On the surface, Jeep isn’t messing much with the tried-and-true formula of its top-selling Grand Cherokee SUV for 2026.
The refreshed Detroit-assembled family hauler gets an updated snout and a few other tweaks like a bigger infotainment unit and more color options.
The big update is less noticeable and lies under the hood: “It’s really all about that Hurricane four,” said Sam Abuelsamid, vice president of market research at Telemetry.
He’s referring to an all-new 2.0-liter Hurricane turbo four-cylinder engine that puts out 324 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque.
Built at Michigan’s Dundee Engine Plant, the new powertrain uses technology called a turbulent jet ignition system that translates into faster and more complete combustion, said Micky Bly, Stellantis’ senior vice president and head of global propulsion systems, at a recent Auburn Hills press event.
“This is used in F1 race engines,” he said. “There’s a version of this we used in a Maserati engine a few years ago, but this is really a high-volume (version), the next breaking technology in this space. It wins championships in motorsports, and we’re bringing it to the mainstream market.”
Jeep describes the new technology this way: It “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.”
Bly says the system results in 10% fuel savings and 20% more power than the automaker’s current four-cylinder, though Jeep hasn’t yet released fuel economy ratings.
Jeep will continue offering a standard 3.6-liter V-6 on its most affordable Laredo and Laredo X trims. Prices are expected to start at about $40,000, though the brand said exact figures still aren’t available. The new four-cylinder will be available starting on the Laredo Altitude trim with a starting price closer to the mid-$40,000s.
Jeep CEO Bob Broderdorf said he eventually expects about two-thirds of Grand Cherokee buyers to opt for the four-cylinder.
“It’s quicker, it’s super efficient,” he said. “Other than the mental psyche of, ‘I don’t have a V-6,’ it’s a better powertrain. … I think people are going to migrate to it.”
Other updates for the refreshed Grand Cherokee set to reach dealers late this year are a slightly redesigned front end that includes new LED lighting as well as a 12.3-inch infotainment screen inside, up from 10.1 inches on the 2025. The 2026 will also continue a recent trend at Jeep of avoiding the use of any chrome accents — what the automaker calls internally “the death of chrome.”
A plug-in hybrid 4xe version of the Grand Cherokee will continue for 2026, including in a rugged Trailhawk trim. And the SUV will still be available in the longer, three-row “L” iteration.
The Grand Cherokee has long held the crown as the top-selling U.S. vehicle for Jeep, which itself is the best-selling Stellantis brand in the country. In the third quarter, the big SUV saw sales rise just slightly, helping Jeep post an 11% gain over a year ago.
Under Broderdorf, Jeep is trying to get its mojo back after a string of poor sales results and frustrated dealers. The CEO said the brand is making more than $3 billion in investments and it’s in the midst of several key vehicle launches and refreshes. The all-new Cherokee was revealed in August, a refreshed Grand Wagoneer launched earlier this month, and the new Recon — a four-wheeling electric SUV — is scheduled for release next.
lramseth@detroitnews.com
@lramseth
