2026 Jeep Cherokee Review
Our automotive expert shares opinions and new photos of the 2026 Cherokee.
Capital One
- Pros: The Cherokee boasts refined driving dynamics and a handsome interior.
- Cons: Jeep fans may be disappointed that there's no off-road-focused trim, and the lack of strong engine acceleration is a letdown.
- The Takeaway: Jeep's compact crossover SUV reemerges as a real contender.
The all-new 2026 Jeep Cherokee, featuring a turbocharged hybrid powertrain that offers improved fuel economy over the previous version, returns to dealerships for the first time since the 2023 model year.
The Cherokee is a critically important new product for the automaker as it reenters the compact-crossover segment. The two most popular compact SUVs in the United States sell at a rate approaching 1 million annually. If I were Jeep, I'd want in on that action, too, so I'd study what Toyota and Honda are doing right and then put a Jeep spin on it.
The new Cherokee accomplishes that mission for the most part, tossing in some extra-appealing elements along the way. Another helping of that Jeep spin would be nice, though.
What's New for the 2026 Jeep Cherokee
QuickTake: The new Cherokee is more fuel efficient and offers more cargo space than before.
The Cherokee is all new for the 2026 model year. In addition to its new powertrain and updated styling, Jeep says the hybrid-only SUV offers 30% more cargo space than the previous Cherokee.Â
Manuel Carrillo III
About the 2026 Jeep Cherokee Limited Review Vehicle
QuickTake:Â The new Cherokee is priced competitively with all-wheel-drive versions of the Honda CR-V Hybrid and the Toyota RAV4.
The 2026 Jeep Cherokee comes in base, Laredo, Limited, and Overland trim levels, and base prices range from about $37,000 to roughly $45,000, including the destination charge for shipping the SUV to a dealership from its Toluca, Mexico, assembly plant.
For this Cherokee review, I test-drove the Limited trim in Southern California. Optional equipment highlights included a panoramic moonroof, a hands-free power liftgate, an Alpine nine-speaker audio system with subwoofer, and the trailer-tow package, bringing the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) to $45,580, including the $1,995 destination charge. Jeep provided the vehicle for this Cherokee review and paid for lodging and meals during the evaluation period.
Manuel Carrillo III
Design, Quality, and Interior Layout
QuickTake: The 2026 Cherokee's interior is significantly nicer than before.
The first time I saw the 2026 Cherokee in person, I was disappointed and bored by its look, but it's grown on me. The boxy shape takes inspiration from the 1984 to 2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ, and it's a handsome little trucklet that stands out in the segment.
The new Cherokee's interior is substantially improved over the previous model's. It feels lean and sculpted, and it's dressed in quality materials. I found it an improvement over the old Cherokee, which had cheaper-feeling plastics and a blobby-looking design.
In an age where cars are dominated by anonymous rectangular screens tacked into their interiors, the 2026 Jeep Cherokee is a breath of fresh mountain air. Its infotainment and cluster displays are beautifully integrated into the dash. Other automakers should take notes.
As I interacted with the cabin, I found the rotary dial on the center console a reasonably simple way to select park, reverse, and drive, but more physical controls for climate functions would be nice to reduce distraction behind the wheel.
Manuel Carrillo III
Comfort, Convenience, and Cargo Space
QuickTake: You likely won't be wanting for space inside the new Cherokee.
The 2026 Cherokee's cabin offers enough space for five adults, and the seats are comfortable and provide firm support, but I couldn't recline the back row, so that's a demerit. Behind the second row is 33.6 cubic-feet of cargo space. Fold it down, and space expands to 68.3 cu-ft. Jeep says that's 30% more room, or about one large dog crate greater, than the old Cherokee.
There's also enough space within reach for your small items. I loved the wireless charger in my test example, which sits ahead of the center armrest. My iPhone 17 Pro Max slotted in there effortlessly and remained cool when I removed it roughly half an hour later. My passenger, however, complained that there wasn't an additional wireless charger for her phone. Jeep could have been kind enough to add one in the cubby below the infotainment screen.
Manuel Carrillo III
2026 Jeep Cherokee Infotainment System Review
QuickTake: Uconnect 5 is a solid infotainment offering.
Every Cherokee comes with a 10.3-inch digital instrument display and a 12.3-inch center screen running Jeep's Uconnect 5 infotainment system.
Standard features include:
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity
- SiriusXM satellite radio
- Connected services
I've found the Uconnect infotainment interface simpler to use than many others on the market, and that remains true with the new Cherokee. The only element about this infotainment system that would prevent me from using it over Apple CarPlay is its voice recognition, which can be inconsistent in understanding commands. Siri doesn't put me through that when I'm asking her to navigate me home.
My Cherokee test example featured the upgraded embedded navigation, which is nice to have if you're camping beyond mobile-data range. Pairing my phone with Uconnect 5 wasn't much more complicated than falling out of bed, and the system would faithfully reconnect after each drive.
I was delighted to see my test vehicle also had the optional Alpine nine-speaker audio system with a subwoofer. With crisper highs and cleaner lows, it's generally an improvement over the previous Cherokee's Alpine, but those low frequencies get lost at lower volumes. The old Cherokee's audio was well balanced at just about all listening levels.
Manuel Carrillo III
Safety Features and Ratings
QuickTake: Across the Cherokee's lineup, you get driver-assists galore.
Jeep equips the Cherokee with a generous collection of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) as standard equipment:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Forward-collision warning
- Automatic emergency braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Rear automatic braking
- Lane-keeping assist
- Lane-centering assist
Among driver-assistance features that are often standard on new cars, lane-centering systems vary in effectiveness. The Cherokee's lane centering falls on the favorable end of that spectrum. Just like the Dodge Charger I recently tested, which is built on the same platform, the Cherokee's lane-centering truly feels like a driver-assistance feature, partnering with my steering inputs rather than micromanaging them.
I never felt compelled to turn the system off, even when I finally found a situation that tripped it up. While meandering along the ribbons of tarmac that crisscross the Santa Monica Mountains, I found the steering wheel would subtly shuffle left and right in my hands when negotiating bends that required close to a quarter-turn of the wheel. Instead of disruptive, I found the shuffling informative, and it never lasted that long, anyway. This is still one of the better lane-centering systems on the market, in my opinion.
Manuel Carrillo III
2026 Jeep Cherokee Specs and Fuel Economy
QuickTake: The new Cherokee's powertrain focuses on efficiency and utility.
All trim levels of the hybrid-only 2026 Jeep Cherokee use a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that sends power to all four wheels. The Cherokee makes 210 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque, and it boasts a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. That's good for a compact crossover SUV, but the previous Cherokee could tow 4,500 pounds.
According to EPA estimates, the new Cherokee returns 37 mpg in combined city and highway driving. That's a leap ahead of the combined 24 mpg the most efficient version of the previous Cherokee could muster. After about 100 miles of testing in fuel-thirsty conditions — during heavy rains up and down the Santa Monica Mountains (and up again) — I saw 27.8 mpg.
Manuel Carrillo III
2026 Jeep Cherokee Test Drive
QuickTake:Â The Cherokee is a well-behaved family hauler.
I'm old enough to remember a time when 210 horsepower was a lot. Behind the wheel of the new Cherokee, it's not. Stomping the pedal as I was merging onto Pacific Coast Highway from Zuma Beach, I thought I was giving the approaching Ford Explorer enough room behind my merge.
The Explorer still had to move into the left lane, and the womp-womp noise played in my mind as I realized those 210 ponies really felt like 185. On top of that, whenever you're giving it the beans, you've gotta deal with the droning noise of the CVT. Thank heavens for good stereos.
The rest of the new Cherokee's driving dynamics are right where they need to be for the vehicle's intended audience. On my soaked driving route, the Cherokee's braking felt eager and stable all the way past ABS engagement, and with great pedal control. The ride is comfortable and float-free, with a hint of firmness to keep body roll at bay.
I wish the Cherokee's handling were sportier, but I'm an enthusiast. The tires and suspension behave predictably and responsively enough to sharp inputs, and that's all they need to do. My favorite part of driving the Cherokee is the steering. It's precise, accurate, well-weighted with a whisper of feel, and it reminds me of the fun I had in the Dodge Charger, which has nearly identical steering behavior. I'll also give kudos to the thick steering wheel rim, which felt great in my grasp.
Also similar to its muscle-car platform mate, the Cherokee does an applause-worthy job of preventing wind noise, but some road noise still comes through. That said, the Cherokee still seems like one of the quieter compact SUVs overall.
Manuel Carrillo III
Alternatives to the 2026 Jeep Cherokee
QuickTake: The new Cherokee is well set up for the core crossover shopper.
With annual sales approaching 1 million between the two, the CR-V and RAV4's popularity shows that Honda and Toyota are pushing the right buttons to get the compact-crossover shopper to sign on the dotted line. The 2026 Jeep Cherokee pushes similar buttons with competitive utility and fuel efficiency, and then sweetens the pot with a dollop of refinement.
With its current hybrid-only lineup, the new Cherokee has what it takes to interest CR-V, RAV4, Kia Sportage, and Hyundai Tucson shoppers. That's a good start, but to stand out more, the model line could use an off-road-focused Trailhawk trim. Ditto a more powerful engine. I still feel guilty for making that Explorer merge.
Manuel Carrillo IIIManuel's passion for cars began at birth, when he was delivered home from the hospital in his parents' 1977 Porsche 911 S. He's been fortunate enough to channel his intense automotive enthusiasm into a successful media career as a writer, editor, photographer, and presenter. He's also a Hollywood actor. Manuel's byline has appeared in CNET, DUB Magazine, J.D. Power, Motor1, and Robb Report, and he's also cohosted MotorTrend's Seduced by Speed. That 911 S never left the family, thankfully, and is now under Manuel's ownership. He continues to enjoy and maintain it, working toward restoring it to the condition it was when his father purchased it brand-new.
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