Jeep Grand Commander Gets PHEV Powertrain In China

The Jeep Grand Commander family in China has become bigger with the introduction of a new plug-in hybrid variant at the 2019 Shanghai Auto Show.

The Chinese-market PHEV uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor, the output of which remains unknown at this point. Jeep did say, however, that with the batteries fully charged, it can travel on electricity alone for roughly 70 km (43 miles), which should be more than enough for the daily commute.

Elsewhere, the Grand Commander PHEV doesn’t seem to be any different than the regular version, which is powered by a 2.0-liter engine, coupled to a 9-speed automatic transmission.

On the outside, except for the charging port on the left-rear fender, different wheels and special paintwork, everything else remains identical. Cargo space might be slightly affected by the positioning of the batteries beneath the boot floor, but we cannot say for sure until FCA releases more details about it.

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Beyond a few details such as the infotainment system that has a bigger display, and a knob with four distinct driving modes called Hybrid, Electric, E-Save and Sport, the interior is also identical.

Production of the new Grand Commander PHEV will take place at the GAC FCA plant in Changsha, China, and the vehicle will be offered exclusively in the local market.