Jeep has confirmed the return of its mid-size crossover. The Cherokee, which Jeep is advertising as all-new, will debut later this year and go on sale as a 2026 model. It will fill a hole in Jeep’s lineup of crossovers, which currently consists of the best-selling, handsome Grand Cherokee (mid-$30,000s) and the Compass (mid-$20,000s). The model was discontinued in 2023 as sales cratered, and the sixth-gen Cherokee will re-enter a highly competitive segment ruled by the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV-4.
Originally a two-door version of the Wagoneer, the Cherokee became Jeep’s first unibody model in 1984. It was the mildest, smallest offering in Jeep’s lineup until the Compass and the Patriot appeared for the 2007 model year. From then until 2023, the Cherokee was the “medium-size” Jeep crossover.
Each successive Cherokee has looked very different from the generation that preceded it, and the upcoming model is no exception. The 2014–23 car was—in your author’s humble opinion—not only one of the softest, roundest models in Jeep’s history but one of the least-attractive crossovers in its segment. Happily, the 2026 Cherokee corrects that by bringing back a healthy amount of boxiness (à la XJ).
Even though the trucklet hasn’t been revealed, Jeep’s already sharing photos of camo-free vehicles, and they show no sign of the underbite that plagued the previous Cherokee. Everything is more upright: The B, C, and D pillars, the grille and lower fascia, and the back glass. The rectangular DRLs within the front and rear lights are fashionably retro-futuristic, and the greenhouse and character line running through the door handles runs straight, making for a cleaner, crisper design. The Cherokee looks more Grand, and that’s a good thing.
Our big question is: Where will the new Cherokee be built? The previous generation was built in Illinois, at Belvidere Assembly, which Stellantis shuttered in 2022 when it discontinued the old Cherokee. FCA received $334,763,050 in federal funding to convert Belvidere Assembly to “a Vehicle Complex for Electrification,” though it’s unclear whether the recent changes at Stellantis will amend that trajectory. A hybrid Cherokee is all but necessary for the Jeeplet to succeed in its segment and to boost the ailing sales numbers of the Jeep brand.
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