Jeep’s angular, chunky Cherokee was a trendsetter when it came out in 1984, and remained basically unchanged through its first demise in 2012.
Over three million were sold in what was really the first modern SUV, basic but true.
The Cherokee came back in a compact, semi-square shape in 2002, then renamed the Liberty as a boxier model came out. Cherokee was the name upon the next generation in 2014, only to go back to sleep in 2023.
Now comes the new generation, hybrid only, built in Toluca, Mexico vs. Toledo and based on Stellantis’ STLV Large platform, versions of which underpin Jeep’s Wagoneer S, Dodge Charger, Maserati Levante and some Alfa Romeo SUVs.
And this Cherokee seems to be off to a decent start, with more than 2,400 sold in its first three months.
This first new Cherokee in years hews close to the Jeep formula of what ingredients go into its CUV and SUVs. It starts with the trademarked 7-slot grille seen on most Jeeps since the World War II military hero. U-shaped LED DRLs frame headlights at the outer, upper corners, with slim grille-like accents heading south to black LED fog lights that frame a chunky fender with air intakes athwart a lower honeycomb grille.
- Squared-off fender flares with black trim – check.
- Black lower door sill accents – check again.
- Squared-off-rear hatchback with large taillights over another chunky bumper – check and check again.
The Cherokee has gently curved fenders. The roofline is low but squared off, with black cargo rails – and black side mirrors. And it rides on Nexen Rodian 18-inch rubber, with enough air space between tread and fender to imply it can bounce a bit off road, although it doesn’t get a Trail Rated badge.
Overall, it says modern Jeep, handsome and up to date, but a hint of classic. I like the Grand Cherokee’s smoother looks.
But one car guy friend said “It looks like a RAV4” – hmm?
OK, so it gets some of the Grand Cherokee’s looks – what about its size?
Well, a 2-row Grand Cherokee is 193.5-inches long, with a 116.7-inch wheelbase; the new Cherokee is 188.1-inches long, on a 113-inch wheelbase. It’s got 8 inches of ground clearance, just a tad below the Grand Cherokee base model’s.
2026 Jeep Cherokee Laredo Limited Has Attractive Interior
That height means it’s just the right height to slide into, where we found a comfortable, perforated white leatherette seat facing a very thick stitched leather-rimmed squircle (squared circle) steering wheel with controls for audio in back, and the usual cruise/info screen buttons in front
The squared-off wheel does not block any of the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, which can be configured to show gauges, map with speed readout, or a simplified look, most with a variety of info screen shown in center or side. Dash center under a/c vents is a 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 infotainment touchscreen with real volume knob and touch icons for seat heat, steering wheel heat and more on the left and right sides.
Our Alpine sound system was good, but the squircle steering wheel blocks the driver’s view of the screen’s left side controls. And a few times, the navigation map blanked out when we were in “Home” screen – split – mode.
The dashtop is finished in stitch-edged black leatherette, with more padded white faux hide under a center trim that resembles plastic corduroy.
Below the center screen, which also displays exterior cameras, off-road and hybrid info and more, is a strip touchscreen with haptic a/c controls that click as you tap, above basic – and slightly hard to see – buttons for low gear, traction control and lane-keep, plus parking sensors and dual USB ports.
There’s rubberized storage space under that at the head of the wide center console, which gets hard plastic where knees touch, and had some gaps in its inside trim. There’s a big start/stop button, a gear selection knob and buttons for off-road cruise control and auto-hold. There’s big cup holders, and lots of room under the center armrest.
One note – I could use a bit more leg room in the driver’s seat, even when it’s all the way back. But even there, back seat leg room is really nice, as is head room, with rear vents, USB ports, and folding center armrest.
The seatbacks do a 60/40 split and fold flat to expand a seriously big (33.6 cubic feet) cargo area, expanding it to 68.3 cubic feet – but a spare tire takes up the decent underfloor storage space. The rear hatch is power-operated, with a foot wave under the bumper getting it to rise higher than my head.
We did hear an occasional buzz from the dashboard on rougher roads, plus a squeak in back, but the new Cherokee is a solid piece of kit.
Jeep has backed off plug-in hybrids for now, with the Wrangler 4xe and others gone, and only hybrids in the mix; but a new range of pure EVs are coming. So we have a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder – the gas engine has 177-hp, paired with dual electric motors for a combined total output of 210 hp and 230 pound-feet of torque. A CVT (continuously variable transmission) and standard all-wheel drive funnel the power to the wheels.
2026 Jeep Cherokee Laredo Limited’s Hybrid Set Up Improves MPG
One look at the E-HYBRID status screen shows that this Jeep’s front – and rear axle – are hooked in to the gas engine. There’s a drive shaft aft to turn the rear wheels when needed, or disconnect and run front-wheel-drive for efficiency or just plain commuting. Four-wheel drive engages automatically.
The 1-kWh lithium-ion battery can briefly propel the Cherokee without any help from the engine up to 62 mph, as well as breeze through your neighborhood quietly, or nicely shut off the gas engine at suburban speeds. But just as there is no “TRAIL RATED” badge on this Jeep’s flanks, there’s no low-range available, nor locking differentials. The “Low Gear” button increases torque to all four wheels for better traction on slippery or uneven ground, and puts more power to all wheels. Jeep hints at more rugged Trailhawk version to come with real 4-wheel-drive and off-road equipment.
So on our daily commutes, I chose Auto in the Drive Mode menu – there’s also Sport, Snow, and Sand/Mud. The engine is a bit vocal when pushed, revving to a point as the CVT does the ratio work – there’s no tachometer, so I do not know where it revs to. There’s a bit of get-up-and-go off the line in Auto, the Cherokee cantering to 60 mph in a decent 8.7 seconds, EV first, then gas joins in. Set in Sport, the Cherokee jumps out of the gates, hitting 60 in 8.2 seconds as the engine and electric motors work well together.
Sport mode really makes itself known off the line, where EV and gas combine to get this SUV away from a stop light quickly, or even just when you pass. The gas engine jumps in audibly when it joins the EV system, and revs high at first as the CVT puts its power down with the electric motors. But when the gas engine sleeps and EV takes over in normal cruising, the transition back and forth is quiet and transparent. Oddly, invoking Sport mode automatically turns off traction control with a button tap restoring it.
Auto-engine off is quiet, with no driveline lurch when it brings the gas engine back online. Towing is rated at 3,500 pounds.
We did not feel any regeneration kick in when we backed off the throttle, although the hybrid screen shows it feeding energy back to the battery. We started with an estimated 500-plus mile range from the hybrid powerplants, with an average of 35 mpg during our time with it.
With a strut front suspension and a multilink rear, this 4,295-lb crossover swallows speed bumps, comfortable and refined as it just swallows speed bumps and rougher pavement with no after-bounce or head bobbing. Handling with all-wheel-drive allocating power where needed was solid in our suburban loop, neutral in cornering with no body roll.
Those who want some sportiness will find there’s no way to manually downshift as you come near a curve, but push harder and the 18-inch Nexens in front only show a hint of understeer. And in steady-state cornering, we had more understeer, but mild and easy to back off throttle and stay tucked in line. Overall, handling was good, but maybe a sharper feel would be cool.
The electric power steering was a bit light in feel, but direct in Auto drive mode, with a solid on-center feel which felt a bit artificial. Our 2,200-mile-old Jeep has 13-inch front/12.8-inch rear disc brakes with a firm regen invoked pedal bite up high, then solid braking with some nose dive at full stop, but no brake fade after repeated hard use.
The new Cherokee is a soft-roader, although Jeep says it has very good approach and departure angles – 19.6-, and 29.4 degrees respectively. So we tackled a pine forest route with Drive mode in Sand/Mud, and it had great traction, comfortable rebound over roots and ruts, and no issues fording some shallow ditches. In summer Florida rains or December snow storms in New Jersey, it will do just fine. You also have an off-road display that shows body lean and nose-up/down angle, but only at low speed, plus another screen with engine gauges like voltage, coolant, oil, transmission temperature and more.
The lane-keep system is very evident when smart cruise is engaged, and you really feel it keeping the Cherokee arrow-straight between the lines – you also get a steering wheel vibration if you go near or over a lane line.
A base Cherokee Drive 4×4 starts at $35,000 with cloth seats and that 210-hp hybrid powerplant. Our Laredo starts at $38,000. It’s add-ons included the $2,000 Limited package with leatherette seats, power liftgate, power front seats, alarm and phone charging pad; $995 Tech Group with off-road info page, in-dash map, Alpine 9-speaker audio and more; $1,595 panoramic moonroof and a bit more for a final price of $45,580.
Bottom line: Welcome back to a roomy, capable, handsome and fuel-efficient hybrid Cherokee that needs a bit more polish – can’t wait for the Trailhawk.
2026 Jeep Cherokee Laredo Limited Specifications
Vehicle type – 4-door, 5-seat all-wheel-drive sports utility vehicle
Base price – $38,000 ($45,580as tested)
Engine type – turbocharged inline 4-cylinder
Displacement – 1.6 liters
Gas engine horsepower (net) – 177 @ 5,500 rpm
Combined gas/electric horsepower – 210
Combined torque (lb-ft) – 230
Battery pack: 400V nickel manganese cobalt
Transmission – CVT automatic
Wheelbase – 113 inches
Height – 67.5 inches
Overall length – 188.1 inches
Overall width – 74.7 inches w/mirrors
Ground clearance – 8 inches
Front headroom – 40.3 inches
Front legroom – 41.3 inches
Rear headroom – 40.5 inches
Rear legroom – 38.5 inches
Cargo capacity – 33.6 cu. ft./68.3 w/seats folded
Towing capacity: up to 3,500 lbs.
Curb weight – 4,295 lbs.
Fuel capacity – 13.7 gallons
Mileage rating – 39 mpg city/35 mpg highway