Jeep's begun pulling the covers off its OG premium SUV as it prepares to launch a mid-cycle refresh for 2026. Teasing small bits of the updated Grand Cherokee in a video released on social media, the automaker has made it hard to tell just how much has actually changed. Until its full reveal, Jeep has offered hints of what's in store for the 2026 Grand Cherokee.
What Jeep has teased about the 2026 Grand Cherokee
The teaser video Jeep posted of the updated Grand Cherokee included brief clips of the exterior and interior. With various scenes of nature and the outdoors reflecting off the Grand Cherokee's paint, a more chiseled seven-slot grille is spotted at the front, along with a more aggressive front fascia featuring larger air duct work. Redesigned taillamps and rear fascia are also previewed in the video.
A new infotainment layout with a wider display can be seen highlighting the interior upgrades. Shots of the center console with the Grand Cherokee's rotary gear selector and the passenger side leather seat and door panel with color ambient lighting are also shown.
In its announcement of the 2026 Grand Cherokee, Jeep says the SUV is in its final stages of validation testing. According to the automaker, it's perfecting the powertrain, user-friendly technology, advanced safety features, and class-leading all-weather capability. Jeep also confirmed that the Grand Cherokee will still offer two-row, three-row L, and plug-in hybrid 4xe models. The Grand Cherokee is set to arrive later this year.
Jeep's Grand Cherokee announcement in-depth
Because Jeep specifically called out the powertrain, technology, advanced safety features, and all-weather capability of the refreshed Grand Cherokee, we know they are working to enhance each of those elements over the outgoing model.
Based on what's been shown inside the new Grand Cherokee, Jeep did an ergonomic shuffle of the layout of the buttons and switches on the center stack to accommodate the larger infotainment screen. The current Grand Cherokee features a 10.1-inch display, but, for example, the updated Wrangler received a new 12.3-inch screen. The area around the larger display appears less busy, making the Grand Cherokee's interior feel cleaner and more refined.
In terms of other tech and safety features, the current Jeep Grand Cherokee already utilizes the automaker's latest Uconnect 5 system and is available with Hands-Free Active Driving Assist. Currently, only select models get access to Hands-Free Active Driving Assist, meaning there is an opportunity for this system to be added to more models.
4xe model, other powertrain options remain unknown
As one of the top-three selling plug-in hybrids (PHEV) in America, the 2026 Grand Cherokee will continue to offer Jeep's 4xe powertrain. Currently, this PHEV system combines two electric motors, a 400-volt battery pack, a 2.0-liter turbocharged, four-cylinder engine, and an eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. Total power output on the 2025 Grand Cherokee 4xe is 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. The Grand Cherokee 4xe delivers an EPA-estimated 56 MPGe and 25 miles of all-electric range.
The 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, which debuted on the fourth-generation Grand Cherokee in 2011, has been Jeep's mainstay workhorse for nearly 15 years. The aging powertrain produces 293 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. While the V-6 will remain in service among other Stellantis products for the foreseeable future, a new generation of twin-turbocharged inline-six engines could find their way into the Grand Cherokee. In the larger Wagoneer, the standard 3.0-liter Hurricane engine produces 420 horsepower and 468 lb.-ft. of torque. Since V-8s are out at Jeep, a high-output version of the Hurricane I-6 engine found in the current RAM 1500 RHO is also a contender. The more powerful I-6 variant cranks out 540 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque.
A refresh is refreshing, but TBD how fresh the 2026 Grand Cherokee will be
The Grand Cherokee is Jeep's best-selling SUV. With a history spanning over 30 years, any changes made to the Grand Cherokee should enhance it without creating an identity crisis. This shouldn't be a problem for the 2026 Grand Cherokee because, from what we've seen, the SUV is staying its current course, albeit with light updates to the exterior or interior. The biggest news for this refresh will come when Jeep finally reveals what powertrains will be available. Until then, we'll be patiently waiting.