Everything You Need To Know About The 2026 Jeep® Cherokee

patfromigh · Monday at 6:26 PM

Are you sure about that wheelbase? The spec sheet in the press kit states the wheelbase is 113" and the overall length is 188". I sure would like to know who the supplier for the hybrid transmission is, and also the 4X4 hardware as well.

bill burke · Tuesday at 6:02 AM

I awaited with anticipation for this new Cherokee, certainty to fill the huge hole in the Jeep lineup, but also to replace my soon eight year old Cherokee.
Boy am I disappointed, I just don’t like it. I don’t like the boxy styling, especially the front with that odd plastic accents on the lower side areas, what the heck is that? I think they really blew the dash, that cheap plastic shelf or whatever it is on the passenger side is so ugly and unsightly. Most of all the hybrid system appears thrown together in a rushed conglomerate of outsources drive train pieces creating an underpowered and potentially trouble filled mess. No thanks on that Jeep. Did Jeep learn nothing from the ill fated Dodge Charger Daytona?
I like the effort on additional size, more space, but little else. Why the hell did they not launch this with a standard Pentastar V-6, the one that is a proven winner?
At this point I’m looking elsewhere for my Cherokee replacement and with the flawless performance of my eight year old tried and true Jeep, for a bunch more years it seems. Why walk away from American built good?
Applaud this Cherokee all you want guys and I hope it’s a big success, but this Jeep loyalist has his doubts. I think, as it stands now, in my opinion, it’s a loser day one.

Kego · Tuesday at 6:55 AM

No ICE only option=NO SALE. A large segment of potential buyers will feel the same. Weak hybrid power trains and CVT transmissions do not a desirable vehicle make. Otherwise I like it. I’ve heard this may change later but if that’s true it can’t happen soon enough imo.

TripleT · Tuesday at 1:28 PM

Kego said:
No ICE only option=NO SALE. A large segment of potential buyers will feel the same. Weak hybrid power trains and CVT transmissions do not a desirable vehicle make. Otherwise I like it. I’ve heard this may change later but if that’s true it can’t happen soon enough imo.

Where did you come up with that. The largest segment of buyers are now nearly all Hybrid exclusive. And CVT and ECVT are not close to the same thing. Toyota, Honda, KIA..... with Ford and GM to follow. ICE will be exclusively Hybrid in the people moving segments.

I do hope there is a upgraded powertrain... but there is no world in the future with the parasitic torque converter has a place.

Kego · Tuesday at 2:52 PM

TripleT said:
Where did you come up with that. The largest segment of buyers are now nearly all Hybrid exclusive. And CVT and ECVT are not close to the same thing. Toyota, Honda, KIA..... with Ford and GM to follow. ICE will be exclusively Hybrid in the people moving segments.

I do hope there is a upgraded powertrain... but there is no world in the future with the parasitic torque converter has a place.

Kego · Tuesday at 2:52 PM

The time has come the walrus said to speak of many things…….

patfromigh · Tuesday at 3:34 PM

TripleT said:
Where did you come up with that. The largest segment of buyers are now nearly all Hybrid exclusive. And CVT and ECVT are not close to the same thing. Toyota, Honda, KIA..... with Ford and GM to follow. ICE will be exclusively Hybrid in the people moving segments.

Let's have a look inside an eCVT transmission. The transmission in this video is from a Toyota. The Ford Maverick, and Pacifica Hybrid are very similar, no belts or pulleys, they use planetary gears. BTW, this is a great YouTube channel, they cover nearly all the modern transmissions.

This channel posted a video covering the Grand Cherokee 4Xe system the previous week from the date of my post.

UN4GTBL · Tuesday at 4:51 PM

I am warming up to the looks of this, especially the silver one in the article. (like I did with the KL, and I did NOT like the original KL at all, specifically that original white KL Trailhawk without the hood decal spy pic that leaked way back when) But I will wait for the Trailhawk to pass final judgement on KM.

I will reserve judgment on the powertrain until I have an opportunity to drive it and give it a fair chance. I do wish that the gas engine was larger just looking at specs. I'm seeing 2.0T failures in the KL, and it doesn't really give me much trust in another brand new turbo I4 powertrain from this company.

I do very much like how boxy the new design is, and that they have increased the cargo room vs KL. I'm not happy with the loss of 4 way lumbar like the KL has, nor am I a fan of the electric door handles and the lack of real buttons inside for the radio and climate control. I will pass judgement on the interior as well once I can sit in a KM Overland. I remember when I got my KL Trailhawk, everyone who got in it was so impressed with it because of the fake red stitching on the dash and the decent interior materials quality. My in-laws have a KL Latitude, and its definitely acceptable to many people.

I am not interested in buying one yet, because I do not trust quality from Stellantis after the carlos regime.

WXman · 2025-10-22T08:10:38-0700

The look is great. They nailed it. The powertrain....eh.

Bottom line is, if this Cherokee is not more reliable than the prior Cherokee, it won't last long and you'll never see a Cherokee again.

UN4GTBL · 2025-10-22T11:29:04-0700

WXman said:
The look is great. They nailed it. The powertrain....eh.

Bottom line is, if this Cherokee is not more reliable than the prior Cherokee, it won't last long and you'll never see a Cherokee again.

Hopefully there won't be any PTU issues for KM

WXman · 2025-10-22T15:40:53-0700

UN4GTBL said:
Hopefully there won't be any PTU issues for KM

Yeah. Or oil consumption issues, failing shifters, electronic failures, popping steering columns, UConnect glitches, horrible fuel economy, etc. etc.

patfromigh · 2025-10-22T16:41:40-0700

Why is the KM Cherokee only offering this 1.6 liter hybrid drive-train? Because the alternatives aren't readily available. Last week Stellantis announced the news,

The Company confirms its January announcement to make additional investments in several of its Kokomo facilities to produce the all-new four-cylinder engine – the GMET4 EVO – beginning in 2026. The Company plans to invest more than $100 million and to add more than 100 jobs to ensure that the U.S. will be the manufacturing home of this strategic powertrain.

You can read about here, Stellantis Commits $13 Billion To Boost U.S. Production and Jobs
I pulled the above quote from the Stellantis Media website. I don't know when the next generation GME will be in full production, but it's not 2026 yet. The decision to give the 1.6 priority over the GMET4 EVO was made by the previous management regime before the US Presidential elections were completed. Much has changed in this past year.

I don't know of any definitive statements of who the supplier is for the Cherokee's hybrid transmission. South America and Mexico are using Aisin for their hybrid transmissions. The various Stellantis brands in Europe also had used Aisin hybrid transmissions until the Punch showed up. The Pacifica's hybrid transmission probably won't fit in the KM Cherokee, so my guess is it's the Aisin dual-motor eCVT. Various suppliers are lining up to offer alternatives to the standard hybrid transmission for optional drive-trains. Customers want choices.

WXman said:
Yeah. Or oil consumption issues, failing shifters, electronic failures, popping steering columns, UConnect glitches, horrible fuel economy, etc. etc.

Thanks, this saves me from explaining why the Pentastar V6 isn't going into the KM Cherokee. Hopefully the Korean sourced 8-speed transmission won't show up in either the next Cherokee or Compass.

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Everything You Need To Know About The 2026 Jeep® Cherokee