The Best-Leasing SUV Right Now is a Plug-in Hybrid Jeep Wrangler
To many, the idea of a plug-in hybrid Jeep Wrangler is an oxymoron. But we suggest viewing the off-roader, dubbed “4xe” by Jeep, as the best of both worlds: a go-anywhere, open-top adventure vehicle that can travel emissions-free in the city.
Jeep’s Wrangler 4xe also happens to be the best-leasing SUV right now. The Leasehackr Score, which is a comparison between the cost of a lease and the retail price of the vehicle, can exceed 10 years on a Wrangler 4xe—higher than anything else you’ll see on on the market today.
Within the Leasehackr community, there has been a Wrangler 4xe mania, as evidenced by 10,000-post topics on the truck (see Part 1 and Part 2). As inventories dry up and prices increase due to the global microchip shortage, this plug-in Jeep is the deal that has persisted.
Why are Wrangler 4xe leases good?
Chrysler Capital has been offering a strong lease program for Wrangler 4xe, including a special subvented money factor and strong residual values on par with non-hybrid Wranglers.
This month (February 2022), the money factor rate is .00113, equivalent to 2.7% APR, for 36-month leases of Wrangler 4xe. The 4xe trim with the highest residual value is Rubicon, at 65% of MSRP after 36 months and 10,000 miles per year.
On top of that, Chrysler Capital is passing through the $7,500 federal plug-in vehicle tax credit in the form of a $7,500 lease incentive. This incentive is not available on non-hybrid Wranglers and significantly lowers the cost of a lease.
How do I get a Wrangler 4xe deal?
Inventories of any vehicle are scarce now, so if you walk into a dealership today, you’ll likely get an atrocious quote with a dealer mark-up on the selling price of the vehicle and money factor.
Instead, you should do a custom order of a Wrangler 4xe, which does not come out of the dealer’s allocated inventory—and is therefore more likely to be sold at a fair price.
On Leasehackr Forum, there are several sellers, servicing different parts of the country, who offer discounts on Wrangler custom orders. Depending on your location, the vehicle may need to be shipped from out of state.
As always, be sure to do your due diligence with any seller, which includes reading their reviews, observing their engagement with the community, and asking any questions you may have.