2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Willys '41 Special Edition stood out even in the gloomy Southern California weather. Its unique color, wheel design, and tan fabric top drew attention on L.A. highways, despite the region's abundance of Wranglers. The Willys '41 had a distinct World War II cosplay vibe, but the wheels were a highlight, and Jeep could have offered them as an accessory upgrade in various colors. The interior featured Heritage Tan cloth seats, an Olive Drab cloth dashboard insert, and an exclusive '41 shifter knob, maintaining the rugged, hose-out-ready feel typical of Wranglers. While the interior materials were durable and easy to clean, they lacked the refinement expected at this price point.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold design that could polarize opinions, especially with its flat, wide grille. The vehicle's personality shifted with color and trim, with darker shades blending more harmoniously. The X-Line and X-Pro models featured distinctive grille designs and amber accent lights. The interior was less controversial, with a simple horizontal dashboard layout and a modern, buttonless appearance. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim offered a luxurious two-tone palette, reminiscent of Volvo, though the labeling on buttons was hard to read. The seats, covered in synthetic leather and suede, were somewhat firm, but the surrounding materials were of excellent quality, with various trim surfaces available.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe was America's best-selling plug-in hybrid, with over 250,000 units built since its 2021 debut. It featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors, offering an estimated 21 miles of electric-only range. The 17.3-kWh battery could be recharged in 12 hours using a standard outlet or 2.5 hours with a Level 2 charger. The Wrangler 4xe offered three driving modes: Hybrid, Electric, and E-Save, allowing drivers to optimize power or efficiency. In Hybrid mode, the Wrangler 4xe produced 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, making it a quick SUV with impressive fuel economy for a Wrangler. However, its efficiency decreased without regular battery recharging. The Wrangler 4xe maintained its off-road capabilities but suffered from on-road flaws like a noisy interior and modest handling.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with electric motors, producing 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. It was paired with a six-speed transmission and was not available in the off-road-capable X-Pro trims. The Telluride Hybrid offered a quiet and smooth ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas power. The X-Pro Prestige trim provided a comfortable ride, even with a lifted off-road suspension, while the Hybrid SX Prestige had a stiffer ride due to its 20-inch wheels. The Telluride was composed on winding roads, though not particularly sporty. The brake pedal effort was soft, but brake response was immediate during panic stops.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe accommodated four adults, with a fifth person squeezed into the back seat. Most versions had manual front seat adjusters and cloth upholstery, while the Rubicon X offered power-adjustable Nappa leather seats. The test vehicle's heated front seats and steering wheel were appreciated during cooler weather. However, tall passengers found the Wrangler cramped, and storage space was limited. The soft top allowed for quick open-air driving but made loading cargo more challenging. The Wrangler 4xe offered 27.7 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 67.4 cubic feet with the back seat folded.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid provided ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rearmost row was better suited for smaller passengers. The Hybrid SX Prestige's second-row seats were power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated, offering comfort comparable to business-class airline seats. The middle-row seats had significant travel, allowing for more cargo or third-row legroom. The Telluride offered 22.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 48.7 cubic feet with the seatbacks folded. The Hybrid models lost only about one cubic foot of cargo space. The Telluride could tow up to 5,000 pounds, or 4,500 for the Hybrid.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Uconnect 5 technology, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and optional upgrades like a navigation system and Alpine premium sound system. The Willys '41 lacked navigation, so Apple CarPlay was relied upon. The touchscreen was intuitive and responsive, with large stereo volume and radio tuning knobs for analog control. The Alpine sound system effectively mitigated ambient noise, though rear passengers needed to watch their heads on the overhead sound bar.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. The infotainment system was easy to use, though it required a firm tap to register. The middle climate control screen was difficult to use while driving, but physical temperature control buttons were available. The Telluride offered customizable infotainment screen themes and a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system with powerful bass and clear tones.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe offered limited safety technologies, with forward-collision warning and adaptive cruise control as standard. The optional Active Safety Group included features like automatic high-beam headlights and blind-spot monitoring, but required purchasing the Convenience Group. The Wrangler 4xe had a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA and unimpressive scores from the IIHS. Side-curtain airbags were standard, but the Wrangler's safety technology and occupant protection needed improvement.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid's crash test scores were not available at the time of writing. Standard safety features included frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and more. Higher trims offered additional features like a surround-view camera system and automatic reverse braking. The driver attention monitor had operational issues, but the highway driving assist was helpful on longer trips.