A Winter Road Trip To Aspen for the Winter X Games Is the Perfect Outing in a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

Sara Lacey   |  

Updated: Aug 9, 2023

SHARE

• Share on Facebook Facebook
• Share on Twitter Twitter
• Share on Pinterest Pinterest
• Share via Email Email

Here are top my 5 reasons why.

The Winter X Games has always been an event that showcases the more roguish side to winter sports. In 1997, the X Games’ events were snowboarding, ice climbing, snow mountain bike racing, and super-modified shovel racing. Over the course of time X Games added freeskiing, snowmobile snocross, and ski boarding. As their exposure increased, these edgier sports became more loved and more followed, and more mainstream. Now, we see events in the Olympics that once were outliers participating in the X Games. And it’s exactly where Jeep belongs.

Related: Get Ready for Winter With a 2022 BMW M240i xDrive. Yes, Really

The women’s big air competition at the Winter X Games in Aspen. Photo: Rich Lacey

So it Makes Sense that Jeep has Been a Sponsor of the Winter X Games

The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Overland was a good fit –both for the ride to Aspen and touring around town. It’s polished on the outside, but not overly worrisomely delicate. It’s flexible inside, full of fun features and modern details. It’s capable of long distances, and as a plug in hybrid vehicle, we could boost our MPG or drive solely on electric power. And, like the X Games, it showcases innovation and athleticism.

Related: Winter Driving School Boosts My Confidence Driving in Snow and Ice

Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe drive modes. Photo: Sara Lacey

1) A Plug-in Hybrid Wins

I found my way to Aspen from the outskirts of Denver in the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe. We had snowy weather, and on top of that we also had a road closure and ongoing delays. Because the Grand Cherokee 4xe is a plug-in hybrid, it is powered by a 4-cylinder turbo engine in addition to its electric motors.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Overland also gets power from regenerative braking, and that power is stored in the batteries. So we didn’t worry about running out of juice. And a plug-in hybrid with reduced emissions and the a ability to drive on clean electric in the mountains feels like the right thing to do.

Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe with chrome details and blue tow hooks. Photo: Sara Lacey

2) Good Exterior Looks Keep it From Being Frowned On

I wasn’t exactly worried about how it would fit in, but I was definitely aware that Aspen is a place to see and be seen. The exterior of the Grand Cherokee 4xe had chrome, but not too much.  It has cool angles, but not overly futuristic ones. There are roguish blue tow hooks (blue, indicating the plug-in hybrid system, so IFKYK), making it feel a bit edgy and X Games-ish. Also, if you get lost on the way to Aspen and find yourself on some back roads in the middle of nowhere, you won’t stick out like a sore thumb.

Shopping and skiing and snow in Aspen. Photo: Sara Lacey

3) Some High-End Features Make me Feel Like a VIP

Or XIP, if you’re at the X Games. Massaging backs in the seats in particular were great. The only downfall is that the seat bottoms don’t massage and are pretty stiff over the long-haul. The upgraded stereo system with sounded great, and the navigation system was easy to use. A customizable head-up display added to the list of tech features that made me feel safe and special.

Are you lost if your car knows where you’re going? Photo: Sara Lacey

The Passenger Side Screen was Fun to Try

The person sitting there can connect their device to the system and watch movies, listen to music, even find directions and send them to the main screen. This option lets the passenger be a co-pilot. In a weird twist of technology voodoo, the person in the driver’s seat can’t see the screen, so it’s not a distraction for them.

All our stuff in the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe. Photo: Sara Lacey

4) Enough Cargo Space for Ski Gear and Luggage

There was plenty of room for our ski bags, overnight bags, and skis and poles. We could have probably carried one more person and all their gear without issue. But if we two had more people we’d probably want to use a ski rack. If you have rear passengers (or if you are being driven by someone-it’s Aspen, after all) there are heated seats, climate controls, and charging ports. Window shades contribute to reducing glare and adding privacy. What more could a VIP want?

The interior looks sporty and upscale with wood trim along with contrast stitching and silver details. Photo: Sara Lacey

5) The Interior of the Grand Cherokee 4xe is Sophisticatedly Sporty

I loved the wood trim and leather seats. Other interior details like contrast stitching and silver trim pieces highlighted an attention to detail, and contributed to the nice visual flow of the inside. Are you more into shopping at Prada than swooshing down the slopes? Posh it up with the Summit trim and get lighter wood and quilted upholstery options to appeal to your designer side. 

Front end of the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe. Photo: Sara Lacey

While there are plenty of upscale cars and trucks in Aspen, you won’t feel out of place in the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe. The price of my test car was $75,305 which would absolutely make me feel like I spent enough on it to take it to a luxury destination. In fact, it’s the perfect ride for the swanky mountain town, and especially during the X Games.

Disclosure: Jeep provided the Grand Cherokee 4xe and admission to the Winter X Games. All opinions are my own.

The Winter X Games crowd in Aspen. Photo: Rich Lacey

By Sara Lacey

Sara has written about cars since 2005. She used to beat them up with her kids and write about... More about Sara Lacey