2026 Jeep Cherokee Road Test and Review

2026 Jeep Cherokee Laredo ・ Photo by Brady Holt

People have bought a Jeep Cherokee for a lot of different reasons. Decades ago, the Cherokee was a pioneering SUV that paired off-road capability with a touch of everyday civility. In more recent memory, from 2014 to 2023, it was a flashy crossover that could go farther off-road than most of its fellow car-based competitors. 

The Cherokee has been on hiatus since then, but now it’s back – and in a different form. The 2026 Jeep Cherokee has the boxy simplicity of the 1980s and 1990s. But it has the mild-mannered ride and handling of a modern compact crossover, minus Jeep’s famous “trail-rated” capability. And it’s sold exclusively as a fuel-sipping gas-electric hybrid, priced from $35,000. 

For this review, we just spent a week testing the all-new 2026 Jeep Cherokee. What we found is a mix of qualities. Some things will be just what Jeep loyalists are looking for. Others will appeal to folks who’ve never considered a Jeep before. Keep reading as we go through the details of this economical new SUV to see if this unlikely Cherokee is the best compact crossover for you. 

Now It’s a Hybrid

The Cherokee has been many things in its history. But it has never been a fuel sipper. Even when Jeep reinvented the 2014-2023 model as a car-based crossover, its most economical configuration managed a modest 26 mpg in mixed driving. 

Now, the new 2026 Jeep Cherokee is all about efficiency. Say goodbye to the old version’s low-cost gas-only base engine. And say goodbye to its powerful optional upgrades. The only choice is a turbocharged 1.6-liter gas engine paired with two electric motors. They combine to make 210 horsepower and 230 lb-ft of torque, roughly similar to key rivals like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V Hybrid. 

This is the first Jeep sold with a conventional hybrid system, in which the engine recharges a small electric battery while it’s running. That’s in contrast to Jeep’s now-discontinued “4xe” plug-in hybrid system, which had a bigger battery that you’d charge up using energy from the power grid. This particular powertrain is new, but Jeep can draw from its parent company Stellantis for hybrid experience; Stellantis has sold Peugeot and Citroen hybrids in Europe for years. And the 1.6-liter gas engine has been around for two decades, even making its way to the U.S. in the Mini Cooper sporty hatchback. 

2026 Jeep Cherokee Laredo ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Incredible Mileage in Our Test

Some Cherokee fans might wish for even more power; the previous generation had two engines (a V6 and a turbocharged four-cylinder) with horsepower in the 270s. But they could only manage fuel efficiency in the low to mid 20s. Every 2026 Cherokee gets an EPA-estimated 39 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 37 mpg combined using regular-grade 87-octane fuel. That’s a few miles per gallon below the Toyota RAV4 but in line with other competitors, especially considering that every 2026 Cherokee comes with all-wheel drive. 

We were amazed by our Cherokee’s mileage during our weeklong test. Admittedly, we drove it during the perfect weather for a hybrid – not too hot, not too cold. Still, while we’ve read about some reviewers struggling to even meet the EPA estimates, we demolished them. We averaged 42 mpg in a mix of city, highway, and suburban driving. Even the freeway didn’t wreck our mileage, like it would in many hybrids (and despite the EPA ratings showing lower performance on the highway). 

If you constantly floor the accelerator or spend a lot of time driving above 70 mph, your mileage would likely fall quickly. And hot or cold temperatures would likely cost it some mileage, too. 

For some context: When our test vehicle arrived, its trip computer reported that previous drivers had averaged a less remarkable 33 mpg. That’s still great for a Cherokee, but not amazing for a hybrid. Still, our week with the Cherokee revealed its remarkable potential.

2026 Jeep Cherokee Laredo ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Boxy, but Not Just a Box

Some people will buy the Cherokee for its gas mileage. Others want a right-sized Jeep, and low fuel costs are just icing on the cake. For that group, we think the Cherokee’s new look will be a big draw. Like the Cherokee sold from 1984 to 2001, it’s a handsomely simple box. That’s a big difference from the old crossover version, which was curvier and more aggressive. This shape also distinguishes the Cherokee from the similarly sized, slightly smaller Jeep Compass (at least until the Compass gets redesigned for the 2028 model year). 

The Cherokee doesn’t scream “look at me, I’m an off-roader,” at least beyond a sturdy-looking gray plastic front bumper. Nor does it have many flashy design flourishes. And its boxiness isn’t a cutesy affectation like the now-discontinued Jeep Renegade. To some folks, the new Cherokee will be just plain. But we think it’s handsome and understated. It also wears the traditional Jeep grille between its angular headlights. 

We’ve seen speculation that a more purposeful-looking off-road model will join the Cherokee lineup in the next year or so. That would bring more genuine capability – and the looks to match.

2026 Jeep Cherokee Laredo ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Contemporary Dashboard

Inside, the Cherokee has a crisply modern dashboard featuring a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Straight lines keep the dashboard looking simple, but it’s sculpted to avoid looking like a big upright block. And the touchscreen lives within the dashboard rather than perching on the top, where some folks feel a screen would look tacked-on.

The new Cherokee’s controls include simple knobs for audio volume and radio tuning, and you can customize the touchscreen to show a variety of different side-by-side displays. We also appreciated how you didn’t need to go through touchscreen menus for basic climate functions. And the interior has a pleasant ambiance, even with our test car's cloth upholstery.

While we liked the Cherokee's interior overall, we'd have done some details differently. The electronically activated exterior door handles are fussy. The climate controls aren’t in the touchscreen, but they’re still touch-sensitive rather than traditional buttons. The seat heaters’ touch-sensitive buttons are tucked along the sides of the touchscreen, where the driver can’t see them past the steering wheel. And that steering wheel isn’t perfectly round, which didn’t bother us but which we’ve heard some complaints about – try it out before buying. We were also disappointed that our $41,950 test vehicle lacked a wireless smartphone charger, which requires stepping up to the Limited trim level. And finally, some patterns on the top of the dashboard caused annoying reflections on the windshield, and a couple of trim pieces didn't line up perfectly lower down. 

2026 Jeep Cherokee Laredo ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Comfortable Seating for Five

We appreciated the Cherokee’s roomy interior, which is comfortable for up to five passengers. The front seats are well-shaped and nicely padded. And while the rear seat is a little low, it has plenty of legroom and is wide enough to fit someone in the middle. The floor is nearly flat back there, too. And like other compact crossovers, it’s easier to get in and out of the Cherokee than a traditional truck-based SUV. 

Our Cherokee Laredo test vehicle, the second-cheapest trim level, included a power driver’s seat and heated front seats. The next-up Limited has leatherette upholstery (instead of our test car’s cloth) along with a heated steering wheel and a power passenger’s seat. You can also get ventilated front seats and heated rear seats by choosing the top-of-the-line Overland model and adding the optional Advanced Pro Tech Group package. 

2026 Jeep Cherokee Laredo ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Roomy Cargo Hold

The 2026 Jeep Cherokee has 33.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind its rear seat and 68.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. That trounces the old Cherokee; its hunched-forward shape and high cargo floor squeezed its cargo room to a subcompact-like 26 cubic feet and 55 cubic feet, respectively. Still, most of today’s rivals have even more space. At least the Cherokee fits an optional spare tire under its cargo floor. The Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester hybrids use that space for their hybrid batteries, providing only tire-repair kits instead of spares. 

The new Cherokee also tows more than most hybrid compact crossovers, rated to handle up to 3,500 pounds. That’s less than the previous generation, which reached 4,000 pounds with its optional turbo engine and 4,500 pounds with its V6. But only the Toyota RAV4 can match 3,500 pounds (on certain trim levels only), while other competitors are rated to tow 2,000 pounds or less. 

2026 Jeep Cherokee Laredo ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Comfortable and Easy to Drive – On Pavement

Jeep makes three types of SUVs: tough, bouncy off-road machines; cheap, loud, basic cars; and comfortable, easygoing premium products. The 2026 Jeep Cherokee is most like the last of those types. 

Now, let’s be clear: This isn’t a performance car. Its hybrid powertrain isn’t trashy and weak like the old Cherokee’s base 2.4-liter engine. But it’s not punchy like the old model’s 2.0-liter turbo, or muscular like its 3.2-liter V6. You can gun this engine and it won’t complain all that much, but it also won’t get you moving in a real big hurry. That’s still better than some loudly complaining hybrid SUVs, but the Cherokee has neither great speed nor a lot of personality. 

The same goes for its ride and handling. The suspension is softly sprung, taking the edge off bumps nicely. (Sometimes it’s still bouncing a bit before it settles back down, but many folks will still prefer this to an overly stiff ride.) The light steering is fuss-free without inspiring any corner-carving. And if you try anyway, don’t look for incredible handling limits. The Cherokee isn’t clumsy, but it’s no sports car. 

Similarly, the Cherokee has the goods to tackle light off-roading conditions. It has an above-average 8 inches of ground clearance, and all-wheel drive comes standard. Unlike what you’d find in a Toyota RAV4 or Mazda CX-50 Hybrid, the Cherokee’s AWD system has a mechanical link from the engine instead of just a second electric motor; this means AWD performance doesn’t depend on a fully charged hybrid battery, and it lets the Jeep send up to 50 percent of its torque to the rear wheels. You can also optimize the Cherokee’s AWD for the condition by selecting snow or sand/mud mode, and hill-descent control helps keep speeds low on steep downhills. But Jeep doesn’t sell it with skid plates, all-terrain tires, or a low range. 

2026 Jeep Cherokee Laredo ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Prices Start at $35,000

As we mentioned, the 2026 Jeep Cherokee starts at $35,000. That’s for the base model and before a mandatory $1,995 destination charge. That’s several thousand dollars more than a Toyota RAV4 but in line with most other hybrid compact crossovers – especially if you’d have upgraded one of the others with all-wheel drive. Also, as we write, the RAV4 is in short supply and selling above its sticker price.

Other standard features include 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, rain-sensing windshield wipers, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. So this isn’t a base-model SUV that screams “somebody didn’t get the upgrade.” The Laredo costs $3,000 more and has a power driver’s seat, heated front seats, fog lights, and the chance to buy a sunroof. Our Laredo test vehicle cost $41,590 with the sunroof and the destination charge. 

The next-up Limited is a relatively affordable upgrade. At $40,000 plus the destination charge, or $2,000 more than the Laredo, it has leatherette upholstery, a heated steering wheel, a power passenger seat, a wireless smartphone charger, and a power liftgate. It also has options for a premium stereo, a towing package, and GPS navigation. 

The top Overland, $43,000, includes those options along with big 20-inch wheels. It’s the only trim to offer ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a surround-view parking camera, or an automated parking system. If you’re attached to any of those items, you might find them for less money on a competitor. But overall, the Cherokee delivers reasonable equipment for the money. 

2026 Jeep Cherokee Laredo ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Cherokee vs. the Competition

As we’ve mentioned, the Cherokee faces a number of strong rivals in the hybrid compact crossover segment. These include the newly redesigned Toyota RAV4, also available exclusively as a hybrid, along with gas-electric versions of the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage cousins, Subaru Forester, and Mazda CX-50. 

In this context, the Jeep is in some sense a latecomer with no obvious advantage. It has less cargo room than most of these models, and neither its price tag nor its EPA ratings are standouts. Plus, as an all-new model and Jeep’s first conventional hybrid, the Cherokee lacks the competition’s proven reliability records. (Jeep’s discontinued 4xe plug-in hybrids suffered from quality lapses, but the Cherokee benefits from Stellantis’ French experience with hybrids.)

On the flip side, the new Cherokee is a thoroughly pleasant crossover that, in our hands, managed standout real-world fuel efficiency. It’s comfortable, it rides well, and its engine is quieter than many hybrids. And if you like Jeeps, it’s a handsome SUV that burns much less fuel than the brand’s other models. Even if it doesn’t catapult to the top of its class, the new Cherokee keeps things competitive against established class leaders. 

Since every Cherokee is a hybrid, we also expect some folks will shop it against non-hybrid competitors. Popular compact crossovers without a hybrid option include the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain cousins, the Nissan Rogue, and Jeep’s own Compass. They cost less than the Cherokee, but especially at lower speeds, the Cherokee uses a lot less gas. It’s quicker and quieter than the Equinox/Terrain, too, and it’s roomier than the Compass. And for any concern about the Cherokee’s reliability, the Rogue has an equally complex three-cylinder gas-only engine. 

2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Limited ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Final Thoughts

We’ve read some reviews calling the 2026 Jeep Cherokee one of the most disappointing new cars of the year. And for someone hoping for a more traditional Jeep Cherokee, we can see why that might be. 

But let’s set aside what the Cherokee could have been and talk about what it actually is. No, it’s not a tough off-road Jeep. And no, it’s not trying to win the horsepower wars. Instead, it’s a well-mannered, comfortable, functional fuel-sipper with a long list of high-end options, straightforward good looks, and slightly above-average off-road capability. 

And no, it doesn’t dominate the competition in any of those ways. But nor does it embarrass itself. 

It’ll be easy for Jeep to broaden the Cherokee’s appeal by giving it an optional gas-only engine and more off-road gear. And it would have been even better if Jeep hadn’t complicated simple things like door handles and a round steering wheel. But the new Cherokee hybrid is already worth cross-shopping with the market’s other top compact crossover SUVs. 

2026 Jeep Cherokee Laredo ・ Photo by Brady Holt