The Jeep Grand Cherokee burst onto the scene nearly 35 years ago and finished 2025 as the brand’s best-selling vehicle. That’s hardly surprising as it offers a compelling mix of comfort, space, and capability.
Review: The 2026 Palisade Calligraphy Feels Like A Range Rover Autobiography For Hyundai Money
That continues to hold true for the 2026 model year, but Jeep has changed some key ingredients. Most notably, the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 has been replaced by an all-new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine in most trims. However, the company didn’t stop there as they gave the mid-size SUV a minor facelift and some new technology.
QUICK FACTS
SWIPE
A Light Exterior Refresh
The fifth-generation Grand Cherokee debuted in 2021 and still looks good today. Given this, designers didn’t mess with success as exterior changes are relatively minor and easy to overlook.
Review: Cadillac’s 2026 Escalade IQ Nails The Entrance, Then Spends A Week Undoing It
However, the crossover adopts a new seven-slot grille that echoes the one found on the smaller Cherokee. It’s flanked by revamped headlights and an updated front bumper. The latter incorporates a new mid-mounted intake as well as larger outer openings.
Photos Michael Gauthier/Carscoops
The modest changes continue further back with revised wheels and new trim finishes. Buyers will also find fresh colors known as Copper Shino, Fathom Blue, and Steel Blue.
While these changes are easy to miss, the 2026 Grand Cherokee adopts an all-new rear bumper that lacks exhaust cut outs. This results in a cleaner, but less aggressive appearance.
An Interior Luxury Brands Should Study
The automotive industry has seemingly entered the dark ages of interior design as far too many companies have embraced black interiors with gloss black trim and massive screens. Instead of conveying a sense of modern luxury, they often come off feeling cold and clinical.
That’s certainly not the case with our range-topping Grand Cherokee Summit, which has an interior that luxury brands should take note of. The cabin is immediately inviting thanks to stylish Palermo leather seats and light Absolute Oak wood trim. They’re joined by stylish metal accents, diamond-quilted door panels, and just the right amount of gloss black plastic.
Everywhere you look, it’s clear someone paid attention and sweated the smallest details. Virtually every surface is leather or soft-touch plastic, and numerous components have faux stitching that elevates their appearance.
Photos Michael Gauthier/Carscoops
Drivers sit behind a bright 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, which offers numerous display options ranging from classic gauges to a full map view. It’s joined by an all-new 12.3-inch Uconnnect 5 infotainment system, which comes standard on Laredo Altitude and above trims.
It replaces last year’s 10.1-inch display and is accompanied by new switchgear. The system is fast, responsive, and easy to use. Jeep also provides dedicated buttons and knobs for commonly used features such as the climate control system and heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats. Lesser versions retain their relatively small, 8.4-inch Uconnect 5 display.
More: The 2026 Grand Cherokee’s Biggest Surprise Is Hiding Under The Hood
Sticking with screens, our tester was equipped with a 10.25-inch front passenger display. These have become relatively common on luxury vehicles, but they often look like a tacked on afterthought. That’s not the case with the Grand Cherokee’s display, which is nicely integrated into the cabin.
That’s a welcome development, but the screen doesn’t live up to its potential as there’s no YouTube or Netflix integration. Instead, you’re forced to play videos via USB flash drive or an HDMI connection, like it’s the early 2000’s.
Users can also connect Bluetooth headphones and listen to the radio. Of course, most people would rather use their smartphone and listen to streaming music instead.
First Look: Lexus’ New TZ Trades Fake Ruggedness For Quiet Luxury
Other functions aren’t terribly impressive either, but there are navigation and camera view options. The former enables passengers to act as co-pilots and send destinations to the main infotainment system.
Besides so-so features, the display is dim and highly reflective during the day. That’s not a great combination, but the front passenger display comes standard on the Summit.
Photos Michael Gauthier/Carscoops
Thankfully, the 19-speaker McIntosh premium audio system is far better. I’m no audiophile, but it sounds amazing and you’ll immediately miss it when driving something else. Highlights include four door-mounted woofers, a rear 10-inch subwoofer, and circular dash-mounted speakers with integrated tweeters. The system also includes stylish metal grilles with illuminated logos.
Putting the tech features aside, the Grand Cherokee has supportive front seats with 12-way power adjustment and memory on both sides. They remain comfortable for hours at a time and come with five massage settings, each offering three levels of intensity.
Second-row passengers aren’t treated like second-class citizens as there’s a comfortable bench with an adjustable backrest and a flip-down cup holder. More notably, the range-topping trim has a four-zone climate control system as well as heated and ventilated rear seats. Passengers will also find two USB-C charging ports as well as a 115V outlet.
That’s pretty impressive and the good news doesn’t end there as the second-row offers 38.2 inches (971 mm) of legroom. This 6’ 2” scribe also found plenty of headroom, even with the panoramic glass roof.
Speaking of space, the Grand Cherokee can hold 37.7 cubic feet (1,068 liters) of cargo behind the rear seats. That can be expanded to 70.8 cubic feet (2,005 liters) by lowering the second row, but there’s no power-folding option, which is a bit disappointing given the $66,585 sticker price.
If you need more room, you can always move up to the Grand Cherokee L. It has a power-folding third-row as well as a maximum cargo capacity of 84.6 cubic feet (2,396 liters). However, that trails rivals such as the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride.
A Turbocharged Heart
Under the hood, the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 continues to be found in the value-focused Laredo and Laredo X trims. It produces 293 hp (218 kW / 297 PS) and 260 lb-ft (352 Nm) of torque, and drivers can expect to get up to 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined.
Review: Jeep’s 2026 Cherokee Stopped Pretending To Be A Jeep, And It Drives Better For It
That brings us to the biggest news of 2026, which is the introduction of a turbocharged 2.0-liter Hurricane four-cylinder engine. It features turbulent jet ignition combustion technology, which “uses a spark plug to ignite a small amount of fuel in a cup-like pre-chamber atop each cylinder. The burning fuel expands and jets into the combustion chamber, triggering a faster and more complete burn of the air-fuel charge, which enables better performance and fuel efficiency.”
The engine operates on the Miller cycle and sports two spark plugs per cylinder. The mill also has port and direct injection, a variable geometry turbocharger, and electric pumps to reduce parasitic losses. Despite the fancy features, it runs on regular 87 octane.
Photos Michael Gauthier/Carscoops
Speaking of fuel, the engine has an EPA rating of up to 21 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. That means it returns an extra 2 mpg city, 1 mpg highway, and 1 mpg combined. That doesn’t sound very impressive, but the new engine is 10.5% more efficient in the city and produces lower emissions.
While the fuel savings are welcome, the good news doesn’t end there. Quite the opposite, as the engine produces 324 hp (242 kW / 329 PS) and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque. That’s 31 hp (23 kW / 31 PS) and 72 lb-ft (98 lb-ft) more than the aging Pentastar V6.
The turbocharged engine has plenty of pep as it powers the Grand Cherokee with ease. However, it still falls short of the old 5.7-liter Hemi V8, which churned out 357 hp (266 kW / 362 PS) and 390 lb-ft (528 Nm).
The Hurricane is reasonably refined and works well around town as there’s minimal turbo lag. The latter becomes more prominent at highway speeds, where there’s a short delay when you floor it to pass slower moving vehicles.
The start/stop system occasionally comes off a little rough, but that’s the nature of the beast. However, the engine is pretty civilized and well-mannered overall. It may not have the smoothness of the Pentastar, but we managed to beat the EPA combined rating by averaging 24.1 mpg over the course of a week.
All things considered, there’s a lot to like about the engine as it’s more powerful and fuel-efficient than the 3.6-liter V6. It also enables the Grand Cherokee to tow up to 6,200 lbs (2,812 kg), which is the same as the Pentastar.
Comfortable And Capable
Sliding behind the wheel reveals a nice driving experience, which is geared towards comfort. A large part of this can be chalked up to the Quadra–Lift air suspension, which gives the Grand Cherokee a bit of a floaty feel. It enables the crossover to easily deal with road imperfections without fuss. Despite this, body roll is kept in check and the vehicle handles surprisingly flat and secure in corners.
With a flick of a switch, the vehicle transitions into Sport mode. This lowers the suspension, adds heft to the steering, and makes for punchier shifts. The exhaust also takes on a louder and sportier note, which can be a little tiring after awhile.
Both engines are connected to a smooth shifting eight-speed automatic transmission that is controlled by a rotary dial. On our tester, it was paired with a Quadra–Trac II four-wheel drive system and an electronic limited–slip rear differential.
Like most owners, I stuck to the street, but the Grand Cherokee has legitimate off-road chops. The aforementioned air suspension has two off-road settings and the highest provides 10.9 inches (277 mm) of ground clearance as well as an approach angle of up to 30.1 degrees.
Getting back to the pavement, the Jeep has excellent all-around visibility as well as a plethora of camera views. They’re joined by nicely weighted steering and a linear throttle. While the vehicle handles well, it comes off a little aloof and not particularly engaging.
The brakes don’t feel the best either as there’s a bit of travel before they engage. You kind of get used to it after a while, but they get the job done. Unsurprisingly, they’re nothing to write home about as the model has 14- and 13.8-inch discs with two-piston calipers up front.
The interior is relatively hushed around town, but there’s a bit of noise coming from the A-pillar at highway speeds. However, it’s not bad and it gives you another excuse to crank up the McIntosh audio system.
We also have to praise the Hands–Free Active Driving Assist system, which works remarkably well. You can read more about it in our mini review, but it drives the Grand Cherokee in a smooth, safe, and reassuring manner. While you still need to pay attention, it provides automated lane changes and straight forward operation.
Verdict
The 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee transcends the usual facelift by adopting an all-new turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. This is a welcome development as it brings a notable performance boost and a bit more efficiency.
While the engine is new, the company didn’t mess with success elsewhere. The design is instantly recognizable, but incorporates a few minor tweaks as well as a larger 12.3-inch infotainment system.
Buyers will also find a comfortable ride, decent driving dynamics, and a roomy interior with more personality than many luxury vehicles. Of course, that shouldn’t be too surprising considering our tester stickered for $66,585.
That’s obviously a lot of money, but the 2026 Grand Cherokee starts at $38,920 before a $1,995 destination fee. While the base model is fine, the heart of the lineup is the $44,360 Laredo Altitude.
It features the turbocharged engine as well as an assortment of upscale features including heated Capri leatherette front seats with suede inserts. They’re joined by a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, a wireless smartphone charger, and the new infotainment system.
With all that being said, there’s a lot to like about the latest Grand Cherokee as it mixes mainstream appeal with a surprising amount of luxury.
