After taking a "not-so-final" bow at its discontinuation curtain call in 2023, the Jeep Cherokee midsize crossover SUV will return to dealerships as soon as 2026. Parent company Stellantis chose to discontinue the Cherokee, intending to revive the name in the future, because of shifting consumer preferences towards larger SUV models and hybrid/electric drivetrain options. While the Cherokee model was discontinued, the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee mid-sized crossover SUV and the smaller Jeep Compass compact crossover SUV remained in production.
The Transition to Hybridization
The plan is to launch the newly redesigned Jeep Cherokee in 2026, and it appears to be on track, with people spotting what are presumed to be prototypes on the road. The main difference between the retired fifth generation and the new sixth generation is that the new model will be a hybrid crossover SUV, rather than an ICE-only vehicle, to adapt to consumer demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles. While it's unlikely that the redesigned Jeep Cherokee will launch in 2026 with a plug-in option, Stellantis is likely to offer a plug-in version in a future update.
Car and Driver theorizes that the reborn Jeep Cherokee will use Stellantis' eDCT hybrid system, which features an electric motor paired with a smaller gasoline engine and dual-clutch automatic transmission. However, the new Jeep Cherokee will likely have a more powerful engine.
Not Quite Grand, but Greater
After obtaining photos of a presumed Cherokee prototype, Motor1 surmises that the redesigned model will use the same platform as the Wagoneer S, making it slightly larger than the previously retired model. The new version should still be smaller than the Grand Cherokee, but it'll widen the size gap between the Compass and the Cherokee. Motortrend estimates the new Cherokee will have a six-inch longer wheelbase based on the platform change. The final version of the new Cherokee will probably be around a foot longer than the old one.
Other Concurrent Jeep Model Refreshes
In addition to being a larger vehicle, the Grand Cherokee traditionally offered more luxury features than its smaller sibling. Despite the differences, the two models historically featured similar designs, with the Grand Cherokee having some cosmetic upgrades rather than looking like an entirely different vehicle. Therefore, the 2026 Grand Cherokee front-end headlights and grille style refresh likely hint at what the redesigned Cherokee will look like.
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