New Jeep Cherokee sits above the Compass; based on the modular STLA platform
25 Aug 2025 | 3957 Views | By Akbar Merchant
The popular Jeep Cherokee SUV has made a comeback for 2026 model year and will go on sale in the North American market initially. The new Jeep Cherokee is larger than before, more refined, and now equipped with a highly fuel efficient petrol-hybrid powertrain. The redesign moves ...
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The popular Jeep Cherokee SUV has made a comeback for 2026 model year and will go on sale in the North American market initially. The new Jeep Cherokee is larger than before, more refined, and now equipped with a highly fuel efficient petrol-hybrid powertrain. The redesign moves the nameplate into the fast-growing hybrid rugged SUV in order to blend Jeep’s rugged DNA with an eco-conscious appeal. Built on the modular STLA Large platform, the new Cherokee aims to bridge the gap between the Compass and premium offerings like the Grand Cherokee.
As far as exterior looks go, the new Jeep Cherokee adopts a “super vertical” front fascia with a slender grille and rectangular headlights reminiscent of the classic and hugely popular Cherokee XJ SUV. It gets Muscular body cladding, sharp lines, and an expansive greenhouse with flush-mounted door handles. At the back, the new Jeep Cherokee gets a heavily sculpted liftgate features familiar Cherokee cut-lines and a contrasting black license plate recess, flanked by jerry-can-inspired taillights. The new Jeep Cherokee is 4.7 meters long and has a 2,870mm wheelbase which is considerably larger than the outgoing model.
On the inside, the new Jeep Cherokee gets a lot of inspiration from the upscale Jeep Wagoneer S SUV’s interior that includes a squared steering wheel, 10.25-inch digital cluster, and a 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Jeep has taken a minimalist design approach with the Cherokee’s interior where many physical controls are replaced by touchscreen interface functions. Thankfully, buttons for dedicated climate controls remain. The SUV also gets digital latches instead of traditional door handles.
The 2026 Jeep Cherokee gets petrol-hybrid setup replete with a 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol engine paired with two electric motors and a 1.08 kWh lithium-ion battery, producing a combined 210 hp. Power is delivered through an eCVT and transmission standard AWD with a rear-axle disconnect for efficiency. Performance is tuned for strong low-end torque, according to Jeep.
The Cherokee is a global offering from Jeep and is expected to take the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V among other family SUVs, thanks to its new fuel efficient petrol-hybrid powertrain and a long feature list.
For India, the Jeep Compass is expected to soldier on for now with no fresh launches expected from Jeep in the near future.