For 2026, the Grand Cherokee moves to a smaller, turbocharged engine that makes more power.Mark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
The new Jeep Grand Cherokee looks pretty much the same as last year’s model from the outside but, for most trims, it’s a lot different under the hood. All but the most basic editions now have an all-new turbocharged “Hurricane 4” engine and automatic transmission, and it’s both more powerful and a little better for fuel consumption.
Of eight trim levels, the most basic is the Laredo Classic, which starts at $62,390, plus taxes, and then the Laredo X, which offers a few extra features such as a sunroof and wireless charger for $66,390, plus taxes. Those two editions are powered by the V6 engine found in last year’s models and Jeep expects them to account for a fifth of all Grand Cherokee sales.
All the other editions are powered by the new turbocharged inline-four and driven by Jeep’s fourth-generation eight-speed transmission. The least expensive is the Laredo Altitude, starting at $68,390, and rising to $85,390 for the Summit, which now includes Jeep’s most advanced Quadra-Lift adaptive air suspension system. They have a new front grille (with an extra splitter) and new headlamps, but are still built on the same platform and have identical dimensions to the previous year’s model. A third row for two more (short-legged) passengers is optional with all models for an extra $2,500.
This is a big deal for Jeep. The Detroit-built Grand Cherokee is the best-selling model every year among all of Stellantis’s light-duty vehicles, with more than 8.2 million SUVs sold since its introduction in 1992. It’s a big deal for potential owners, too, because many will question if a smaller, higher-compression engine can reliably cover the bases of a rugged, mid-sized SUV.
All but the most basic editions now have an all-new turbocharged “Hurricane 4” engine.Mark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
On the outside, the Grand Cherokee looks the same.Mark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
The new engine is different from the twin-turbo “Hurricane 6” inline-six engine found in the larger Wagoneer SUVs, sharing only the same bore and stroke dimensions of its four cylinders. It’s also entirely different from the two-litre turbocharged inline-fours found in Wrangler models, where the only common part is the oil filter.
“This is the first mainstream application of our TJI – Turbulent Jet Ignition – technology,” says Brian Crothers, Jeep’s propulsion systems development manager for the Hurricane 4 engine.
TJI was developed for race cars and then introduced into Maserati’s Nettuno engines. Fuel is sprayed into a passive “prechamber” above the cylinder, so that it’s already burning when it enters the combustion chamber. “Combustion starts earlier and works much faster, so we get a more complete burn,” says Crothers. “If you think of the spark plug as maybe a lighter in the chamber, this is like a blowtorch. There are nine holes – you can call it nine blowtorches, to get the entire mix in the chamber ignited off.”
There are many other features to add to this simplified explanation, of course, but the important thing to know is that 90 per cent of the new engine’s torque is found between 2,600 and 5,600 rpm, and 100 per cent is between 3,000 and 4,500 rpm. Compression is held to 12:1, but only regular gasoline is needed, thanks to a variable geometry turbo (VGT) and using Miller Cycle technology to reduce engine knock.
“You don’t have to rev the engine very hard to get the output out of the engine,” says Crothers. “Compared to the current two-litre turbo engine, (it has) 20-per-cent more output while still 10-per-cent less fuel consumption. So quite a significant step forward.”
For 2026, the dash hasn't changed much.Mark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
The second row of seats on the 2026 Grand Cherokee.Mark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
I didn’t notice any lack of power or response from the new engine on a drive through California’s winding canyon roads. It’s rated to tow 2,812 kilograms (6,200 pounds), which is exactly the same as the 3.6-litre V6 engine on the less expensive Grand Cherokees, but there was no trailer handy to test its towing ability. My observed fuel consumption in the three-row model was close to its claimed rating, at 10.9 litres per 100 kilometres.
The engine is noisy at idle, however – so much so that it sounded almost like a diesel, which is not necessarily a bad thing on an SUV that’s rated for towing such heavy loads. There’s an extra $995 cost for the Trailer Tow Package, but it’s currently discounted down to $695 on all different trim levels.
The third row is a $2,500 option.Mark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
Tech specs
- Base price / as tested: $59,995 / $85,495, plus $2,295 for freight and pre-delivery inspection, plus $100 a/c fee, plus taxes
- Engine: 3.6-litre V6 or two-litre turbocharged inline-four
- Horsepower / torque (lb-ft): V6: 293 / 260; I4: 324 / 332
- Transmission / drive: Eight-speed automatic / 4WD
- Fuel consumption (litres per 100 kilometres): V6: 12.3 city, 9.2 highway, 10.9 combined; i4: 11.5 city, 9.2 highway, 10.4 combined
- Alternatives: Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander, Toyota 4Runner, Honda Pilot, Volkswagen Atlas, Chevrolet Traverse, Kia Telluride
The trunk with the third-row seats folded flat.Mark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
The writer was a guest of the automaker. Content was not subject to approval.
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