Cent's 4xe Improvement Suggestions

[nowandthen]

Maybe the JL is different, but on the JK, which I currently own, the locks are not silent. I can hear the locks engage and disengage from many feet away.
Are the locks on the JL quiet as compared to the JK?

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[wrang_stang]

Based on my three months ownership experience. For context, I’ve driven over 1.5k in mostly all electric driving, previously owned a JK, and have driven various pool vehicles for work.

4xe specific improvements:

1. Option to display actual fuel/battery charge readings, alongside percent/range.

For example 8.5 KW - 12 miles - 50% charge remaining. 12.2 gallons - 244 miles remaining. This drives my inner engineer insane. I can see the onboard estimate for range and charge percentage, but I have no idea how much charge I actually have left. Same with fuel. I have a vague skeuomorphic analog gauge which doesn’t tell me how many gallons I have remaining. Huge waste of a display. Both of these would be highly useful to calculate real world efficiency, and gauge impact of changes/mods/driving behavior made.​

2. Total electrical miles, total gas miles, and total engine run time.

This would be very useful for someone who manages their own preventative maintenance (PM) schedule. Some of us are very old school, and would like to ensure certain wear and tear engine items are replaced or inspected at certain service intervals.​

3. Data export to CSV. I’d like to download my usage data along with trip information (from onboard GPS) to an CSV or similar excel format.

I’m interested it to see what kind of the data the vehicle is capable of collecting, and leverage it to make my modification purchasing decisions.​

4. Sticky Max Regen and “brake light activated” notification.

Odd that this isn’t sticky. Brake light activated notification is a safety concern - if the car is automatically applying the brakes, the brakes lights should always come on. The driver should also be always notified when the brakes are being applied. Normally not an issue, but with the 4xe, the brakes (and brake lights) can apply themselves.​

5. Different buttons for gas cap versus hybrid/electric/gas buttons.

Cannot (without feeling for all four buttons) identify which button is which while keeping eye on road. Specifically a problem when trying to press the middle buttons (hybrid or electric) without looking down. Suggest either changing gas cap button texture, or mechanism (like pull instead of push, or push far deeper than other buttons or maybe inset gas button instead of flush mount) and/or introducing a spring three way toggle for electric/hybrid/gas (where hybrid is neutral spring return position) Also, why isn’t hybrid the neutral option? And why is the gas cap button and gas mode buttons on opposite ends?​

6. Sticky hybrid/electric/gas.

If I’m in gas save mode for a long road trip, I would like I stay in gas save mode for the entire drive. I don’t want to keep resetting gas mode for every gas station/hotel/pee break and rest stop.​

7. “True” hybrid mode.

From my experience, hybrid mode feels mostly like electric only for 95% battery, a mix hybrid for 5%-1%, and a gas mode for anything lower. I’d like to see a more active hybrid mode, which blends electric and gas use more evenly, depleting batteries at same rate as gas.​

8. Easily Removable charging light bar.

The light bar on the center of the console serves no function during actual driving, and prevents users from mounting phone, go pros, etc in that spot. It would have been nice to have made this light bar detachable, so that it can be removed when not in use. Or alternatively, just mount it outside.​

9. Charge port LED, charge port “idiot light”.

Would like to have a small white light located within charge point enclosure to allow for easier charger placement and cap manipulation in the dark. Would also like to see an on-board idiot light for when the charger flap is left open.​

10. Small hook for placing charge port cap.

Would like somewhere to hook this cap onto, instead of letting it dangle randomly.​

11. Transmission shift points

Not sure if 4xe specific or general JL issue - automatic shifting from D1-D3 can be very hard, especially coming from or going to a stop. Feels like being rear ended. Have noticed transmission holding on to shifts on D2 and D3 despite high revs - long term wear concern.​

General Jeep improvements:

1. Heads Up Display.

For taller drivers, the speedometer is a full foot below line of sight with the road. You have to take to your eyes off the road to check speed. There should be some type of dash mounted speed display.​

2. Seatbelt lights.

IIRC, Honda does this. A small five icon display integrated into the UConnect system to show the status of all seatbelts. (Optional off in menu settings). This is for folks with small kids, who sometimes don’t tell the truth about if they are currently buckled. I know, weirdly specific. Kids are terrible, don't get these.​

3. Integrated turn by turn directions in Driver’s Instrument Cluster with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

This is a neat feature included with the built in navigation. Knowing that folks may prefer to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto instead, it would be nice to have this feature available for those systems as well.​

4. Speed limit displayed in driver instrument cluster.

Toyota does this really well. A little speed limit sign with the posted speed limit is placed directly adjacent to the speedometer. This makes it very clear at glance whether or not the driver is speeding, and by how much. Don’t need to hunt for it in multiple places.​

5. Side indicators on mirrors should be standard.

This is basic safety concern, specifically for cyclists on right side bike lanes on right side turns. If cyclists cannot see the taillight indicators because of rear traffic, there is a chance of collision with a right turning Jeep.​

6. Integrated roof rack for rear hardtop.

Why isn’t there an integrated roof rack or cargo basket option for the rear hard top? I understand the front freedom panels not having one, but I do not understand why there aren’t any first party roof rack options, especially for rear hardtop.​

7. Side mounted courtesy lights.

Since most folks who drive Jeeps will inevitably take theirs off road, it would be useful to see if there are any rocks or potholes or water/ice underneath the doors prior to getting in, especially at night - off-road, in a place without light poles. Some basic LED spot lights at each door would be nice.​

8. Integrated LED hood light.

In case you need to quickly check something under the hood, and don’t want to grab a flashlight.​

9. Integrated rear LED tailgate light.

In case you lift up the tailgate and take something out or put something in at night, away from light poles.​

10. Simple multi-gauge driver cluster.

Would like an option to have multiple gauges or numeric read outs of “other gauges” on driver’s instrument cluster. Seems odd to need to flip through multiple oversized gauges. I'm aware that's an option in the UConnect system, but you need to dig through a few menus to get there. Needs to have its own UConnect shortcut.​

11. Custom alerts for “out of tolerance” perimeters.

For those of us who would like to be notified if our tires fall below a certain PSI (but not “low tire”) or if engine temperature rises above a certain threshold.​

12. Standard Forward Camera (separate from rock cam).

A few functions for this. Advanced safety group does not include lane warning nor lane keep assist. I assume this is due to lack of a standard forward camera. Secondly, one thing Tesla does well, built-in dashcam functionality for all cameras.​

13. Option to soften lock/unlock horn.

That lock confirmation honk is way too loud. Some other manufacturers have a lighter beep function for this.​

14. Option to switch steering wheel volume and seek buttons around

The volume knob is right next to the volume controls behind the steering wheel. Literally inches apart. (insert jackie chan wtf meme here)​

15. Small hook for gas cap.

Would like somewhere to hook this cap onto, instead of letting it dangle randomly.​

16. Low resolution GPS (globe) welcome screen

Not sure what happened here. Very off putting to see that pixelated mess during my start sequence.​

All I want is a pause button man. Why does the volume knob turn off the entire screen, and why is the rear button on the left of the steering wheel completely unmapped.

Do we really have to open apps and look at the screen just to pause a song? There are unmapped buttons for it.

 

[dbp512]

All I want is a pause button man. Why does the volume knob turn off the entire screen, and why is the rear button on the left of the steering wheel completely unmapped.

Do we really have to open apps and look at the screen just to pause a song? There are unmapped buttons for it.

The head unit has radio and audio inputs (3.5mm plug); how would a native pause button work for those? Other things you can plug in (at least android phones) can reassign the mute button to pause. So it really comes down to the thing your plugging in not supporting external pause signals. What are you using, something via usb plug?

 

[wrang_stang]

The head unit has radio and audio inputs (3.5mm plug); how would a native pause button work for those? Other things you can plug in (at least android phones) can reassign the mute button to pause. So it really comes down to the thing your plugging in not supporting external pause signals. What are you using, something via usb plug?

Huh? I’m saying Jeep never assigned any of the buttons to play/pause. I’m using Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Every other car I’ve been in has a play/pause button without exception. Also it supports volume up/down, seeking, skipping to next and previous track. Of course it supports play/pause…

There are unassigned buttons, such as the one on the left of the steering wheel between volume up and down. Also the volume button just shuts off the entire screen instead of pausing, while we also have a whole other button to shut off the screen, so I don’t get why they didn’t implement such a critical feature.

 

[dbp512]

Try pressing the mute button; android auto reassigns that to pause. I haven't tested it to see if that only works while AA is displayed or if there are other limitations since I usually have a map displayed through that too. If jeep labeled it as "Pause", then you know they'd get complaints about it not working on FM radio.

 

[Senrusho]

Holy thread necro batman

 

[JesseT]

Try pressing the mute button; android auto reassigns that to pause. I haven't tested it to see if that only works while AA is displayed or if there are other limitations since I usually have a map displayed through that too. If jeep labeled it as "Pause", then you know they'd get complaints about it not working on FM radio.

The mute button pauses Android Auto audio, but pressing it again doesn't restart the audio stream.

In Android Auto and Apple CarPlay the left center steering wheel media button (which currently does nothing in those modes) should absolutely be play/pause.

 

[buffman]

I would add:
Lane Departure system
and
360 degree top down view of vehicle and surrounding area - like on all Fords/Broncos

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