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Jeep’s new medium SUV is set to arrive with hybrid power and a greater focus on adventure-ready capability.
The 2026 Jeep Cherokee has been revealed overseas, returning the vehicle to the more boxy off-road-inspired styling it’s known for – but it is no certainty for Australia.
Alongside the more rugged looks, Jeep promises the new model will be adventure-ready with standard all-wheel drive and best-in-class approach and departure angles.
The biggest news comes under the bonnet, with a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine mated to a hybrid system, promising over 800km of driving range from a full tank and fuel consumption of 6.4L/100km.
The hybrid system is not only a first for the Cherokee, but also the first time a closed-loop hybrid has been used in any Jeep product, which has relied on mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid systems until now.
The new 1.6-litre turbo hybrid engine has combined outputs of 157kW and 312Nm.
This sixth-generation Cherokee's reveal is just weeks after that of the third-generation Mazda CX-5, and will reach showrooms hybrid-equipped around a year ahead of the Mazda, while also being prepared to take on the hybrid-benchmark Toyota RAV4.
The Cherokee is underpinned by the STLA Large Transverse platform, which also underpins the Wagoneer S and Jeep Recon EVs.
The 2026 Cherokee will come standard with Jeep Active Drive 4x4, an all-wheel-drive system with standard rear-axle disconnect to save fuel in low-demand situations.
Driving modes, including Auto, Sport, and Sand/Mud will also come standard.
Jeep claims the new Cherokee has best-in-class approach and departure angles of 19.6 and 29.4 degrees compared to its North American competition and eight inches (203mm) of ground clearance.
Styling for the 2026 Cherokee “looks to the past for 50 years of inspiration,” according to Jeep.
The new Cherokee abandoning the soft forms and curved surfacing of its predecessor for a more boxy and defined look that harks back to the XJ Cherokee of the 1980s – the first to set the modern template of what the mid-size Cherokee would become.
Jeep’s seven-slot grille is paired with aggressive bumpers with plenty of black detailing and squared-off lighting signatures front and rear.
Jeep claims the interior of the new Cherokee is larger, and standard equipment includes 10.25-inch and 12.3-inch instrument and infotainment screens, keyless entry and start, and rain-sensing wipers.
Standard safety systems cover things like autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist identification and intersection collision assist, plus reversing AEB, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and Level 2 driver-assistance with adaptive cruise control.
Optional equipment includes 360-degree cameras, a dual-pane sunroof, a hands-free powered tailgate, rear seat heating and front seat ventilation, and a premium audio system.
The Cherokee will arrive in the United States in four trim levels: Cherokee, Laredo, Limited and Overland.
The entry-level Cherokee will be priced from $US36,990 ($AU56,975), rising to $US45,995 ($AU70,845) for the top-spec Overland.
North American deliveries will begin in late 2025, but Jeep Australia is unable to confirm if the new model has been locked in for an Australian introduction. The previous-generation Cherokee was quietly discontinued in Australia in 2022.
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
