2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Lovely When Loaded
Key Points
- The Jeep Grand Cherokee’s biggest update for the 2026 model year is under the hood.
- Some exterior and interior updates
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a bit of an industry legend, so you’d think a moderate refresh would be a big deal, and it is — kind of. The biggest changes are under the skin, so our brief time spent with the latest iteration of Jeep’s bread ‘n’ buttah doesn’t come away with much beyond general impressions left by the zhuzhed-up interior threads and exterior style.
Related: More 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show News
Characterful and Stylish
- Takeaway: The 2026 Grand Cherokee gets a few updates to its exterior, plus a new 12.3-inch touchscreen inside.
We’ll start there. Exterior changes are slim, with revisions levied onto the signature seven-slot grille, headlights, bumpers and available wheel designs. The interior remix is a bit more extensive, with a new 12.3-inch touchscreen providing a much-needed infotainment upgrade. From the Wagoneer to the Grand Cherokee, Jeep continues to impress with materials and design in its top-line trims; though there’s arguably the same proliferation of plastic as range-topping interiors from GM or Ford, the loaded Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve I poked around was far more characterful and stylish in its presentation than many SUVs in its segment.
Upholstery was plush and neatly quilted, and the wood applique was handsome as equipped. I didn’t sample its power, but the McIntosh sound system was undoubtedly a match for the excellent setup in various versions of the Wagoneer. With no matching luxury nameplate for Cadillac or Lincoln, Jeep’s wide trim lineup does an excellent job of matching the former marques for finery and presentation.
A New 4 Under the Hood
- Takeaway: A new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine replaces the old V-6 in most of the 2026 Grand Cherokee’s trim levels.
The jury’s still out on the effectiveness of the Grand Cherokee’s biggest upgrade. For 2026, a new turbocharged four-cylinder replaces many applications of ye olde Pentastar V-6, a fine engine that served the Grand Cherokee well but wasn’t quite potent enough for some of the bougier trims. The 2.0-liter turbocharged Hurricane inline-four churns out 324 horsepower and 332 pounds-feet of torque, a moderate bump over the 293 hp and 260 pounds-feet offered by the old 3.6-liter V-6. Still, the Pentastar sticks around for the two lowest trims, the Laredo and Laredo X, with all others packing the new turbo-four or the plug-in hybrid 4xe powertrain.
So, more hands-on exposure is needed to render a complete picture of the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee, but the fabulous (upper-grade) interior and strong spec sheet mean we’re very much looking forward to our first drive.
Read More About the Jeep Grand Cherokee:
- 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee: A New Heart for Jeep’s Moneymaker
- Which 3-Row SUVs Offer Captain’s Chairs?
- What’s New for the 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
- How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe?
- Research the Jeep Grand Cherokee
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