Jeep Cherokee Returns for 2026 with a Hybrid Powertrain and AWD

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The revered Jeep Cherokee nameplate returns with a standard hybrid powertrain, good for an estimated 37 mpg.
The Cherokee launches with no low-range option, but Jeep tells us a “Trail Rated” version is coming.
The reborn Cherokee will be assembled in Toluca, Mexico, and the first examples will hit dealerships in late 2025.

Conspicuously absent since the end of the 2023 model year, the venerated Cherokee returns with an entirely fresh outlook on Jeep life. It’s still positioned between the smaller Compass and larger Grand Cherokee, but the 2026 Cherokee is now a hybrid-only proposition. So equipped, the automaker claims, it makes 37 mpg and over 500 miles of range on a single tank of fuel. There is no plug-in hybrid variant at this time, though Jeep told us they haven’t ruled out additional powertrain choices for the future.Rugged Looks and More SpaceThe new Cherokee is based on Stellantis’s STLA Large platform, already in use under the Wagoneer S EV. Jeep execs told us they spent 2.5 years planning and working on the new Cherokee, and they anticipate this launch being a “pivotal moment” for the brand. They also said they wish they hadn’t left the segment for so long.View Exterior PhotosJeepStyling, unsurprisingly, is right out of the Jeep gene pool, with a broad and upright seven-slot grille leading the charge. Where the previous Cherokee had curves, this one has creases, and it wisely incorporates design cues from the current lineup rather than going for a ham-fisted homage to vintage models. Note the prominent kick-up in the lower edge of the rear-three-quarter glass, a subtle hat tip to the Grand Wagoneer, perhaps? Only, with the Cherokee, the angle more or less follows that of the body seam line below the window. The roof rack is standard, but the dual-pane sunroof is not.
Compared to the old Cherokee, the 2026 model is 1.3 inches taller, 1.5 inches wider, and five inches longer and rides on a 6.4-inch-longer wheelbase. That pays off in interior space, Jeep claiming its 34 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row is a 30 percent increase over the previous Cherokee. Fold the seats flat and you’ve got 68 cubes, but rear-seat legroom is down by nearly two inches.
A New Hybrid HeartThe powertrain comprises a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine working in cahoots with a pair of electric motors. Rated for 177 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, the inline-four sports an international pedigree. Based on a third-generation version of an engine that started life at Peugeot, it’s been in production for over a decade. It runs on regular 87-octane gas and will be assembled at Stellantis’s propulsion plant in Dundee, Michigan.View Exterior PhotosJeepTotal output including the two electric motors—they operate in conjunction with the gas engine in a Toyota-like power-split setup to adjust the gear ratio like a CVT—is 210 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque. We estimate the lithium-ion battery pack has roughly 0.5 kWh of usable energy, and the Cherokee utilizes a 400-volt architecture.The electric motors are “sourced offshore” from an unnamed supplier, and the battery is sourced from a partner within the U.S., according to Jeep. Final assembly of the propulsion system will be in the Dundee, Michigan, facility. There is no low-range option. In normal mode, it runs as a front-wheel-drive vehicle with the rear axle fully disconnected for the sake of efficiency, but can quickly switch to 50/50 front/rear distribution. Currently, locking axles are not an option. Four drive modes—Auto, Sport, Snow, and Sand/Mud—are on hand to help tailor output to the specific terrain.To that end, there’s 8.0 inches of ground clearance, an approach angle of 19.6 degrees, a departure angle of 29.4 degrees, and a break-over angle of 18.8 degrees. So, the new Cherokee can get dirty, but we’d hold off on any serious overlanding excursions till the promised Trail Rated version appears. Jeep says the new Cherokee is rated to tow up to 3500 pounds, about 1000 pounds less than the most robust version of the previous Cherokee when equipped with the V-6. 3500 pounds would have been a hefty number for the segment a few years back, but certain models of the 2026 Toyota RAV4 can now do the same. The 2026 CR-V hybrid is good for a max of 1000 pounds. View Interior PhotosJeepLoaded with GoodiesEfficiency and value were two of the driving principles behind the development of the new Cherokee, which is reflected in the high level of standard equipment. Every trim gets a 12.3-inch center infotainment display running the familiar Uconnect 5 operating system, a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster, rain-sensing wipers, and a comprehensive grouping of safety and driver assistance tech, including adaptive cruise control with driver assist, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist identification, and blind spot monitoring.Jeep also touts the standard inclusion of Stellantis’ new Connect One connected services package that includes 10 years of service for over-the-air updates, a Jeep brand smartphone app for vehicle functions, and automatic SOS calls. The Connect Wi-Fi Plus package provides unlimited data and numerous other features via subscription.Optional features available across the lineup include premium audio, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a foot-activated liftgate, and multiple camera views, including 360-degree and front tire-to-curb views.View Interior PhotosJeepJeep execs told us that in the Cherokee’s absence, 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?” We’re guessing they also took time to look at the sales numbers of the similarly sized and best-selling Toyota RAV4, which moved over 475,000 units (internal-combustion and hybrid variants combined) in 2024 and will be hybrid only for 2026. That’s a mighty strong incentive. Whereas the previous Cherokee arrived on the last train to the growing hamlet of Crossoverville, it carried the weight of Jeep legacy for better or worse. Though it performed dutifully, it aged quickly. The new 2026 Cherokee reinterprets that legacy for an entirely new customer who values a stylish and functional roof rack and fuel economy over hardcore off-road chops. That’s what the Wrangler and Gladiator are for, right? The 2026 Jeep Cherokee will launch with four trims: Base, Laredo, Limited, and Overland. Pricing for the base model starts at $36,995, the Laredo at $39,995, the Limited at $42,495, and the Overland at $45,995. Limited and Laredo trims will start arriving in dealerships in late 2025, followed by the base and Laredo trims in early 2026.More on the Jeep Lineup