fuel economy, and environmental friendliness.
“The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe does an exceptional job of meeting the needs of a wide range of buyers today,” said Ron Cogan, Editor & Publisher of Green Car Journal and GreenCarJournal.com. “Its 2023 Green 4×4 of the Year® title is well earned, not only due to its considerable trail capabilities and ability to drive 25 miles on battery power alone but also because of the sophisticated and satisfying driving experience it brings to the mission of navigating everyday life.”
Offering 25 miles of all-electric range and 56 MPGe, the 2023 Grand Cherokee 4xe features a PHEV system that combines a high-tech, 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine with two electric motors, a high-voltage battery pack and a TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. Total combined system output of 375 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque delivers 0 to 60 mph in 6 seconds and max towing of 6,000 lbs.
Leading the segment in 4×4 capability, the Grand Cherokee 4xe comes standard with a two-speed transfer case, a 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio, and a 47.4:1 crawl ratio. When equipped with the Quadra-Lift air suspension, the Grand Cherokee 4xe delivers up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance and 24 inches of water fording capability.
Ram 1500 EcoDiesel –
Green Car Journal’s 2023 Green Truck of the Year, the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, features a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine that leads the half-ton pickup truck segment in torque with 480 lb.-ft. and diesel towing capability of 12,560 lbs. The 2023 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel also leads all trucks in fuel range. Paired with an available 33-gallon fuel tank, the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel’s driving range exceeds 1,000 miles.
“The Ram 1500 continues to be an undeniable force in the pickup field,” Cogan said. “It’s stylish, comfortable, and connected in ways appreciated by those who drive their Ram pickups for everyday personal use. Yet it’s also a workhorse with considerable hauling and towing capabilities. Importantly, the Ram 1500 offers power choices that include efficient eTorque hybrid technology for higher mpg and lower carbon emissions.”
Ram 1500 offers several different engine options that meet consumers’ needs, including the efficient 3.6-liter eTorque Pentastar V6, the powerful 5.7-liter HEMI® V8 with eTorque mild-hybrid system, and the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI HELLCAT V8 engines.
Ram will offer electrified solutions in the majority of its segments by 2025 and in all of its segments no later than 2030. Ram electric vehicles will push past the competition as leaders in a combination of areas truck customers care about the most: range, towing, payload, and charge time.
The third generation of the turbocharged 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 delivers robust torque and horsepower, along with superb fuel economy and minimal levels of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) to meet the needs of Ram 1500 owners. In the 2023 Ram 1500, the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 is rated at a best-in-class 480 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,600 rpm, while horsepower is rated at 260 horsepower at 3,600 rpm.
Unfortunately for EcoDiesel, it is scheduled to leave the lineup after January. Ram has already put potential owners on alert by offering a last-call chance of ordering.
Green Car Journal editors consider all potential truck models in the U.S. market, weighing environmental attributes alongside traditional criteria that define what makes a great pickup, such as capability, versatility, safety, value, and style. The winner was selected from finalists by a Green Truck of the Year jury, comprised of automotive experts and Green Car Journal staff.
