After disappearing from showrooms in 2023, the Cherokee is making a comeback that could change everything we thought we knew about this SUV. Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa officially confirmed the Cherokee’s return during the 2024 LA Auto Show, revealing a complete ground-up redesign that transforms the beloved nameplate.

• The Cherokee returns for 2026 with a completely new STLA Large platform that enables hybrid, gas, and electric powertrains
• The SUV adopts a boxier, more upright design reminiscent of classic Cherokee models from the 1980s and early 2000s
• The new model is significantly larger than before, with a 113-inch wheelbase (6 inches longer) and dimensions approaching the Grand Cherokee

The biggest news? This Cherokee breaks new ground as the first in the nameplate’s 50-year history to offer electrified powertrains right from launch.

A Much Bigger Cherokee Built for Modern Competition

The new Cherokee rides on Stellantis’ STLA Large platform, which has a minimum wheelbase of 113 inches, about six inches longer than the outgoing Cherokee’s wheelbase. That translates to serious size gains that put it squarely between the compact Compass and the midsize Grand Cherokee, exactly where Jeep needs it to compete with hot sellers like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.

Based on spy shots, it may share the Wagoneer S’s 113-inch wheelbase and could even surpass its 192.4-inch overall length. For perspective, that makes it nearly as large as some Grand Cherokee variants, giving buyers much more interior space and cargo capacity than the previous generation.

The size increase serves a strategic purpose. There’s over $10,000 between the Compass’s starting price and that of the mid-size Grand Cherokee, leaving a massive gap that the Cherokee is perfectly positioned to fill.

Back to Its Boxy Roots

Visually, the 2026 Cherokee represents a dramatic departure from its predecessor’s controversial split-headlight design. Fans of classic Cherokees might look fondly on the new model, which returns to a boxier, more Jeep-like visage than its smoother-snooted predecessor.

To drive the point home, Jeep even published an image with the XJ-series versions of the compact Cherokee sold from the 1980s through the early 2000s bracketing the new model. The similarities are unmistakable. The ’26 Cherokee’s front end is flatter and has squared-off headlights evocative of those sealed-beam units on the original XJs, and the roofline is more upright and angular than before.

The front fascia features the brand’s iconic seven-slot grille, while the overall proportions give it a much more substantial road presence. The rear end carries over the squared-off design theme from the front, with the taillights and license plate area framed by what appears to be piano black trim surrounds and inserts.

Electrification Takes Center Stage

Here’s where things get really interesting. The all-new 2026 Jeep Cherokee will be launched with a turbocharged 1.6-liter hybrid powertrain, making it the first Cherokee to offer electrified power from day one.

Jeep’s announcement includes some tantalizing hints: “Reimagined from the ground up, the next-generation Jeep Cherokee will redefine North America’s most popular vehicle segment, bringing midsize SUV customers a new, efficient, and powerful hybrid propulsion option from Jeep.”

The hybrid marks the beginning of multiple powertrain options. The new Cherokee will use Stellantis’s STLA Large Transverse architecture, which means it could have a variety of powertrain options. Jeep has already confirmed a hybrid, but pure gas and fully electric powertrains are highly likely as well.

EV Potential with Wagoneer S DNA

The electric version could be a real powerhouse. An electric Cherokee would likely have a similar setup to the current Wagoneer S, which uses a 100.0-kilowatt-hour battery pack and two electric motors to produce 600 hp and 617 pound-feet of torque, though expect somewhat lower output numbers for the Cherokee.

The electric SUV will have a 100.5kWh (total capacity) battery and a 592bhp dual-motor four-wheel-drive setup. That battery should be good for an official range of more than 300 miles, putting it in league with other premium electric SUVs.

The platform flexibility means Jeep can offer exactly what different buyers want. As with the Charger (which is arriving with both the electric Daytona model and the gas-powered Sixpack), the Cherokee successor could offer a variety of powertrains.

High-Tech Interior Borrowed from Premium Models

Inside, the Cherokee gets a serious tech upgrade. The Cherokee’s dashboard design has more in common with the Wagoneer S EV than it does the existing Grand Cherokee. Interior pics show a large digital instrument cluster and a central touchscreen that’s mounted at an angle, placed above a bank of modern controls.

The interior design shares similarities with the Wagoneer S EV, featuring a large digital instrument cluster, a central touchscreen angled toward the driver, and a row of touch-sensitive climate controls. The cabin also includes a rotary transmission controller and a toggle switch for driving modes.

There’s even speculation about a third dashboard display in front of the front seat passenger on high-end models, bringing the same luxury-level tech found in the Wagoneer S to a more affordable SUV.

Pricing and Positioning

Given that the Compass stickers for under $28,000 and the Grand Cherokee fetches over $35,000, we expect the Cherokee to start somewhere in the middle at around $30,000. That pricing would put it right in the sweet spot for mainstream SUV buyers.

We are told that the Cherokee will come standard with four-wheel-drive capability, reinforcing its adventurous spirit, maintaining the off-road credibility that Cherokee buyers expect.

Production and Timeline

Production will take place at the Toluca Assembly Plant in Mexico, where it will join the assembly line with the all-new, all-electric Jeep Wagoneer S and Jeep Recon. Production is slated to begin this fall for the 2026 model year, with the official debut expected sometime in late 2025.

The Cherokee’s return couldn’t come at a better time for Jeep. With SUV sales booming and electrification becoming mainstream, this new Cherokee positions the brand perfectly for the next decade. By combining the rugged capability that made the original Cherokee legendary with modern efficiency and technology, Jeep is betting this new model can recapture the magic that made the Cherokee name iconic in the first place.