The iconic Jeep Cherokee nameplate is coming back, this time with a standard hybrid engine that gets about 37 mpg. When it comes out, the Cherokee won’t have a low-range choice, but Jeep says a “Trail Rated” version will be out soon. The updated Cherokee will be available for purchase for the first time in late 2025, after being put together in Toluca, Mexico. The much-loved Cherokee has been clearly absent since the end of the 2023 model year. It returns with a bang, but this time it’s a whole new Jeep. Even though it’s a blend now, the 2026 Cherokee is still positioned between the Grand Cherokee and the Compass. The company that made it says it is so well-equipped that it can get 37 mpg and drive over 500 miles on a single tank of gas. Jeep hasn’t ruled out the possibility of other engine options in the future, but there isn’t a plug-in hybrid version right now. Startech’s STLA Large base is used to build both the new Cherokee and the Wagoneer S EV. Executives at Jeep say that the new Cherokee took two and a half years to plan and build. They also say that the car’s release will be a “pivotal moment” for the company. They also apologized for leaving the party so quickly. The style’s origin from Jeep isn’t surprising, given the front grille is wide and tall design with seven slots. The last Cherokee had curves where this one has creases, and instead of awkwardly paying homage to older models, it cleverly uses design elements from the current lineup. The bottom of the rear three-quarter glass has a significant bump that protrudes upward. Is this perhaps a subtle nod to the Grand Wagoneer? On the other hand, the Cherokee’s slope is about the same as the line where the body seams meet under the window. The roof rack comes standard, but the dual-pane sunroof is not included. The 2026 Cherokee is five inches longer, 1.3 inches taller, and 1.5 inches wider than the previous year’s model. It has a length of 6.4 inches as well. When it comes to the room inside, it pays off. Jeep says that the 34 cubic feet of room behind the second seat is 30% more than what the Cherokee could hold before. There are 68 cubes of space when the seats are folded flat, but there is almost two inches less width in the back seats. Two electric motors and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine make up the drivetrain. The inline-four engine comes from around the world and has 177 hp and 221 lb-ft of power. It has been in production for almost 10 years and features a third-generation engine manufactured by Peugeot. Stellantis’ propulsion plant in Dundee, Michigan, will build it. It will run on regular 87-octane gas. Combined, the two electric motors produce 210 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque. They work with the gas engine in a way similar to a Toyota’s power split, changing the gear ratio in a manner similar to a CVT. The Cherokee’s lithium-ion battery pack holds about 0.5 kWh of usable energy, and its design is thought to be 400 volts. Jeep says the battery comes from a partner in the US, and the electric motors are “sourced offshore” from a supplier that they won’t name. The power system will be put together for the last time on-site in Dundee, Michigan. It does not have a low-range choice. It can quickly switch to a 50/50 front/rear distribution, but in normal mode, the rear axle is taken off so that it runs as a front-wheel-drive car. Right now, axles can’t be locked. To help you get the best performance on any surface, the car has four drive modes: Auto, Sport, Snow, and Sand/Mud. It achieves this with eight inches of ground clearance, a 19.6-degree approach angle, a 29.4-degree exit angle, and an 18.8-degree breakover angle. And because of that, we would wait for the planned Trail Rated Cherokee before doing any real off-roading, even though the new Cherokee can get dirty. Jeep says the new Cherokee can pull up to 3,500 pounds, which is about 1,000 pounds less than the most powerful version of the old Cherokee with the V-6. A few years ago, 3500 pounds was a lot of money for the class. Now, some 2026 Toyota RAV4 models can match that amount. The 2026 CR-V hybrid can pull up to 1,000 pounds. As a result of focusing on speed and value, the new Cherokee comes with a lot of high-tech features as standard. All trim levels come with rain-sensing wipers, a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch center infotainment display running the popular Uconnect 5 operating system, and a lot of safety and driver assistance technologies. These include adaptive cruise control with driver assist, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist identification, and blind spot monitoring. Jeep also advertises Stellantis’s new Connect One linked services package. This package includes automatic SOS calls, a Jeep brand smartphone app for controlling the car, and 10 years of over-the-air updates. You can subscribe to the Connect Wi-Fi Plus service, which provides unlimited internet and numerous other benefits. As options, the lineup offers premium audio, heated back seats, ventilated front seats, a foot-activated liftgate, and different camera views, such as 360-degree and front tire-to-curb views. According to company leaders, they “took the time to step back and analyze the North American midsize SUV market to understand one thing: what do customers want from a next-generation Jeep Cherokee?” There was no Cherokee to be had. They likely examined the sales figures of the Toyota RAV4, the best-selling car of that size. It sold more than 475 thousand units in 2024, with both gas-powered and hybrid versions.The 2026 model will be available solely as a hybrid. That is a very powerful way to encourage people to take action. The last Cherokee carried on the Jeep tradition, getting to the growing town of Crossoverville on the last train, for better or worse. It did its job, but it got old very quickly. The new 2026 Cherokee updates that tradition for a new group of buyers who care more about gas mileage and a stylish and useful roof rack than about being able to go off-road to the fullest. Isn’t that what the Gladiator and Wrangler are trying to do? There will be four different types of 2026 Jeep Cherokee: Base, Laredo, Limited, and Overland.Prices start at $36,995 for the base model, $39,995 for the Laredo, $42,495 for the Limited, and $45,995 for the Overland. The base and Laredo trims are expected at dealerships in early 2026, whereas the Limited and Overland trims will start arriving in late 2025.
