We Called the 2026 Jeep Cherokee “Not a Great Jeep.” Were We Wrong?

It’s safe to say the 2026 Jeep Cherokee and MotorTrend got off to a rocky start. After being unceremoniously canceled in 2023 as a cost-cutting measure for Stellantis, Jeep was hypermotivated to get its all-new version to us in time for our 2026 SUV of the Year competition. We were equally eager to have early access to a preproduction Cherokee, considering its importance to the SUV marketplace. The experience ended with us declaring the Cherokee “a fine compact SUV” but “not a great Jeep.” But we’ve just driven the final production version of the new Cherokee, and it’s clear Jeep has made some effective improvements since our last encounter.

What Makes This Cherokee New?

Riding on Stellantis’ STLA-Large platform (shared with the Dodge Charger and upcoming Jeep Recon), the new Cherokee is a tweener in size, splitting the difference between traditional compact SUVs like the Subaru Forester and Honda CR-V and midsize SUVs like the Subaru Outback and Honda Passport, while its pricing—which ranges from $36,995 to $44,995—and equipment levels also put it square in the middle of the two segments.

Unlike past Cherokees, which have offered myriad engine, transmission, and drivetrain configurations, you can only get the Cherokee one way. All 2026 Cherokees are hybrids, sporting a 1.6-liter turbocharged I-4 mated, Toyota-style, via planetary gears, to two electric motors, with one responsible for charging the small battery and starting the engine, the other helping the engine drive the wheels. That engine and motor combo is good for a combined 210 hp and 230 lb-ft of torque. That planetary e-CVT routes power through a standard all-wheel-drive system, helping the Cherokee earn a 39/35/37 mpg city/highway/combined EPA score.

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How Good Is the New Cherokee Off-Road?

Those hoping for a more robust four-wheel-drive option—like every Cherokee or Liberty prior—and more off-road capability would do well to be patient. While the current Cherokee is road-focused, sporting just 8.0 inches of ground clearance, pedestrian approach/breakover/departure angles of 19.2/19.4/29.4 degrees, and no skidplates of any kind, Jeep sources tell us an off-road-focused replacement to the last-generation Cherokee Trailhawk is coming.

We were underwhelmed with the feature-rich Cherokee Overland’s off-road performance at SUV of the Year and were not given the opportunity to see how the production-spec version fared during this drive.

Pavement Pounding

While off-roading awaits the Cherokee of the future, as far as the 2026 Cherokee is concerned, we noticed a night-and-day difference on the road between the Cherokee you can buy today and the early iteration of the Cherokee we tested last fall.

The most notable improvement addressed one of our largest complaints—that the Cherokee delivered its power unevenly and felt slow. Thanks to the extra months in the oven, that’s no longer the case. The Cherokee’s powertrain feels much quicker than before, with the electric motor masking turbo lag, providing peppy off-the-line performance around town. At highway speeds, meanwhile, the CVT doesn’t hesitate to put the engine into the loudest—and punchiest—part of its powerband, giving the Jeep passing power that won’t feel out of step in the compact SUV segment.

The Cherokee rides, handles, and brakes rather well, too. Thanks to its longer-than-average wheelbase, the Jeep happily eats up speed bumps, potholes, and frost heaves without any unnecessary secondary impacts or body roll through bends. While there’s little if any feel from the front tires in the steering wheel, steering effort builds smoothly, helping increase driver confidence. The Cherokee’s brakes will also boost confidence. They’re notably natural-feeling, with smooth, consistent stopping power—a feat that eludes many competing hybrids.

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Inside the Roomy Cabin

One trait we loved about the Cherokee when we first sampled the top-of-the-line Cherokee Overland at SUV of the Year was its spacious, well-equipped interior. Now that we’ve experienced more affordable Cherokee Laredo and Limited models, we stand by that assessment.

The cabin of the volume Cherokee Laredo, which starts around $40K, was particularly notable. Beyond the soft-touch cloth on the seats and dash—higher trims get leatherette—there were no obvious signs of cost-cutting. Every Cherokee ships with a 10.3-inch instrument cluster and 12.3-inch infotainment display, the latter of which is surrounded by piano black plastic trim and capacitive buttons. While most (including us) have dinged automakers for generic black plastic trim in the past, Jeep’s use here is clever, as an owner never has to look at button blanks for options they didn’t order. On the Laredo, for instance, this accent piece has backlit buttons for heated seats only, while on the Cherokee Overland this panel also has cooled seats and a heated steering wheel. Base Cherokee owners, meanwhile, would be none the wiser that their Jeep didn’t have these items.

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The back seat is nicely appointed, too. On the Cherokee Laredo and up, rear riders get dual USB ports, their own HVAC vents, and the same trim from the dashboard carried through to the rear. The back seat area is relatively spacious, with an upright seating position, adult-friendly legroom, and great visibility. The rear seats fold flat in a 60/40 split, and the cargo area, which has a large underfloor storage bin due to the lack of a spare tire, is generously sized.

Should I Consider a 2026 Jeep Cherokee?

If you’re thinking to yourself that the 2026 Jeep Cherokee actually sounds rather appealing, well, you’d be right. Although some larger issues about how it distinguishes itself in the market remain—chiefly because it still appears to lack the rugged off-road capability Jeeps are known for while rival automakers race to fill that gap—the new Cherokee is a pleasant crossover with solid driving manners, competitive fuel economy, and a roomy cabin. While Jeep traditionalists might still turn up their nose at it, we think that even they may find something they like in the new Cherokee.