- The all-new Jeep Cherokee is here, and it’s now a mid-size hybrid crossover with all-wheel drive.
- It’s powered by a 1.6-liter gas engine paired with two electric motors and an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission.
- The 350-volt hybrid powertrain was designed specifically for the new Cherokee, allowing it to drive at up to 62 mph on electric power, despite the battery’s tiny size.
This is the 2026 Jeep Cherokee. It’s bigger than before, graduating from the compact segment into the mid-size class, and it’s only available with a hybrid powertrain that employs a tiny high-voltage battery.
Based on Stellantis’ STLA Large platform, the all-new Cherokee uses a Miller Cycle four-cylinder 1.6-liter gas engine paired with two motor-generators, an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission (e-CVT) and a 1.03-kilowatt-hour battery. According to the automaker, the new crossover can drive on electricity at speeds of up to 62 miles per hour and has an estimated fuel economy of 37 miles per gallon on the combined cycle.
Photo by: Jeep
There’s no plug, so the only way to recharge the liquid-cooled battery is simply by driving the car, with motor-generator 1 charging the pack under acceleration, while motor-generator 2 will do the same under braking. The latter is also responsible for going in reverse, which means the transmission doesn’t have a reverse gear. Meanwhile, the high-voltage battery sends power to various pumps and the air conditioning compressor, leading to less engine run time in slow-moving traffic.
Compared to the 2025 Toyota RAV4 hybrid, which will soon be replaced with a new model, the Cherokee’s high-voltage pack is 0.6 kWh smaller, despite the car itself being bigger. The power output is also down compared to the RAV4, with the new Jeep putting down a total of 210 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque, while Toyota’s best-seller has 219 hp. It will be interesting to see how Jeep’s new crossover will stack up against the competition with this powertrain.
Photo by: Jeep
Size-wise, the new Cherokee is 188.1 inches long, 83.6 inches wide (including mirrors), and 67.6 inches tall. The wheelbase is 113 inches, making it six inches longer than the previous generation. This translates into 30% more cargo room, according to Jeep. Compared to the outgoing Toyota RAV4, which is considered a compact crossover, the 2026 Cherokee is 7.2 inches longer, 10.6 inches wider and 0.6 inches taller, while its wheelbase is 7.1 inches longer.
All-wheel drive is standard on the new Jeep Cherokee, with the company’s Active Drive I 4×4 system with Selec-Terrain offering four drive modes–Auto, Sport, Snow and Sand/Mud. Jeep says the Cherokee offers best-in-class approach departure angles of 19.6 and 29.4 degrees, respectively. The crossover has eight inches of ground clearance and a breakover angle of 18.8 degrees.
All versions come standard with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, rain-sensing wipers, automatic emergency braking, a Level 2 driver assistance system, and rear park assist with rear automatic emergency braking.
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Source: Jeep
The Uconnect 5 infotainment software has a built-in app store and is capable of receiving over-the-air software updates. That means the car could get better over time without having to go to a dealer, at least in theory, if Jeep decides to put the feature to good use.
The 2026 Jeep Cherokee will be available in four trim levels. The base version starts at $36,995, including the $1,995 destination charge, followed by the Laredo trim, which goes for $39,995. However, these two versions will be available in early 2026. Meanwhile, the more expensive Limited and Overland trims, starting at $42,495 and $45,995, respectively, will hit dealer lots in late 2025.
The Cherokee’s 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine will be built at Stellantis’ Dundee Engine Plant in Michigan, while final assembly of the vehicles will be handled by the Toluca Assembly Plant in Mexico.
