2026 Jeep Cherokee teased in new avatar — Exterior, powertrains, launch, & more

After stepping away from the spotlight and ending an iconic run of nearly 49 years, the fifth-gen Jeep Cherokee was officially discontinued in 2023. But the legacy is far from over. The legendary nameplate is now making a strong return, as the carmaker has teased the bold new avatar of the next-gen Cherokee. 

The new Jeep Cherokee continues to command attention with its dominating and signature boxy silhouette. While the shadow of subtle design cues borrowed from its siblings like the Wagoneer S and Compass could also be observed. Interestingly, the 2026 Cherokee will be built on Stellantis' advanced STLA Large platform, which opens the door to a wide range of powertrain possibilities, including petrol, hybrid, and all-electric options. 

2026 Jeep Cherokee exterior

The next-gen Jeep Cherokee exterior proudly carries forward the brand’s iconic design DNA, starting with the signature seven-slot Jeep grille. On either side, it gets rectangular-shaped LED headlamps with U-shaped LED DRLs. The lower bumper gets added cladding along with a honeycomb-style grille for the air vents. Fog lights are placed on both sides near the edges of the bumper.

From the side, the fifth-gen Jeep Cherokee exterior gets a new set of alloy wheels, roof rails, flap-type door handles, and cladding around the wheel arches. At the rear, it gets similarly shaped rectangular LED taillights. 

Next-gen Jeep Cherokee engine options

Multiple powertrain options are expected for the 2026 Jeep Cherokee, with the hybrid variant already looking quite certain. Additionally, there are reports that it may use the brand’s 3.0-litre ‘Hurricane’ twin-turbo inline-6 engine, which currently produces around 556 PS and 707 Nm of torque. However, if this engine is used in the petrol version of the Cherokee, it could be offered in a slightly detuned form to better suit.

There is also talk of an electric version for the 2026 Cherokee. It may feature a setup similar to the Wagoneer S Electric, which comes with a 100 kWh battery pack and two electric motors producing 608 PS. In the Cherokee, a lower output is expected to align.

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2026 Jeep Cherokee launch

The Jeep Cherokee is expected to be unveiled globally in the latter part of 2025, most likely at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Its market launch is set to follow in 2026. The SUV is expected to be offered in three trims — Sport, Latitude, and Limited. Production of the 2026 Cherokee will take place at Stellantis' Toluca Assembly Plant in Mexico. 

As for the Jeep Cherokee India launch, it appears unlikely at this point. Currently, Jeep's India portfolio includes the Compass, Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, and Meridian, with no official word yet on the Cherokee joining the lineup.

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