2026 Jeep Cherokee returns: Hybrid debuts with turbocharged engine

USA Today

2 days ago

When the Cherokee left Jeep's lineup at the end of 2023, it left a hole far larger than, well, a Cherokee itself between the smaller Compass and the midsize Grand Cherokee. The Cherokee, you see, competes in one of the hottest vehicle segments today, against big-time sellers like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Equinox, Hyundai Tucson … you get the idea. So it was strange when the last generation Cherokee was discontinued without an immediate replacement. After leaving untold sales on the table for two years, Jeep's Cherokee is back.
Jeep has released the first images of the new SUV, along with some intriguing factoids on its website ahead of its full reveal and arrival "later this year." Fans of classic Cherokees might look fondly on the new model, which returns to a boxier, more Jeep-like visage than its smoother-snooted predecessor. To drive the point home, Jeep even published an image with the XJ-series versions of the compact Cherokee sold from the 1980s through the early 2000s bracketing the new model (below). The '26 Cherokee's front end is flatter and has squared-off headlights evocative of those sealed-beam units on the original XJs, and the roofline is more upright and angular than before.
The Cherokee goes hybrid
Jeep's announcement of the new Cherokee includes some tantalizing hints of what might sit beneath the SUV's flatter, longer hood. Per the automaker: "Reimagined from the ground up, the next-generation Jeep Cherokee will redefine North America's most popular vehicle segment, bringing midsize SUV customers a new, efficient, and powerful hybrid propulsion option from Jeep."
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So, there will be a hybrid. It's not clear from that whether the Cherokee will only be offered as a hybrid, though, because later in the same press release Jeep makes this somewhat confusing reference: "From industry-leading ICE vehicles to plug-in hybrid leadership to all-electric offerings, the new Jeep Cherokee joins the mission to empower customers with the freedom to adventure their way with unmatched Jeep capability and innovation."
Is that line referring to Jeep overall? The Jeep brand of course offers both internal-combustion-engine options as well as plug-in hybrids (the brand's 4xe technology is offered on the Grand Cherokee, Wrangler and Gladiator pickup). Or is this a tease that the 2026 Cherokee will, as we expect, offer an entry-level gas engine — say, the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that powers the Compass — along with a 4xe plug-in hybrid variant or even an EV option? Perhaps, but Jeep isn't releasing any further information until closer to the Cherokee's launch, though it added some specifics to its consumer-facing website in mid-August.
Apparently the Cherokee's hybrid powertrain will consist of a turbocharged, hybridized 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. Every Cherokee will get Jeep's Active Drive I all-wheel-drive system standard, too. This combination promises 38 mpg combined, per Jeep, a huge improvement over the last-generation Cherokee's 2.4-liter four-cylinder, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and 3.2-liter V-6 engine options, which struggled to achieve mid-20-mpg combined figures. Despite the tiny new engine size, the 2026 Jeep Cherokee is said to be capable of towing up to 3,500 pounds — a class-average amount, but welcome nonetheless.
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It'll be larger, too
Jeep has a history of referring to the Cherokee as a midsize SUV, but based on generally accepted marketing classifications, it's really a compact — again, same as the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and others, none of which are particularly "compact" these days. (The larger Grand Cherokee fits in the midsize category, while the larger-still Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are full-size three-row beasts.) That said, the new Cherokee is likely going to inflate, adopting a larger footprint closer to the Grand Cherokee's than the smaller Compass's.
A big reason for this is the platform: This new Cherokee is expected to utilize parent company Stellantis' new STLA Large architecture, which is capable of supporting ICE, hybrid and all-electric powertrains. This same STLA iteration appears in the Jeep Wagoneer S EV. This new platform should stretch the Cherokee's wheelbase decently beyond the old Cherokee's, opening up cabin space and pushing the wheels farther toward the corners, as you can see in these photos. Speaking of the cabin, it's likely the new Cherokee will adopt the latest version of Uconnect infotainment — possibly even offering a third dashboard display in front of the front seat passenger on high-end models — just as the Wagoneer S does.
We'll find out more as the 2026 Jeep Cherokee approaches its official debut later this year, including where the new SUV will be built (the last one was assembled in Illinois) — a key consideration in these tariff-tossed times. The good news? Jeep is promising an affordable price squarely between the recently more affordable Compass and the Grand Cherokee, or around $30,000 by our estimation. The Cherokee will be available in five trim levels: Base, Laredo, Limited, Overland, and off-road Trailhawk.
This story was originally published May 2025 and has since been updated to reflect new images and information released by Jeep.
Photos by manufacturer