The Jeep Cherokee Is Back and There’s More To Love, Including Hybrid MPG and More Muscle
Did we say hybrid? Yes we did!
When Jeep announced a couple of years ago that they were ending production of the Cherokee, the super agile, very capable well-priced, mid-size SUV, we were all a bit verklempt. We loved the Jeep Cherokee for fun road trips, off-road adventures and confidence in sloppy weather.
Turns out our mourning was unnecessary. Jeep just announced a brand new, fully redesigned and much better Jeep Cherokee, priced from about $36,000. We got a sneak peek ahead of its late 2025 debut and turns out, this redesign may just be worth the wait.
The goodness starts with a hybrid powertrain but goes on to deliver all the modern, delicious details we love in modern Jeep design.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
Hybrid MPG = An SUV that is a Test Drive Must
If there’s one thing that we might not have *loved* about Jeeps of the past, it was fuel economy. I owned a Jeep (a Grand Cherokee) but traded it in because I was tired of its poor fuel economy (plus, I needed a 3rd row). My 1999 model got about 12 MPG, much better than the 21 MPG the last Jeep Cherokee model achieved. The company has greatly improved fuel economy since I owned my Jeep.
Back in the day, efficiency mattered to me, but not as much as the price of my time. I was tired of stopping at the gas station twice a week to fill up the tank.
Fast forward and Jeep Cherokee owners can look forward to stopping at the gas station twice a month, quite the improvement thanks to a new hybrid powertrain that they say will deliver 37 MPG.
Read: Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Electric Car: All the Jeep You Want with None of the Gas Station Stops
A Power Upgrade Is Part of the Offer, Too
From there, the story gets even better. Jeep says the Cherokee, which will have Jeep’s active 4×4 system, will produce 210 HP, about 30 HP better than the last Cherokee model, also nice improvement and a decent amount of power for an SUV this size.
What I like best is that Jeep is able to do both things with one new powertrain change. Just … yay.
Read: The Jeep Wrangler 4xe Is an Incredible New Off-Roading Experience
Jeep Continues Its March Into Modern Design
This is one of the things I love about Jeep (the Wrangler excepted, which still embraces a rough and rugged look): It’s interiors are very modern and the height of design. Look around and you’ll see, Jeep is often the first to show up with things like integrated screens, flush linear dashboards, hidden air vents and refined details like sophisticated upholstery… in an SUV designed to go the distance on roads and trails.
The 2026 Jeep Cherokee is no exception; its design incorporates a 12.3” center display, a 10” driver display and a dashboard that is minimalist and elegant.
And, it incorporates a “squircle” steering wheel, a trapezoid that mimics the Jeep Cherokee wheel wells and is flat on the top and bottom for better visibility.
Read: 2023 Jeep Compass Compact SUV Review: Live Your Best Life
The Modern Look Continues With Familiar Face and a New Rear End
Isn’t that what you want from a makeover—to look the same, but better? The front end of the Jeep Cherokee is still anchored by the seven-slot Sarge Grille, a nod to Jeep’s military heritage, and new headlights that lend a digital feel to the traditional round lights. Below is a lower diffuser with space for tow and recovery hooks, an air intake grille and a sensor panel.
On the rear, the Jeep Cherokee carries a look that is similar to the original, though a lifted version with a horizontal rectangle of tail lights that sit higher up on the tailgate, a smaller rear window and a central panel for the license plate on the center of the tailgate. The rear, too is recognizable but modernized.
Sustainability Is a Core Jeep Value and It Shows
If you think about it, most Jeep owners love to be out in the wild, the woods, the lake, rivers, beaches, mountains, you name it. And keeping those places pristine is as important to Jeep as it is Jeep owners.
Jeep first began its sustainability journey with the 4xe, a plug-in hybrid powertrain that allowed drivers to reduce the amount of gas used or to preserve the electric charge for an all-electric drive whenever they’d like. While the Cherokee won’t have the all-electric capability, it’ll deliver the improved fuel economy and lower emissions that are distinctive of hybrids.
Sustainability Looks and Feels Good In This Interior
Inside, Jeep is finishing the Cherokee with leatherette and other materials made from recycled, reclaimed and renewable materials. And while we haven’t seen exact details on the materials, we also expect to see a reduced use of chrome; it turns out that one of our favorite shiny, silvery surfaces is quite toxic to both the people who make it and the environment where it’s made. So, sayonara, chrome.
More Interior Space and More Cargo Space Complete the Package
This one is always good news, especially for families or people with fur babies: more interior space is now part of the Cherokee package. In fact, by adding 5” to the overall length, Jeep says the Cherokee will have 30% more cargo space and an additional 1” of rear seat legroom. While we liked the compact size of the outgoing Cherokee, it could be tight for more than a few people and their stuff, so increasing space should prove a popular decision.
Jeep has also said that a trail rated Cherokee will be available soon, and we may see other power trains–a PHEV, a more powerful engine, perhaps a smaller, less expensive engine option. Jeep is out to please its customers with what it does best.
A New Price Structure Makes the 2026 Jeep Cherokee All the Better
The 2026 Jeep Cherokee will hit dealerships toward the end of 2025 and will have a starting price of $36,995, a $2,295 decrease over the entry price in 2023, which was $39,290. Which is another nice bit of news.
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