- After three years off the market, Jeep’s Cherokee compact SUV is back
- It’s all-hybrid, with a starting price of $36,995
The Jeep Cherokee is back, and it’s a hybrid this time.
Jeep took its best-known compact SUV off the market after the 2023 model year. That seemed like a curious decision at the time — Americans buy more compact SUVs than any other kind of car, and Jeep gave up a name with nearly 50 years of recognition.
But it didn’t stay gone for long. The Cherokee returns for the 2026 model year with a starting price of $36,995 (including a $1,995 destination charge).
210 HP, 37 MPG
- A new hybrid powertrain gives it 210 horsepower and 37 mpg in combined driving
The Cherokee will come only as a hybrid. Jeep’s all-new hybrid system combines a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with two electric motors for a total output of 210 horsepower and 230 lb-ft of torque.
It’s good for an estimated 37 mpg in combined city/highway driving — just two less than the class sales champ, the 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Toyota has an all-new, hybrid-only RAV4 for 2026, but hasn’t released a mileage figure for that.
This new Jeep should be among the more capable small SUVs off-road. Every Cherokee will get Jeep’s Active Drive 4×4 system and a standard rear-axle disconnect. That last feature is uncommon in this class.
A terrain management system includes Auto, Sport, Snow, and Sand/Mud settings. Eight inches of ground clearance help it achieve respectable off-road geometry –an approach angle of 19.6 degrees, a departure angle of 29.4 degrees, and a breakover angle of 18.8 degrees.
Jeep promises a 3,500-pound towing capacity.
Baby Grand Cherokee Look, Alexa, Dual Sunroofs
- It apes the look of its big brother Grand Cherokee, with a squat 7-slot grille
- Available tech includes built-in Alexa, ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats
Larger Jeep SUVs like the Grand Cherokee and Wagoneer have worn a wider, shorter version of the classic 7-slot grille for several years. The Cherokee catches up to the look now. Squared-off edges all around make it look larger than it is.
Inside, Jeep has not given in to the almost-industry-wide trend of pairing two screens in the same housing to look like one wide screen. Instead, the Cherokee gets a 10.25-inch screen for the driver and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen.
As a reviewer, I drive many cars, and I’ve come to prefer this approach, as the steering wheel never blocks your view of the screen.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and wireless. A Level 2 driver assistance system means the Cherokee can accelerate, brake, and steer itself to hold its position in highway traffic, but only with a driver monitoring it at all times.
It will initially come in four trim levels: base, Laredo, Limited, and Overland. Jeep has been trying to lower its prices after a less-than-successful attempt to develop a luxury reputation. But Cherokee buyers will have access to some luxurious features at higher trim levels, including a dual-pane sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and Alexa in-vehicle assistant.
2026 Jeep Cherokee Pricing
All prices include a mandatory $1,995 destination fee – relatively high for a small vehicle from a domestic automaker, but Jeep hasn’t lowered every price. The Cherokee will be built in Laredo, Mexico. Jeep says the top two trims will arrive in late 2025, with the two lower ones coming in early 2026.
| Trim Level | MSRP + $1,995 Destination Fee |
| Cherokee | $36,995 |
| Laredo | $39,995 |
| Limited | $42,495 |
| Overland | $45,995 |
