There is a major new engine option for the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee, part of a mid-cycle makeover. The “Hurricane 4,” a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, makes 324 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. The seven-slot front body and front of the Grand Cherokee have been changed, and Jeep has added a bigger 12.3-inch touchscreen system. With four-, six-, and eight-cylinder engines, the current Jeep Grand Cherokee was introduced a few years ago with a wide range of powertrain choices. Since then, Jeep has given mid-size SUV buyers a choice between the Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 engine and the 4xe plug-in hybrid system with four cylinders. The second one was made for a short time before being taken off the order sheet. But as part of its mid-cycle update, the Grand Cherokee will once again come with three engine choices for the 2026 model year. This is a big change. Some car companies, like Toyota and General Motors, have started to use turbocharged four-cylinder engines instead of V-6 engines. The long-running Pentastar engine, made by Stellantis, which owns Jeep, is not being phased out just yet, but the new Grand Cherokee will use a different engine. The new “Hurricane 4” is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a lot of power. It has the same name as the company’s turbocharged inline-six engine. This engine is the best non-hybrid four-cylinder on the market because it has a variable-geometry turbocharger and a DOHC design with forged internals. It makes 324 horsepower. Jeep also said that it makes 332 pound-feet of torque between 3000 and 4500 rpm, with 80% of that torque usable at 2300 rpm. The numbers are also based on normal 87 octane. How do you do it? It was first used on the 621-hp Nettuno V-6 engine in the Maserati MC20. Jeep calls it “Turbulent Jet Ignition.” It lights a small amount of fuel in a room above each cylinder, which then spreads out and shoots into the combustion chamber. The result is a cleaner engine that works better and keeps its power. We have to wait and see what kind of gas mileage the new engine gets because Jeep hasn’t given us any numbers yet. An eight-speed automatic transmission comes with the Hurricane 4, just like the other engine choices for the Grand Cherokee. Besides that, it can pull up to 6200 pounds. The V-6 engine comes from Mexico, and the 4xe engine comes from Italy. The new turbo four engine will be made in Dundee, Michigan. The Grand Cherokee got a new mug to go with its new engine. The seven-slot grille, now the brand’s signature, looks more three-dimensional, but the shape is mostly the same. The daytime running lights in the headlights now have a hockey-stick shape. Jeep has also changed the layout of the GC’s lower front end, saying these changes will help the engine cool down more effectively. People who bought the 4xe plug-in hybrid-only Trailhawk model can now get it with a red hood decal and signature blue front rescue hooks. Jeep will keep making the Grand Cherokee L. It has a third row of seats and all the same features and choices as the regular Grand Cherokee. The Grand Cherokee’s range has been streamlined to just four models: the Laredo, Limited, Trailhawk, and Summit. Extra goodies are available with the Reserve or Altitude deal. The Hurricane 4 and the new, bigger tablet display come standard on the Laredo Altitude, but the V-6 engine is still the base engine. It used to be that the biggest tablet was 10.1 inches, but now it’s 12.3 inches. The most luxurious rooms are in the Summit Reserve, which has a 19-speaker McIntosh sound system, walnut interior trim, and Palermo leather seating. The 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee will come in three new colors: Copper Shino, Fathom Blue, and Steel Blue. They will be put on sale in the coming months. Jeep says that details will be shared with the public before the improved GC hits store lots, but we still don’t know how much it will cost.
