Jeep brings Cherokee back
At the New York Auto Show Jeep celebrated its 85th anniversary by reviving the 2026 Cherokee as a hybrid with a starting price of $36,995. (theweeklydriver.com) The brand also showcased an all‑electric Recon rated at 650 horsepower with a roughly $65,000 price tag, signaling Jeep’s push into high‑power EV territory. (theweeklydriver.com)
Jeep has put the Cherokee name back on a midsize sport utility vehicle, this time with a hybrid powertrain and a starting price below $40,000. (media.stellantisnorthamerica.com) The 2026 Cherokee debuted in Brooklyn on August 21, 2025, with a new 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid system rated at an estimated 210 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque. Jeep said it targets 37 miles per gallon combined and more than 500 miles of range on one tank. (media.stellantisnorthamerica.com 1) (media.stellantisnorthamerica.com 2) Jeep said the Cherokee starts “under $40,000,” and the current Jeep retail site says the model has reached United States dealerships. The company is pitching 3,500 pounds of towing capacity, more cargo space than the previous Cherokee, and 140 standard and available safety and security features. (media.stellantisnorthamerica.com) (www.media.stellantisnorthamerica.com) (www.jeep.com) The return fills a hole Jeep created when it ended production of the prior Cherokee in 2023. In the United States market, that left Jeep without a direct entry in the crowded midsize sport utility vehicle segment between the Compass and the Grand Cherokee. (www.caranddriver.com) (media.stellantisnorthamerica.com) Jeep is also using the Cherokee relaunch to push deeper into electrified vehicles. At the New York International Auto Show, the brand’s display paired the hybrid Cherokee with the all-electric Recon, which Jeep says will arrive in early 2026. (www.autoshowny.com) (www.jeep.com) Jeep says the 2026 Recon will start at $65,000 and produce 650 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torque, with an estimated electric range of up to 250 miles and a zero-to-60 time as low as 3.6 seconds. The company is marketing it as the only fully electric sport utility vehicle with its Trail Rated badge and removable doors. (media.stellantisnorthamerica.com) (www.jeep.com) The Cherokee and Recon show Jeep splitting its electrification plan across two price bands and two technologies. One model keeps gasoline in the mix to stretch range, while the other goes fully battery-powered and aims at buyers who want Wrangler-style cues with electric performance. (media.stellantisnorthamerica.com 1) (media.stellantisnorthamerica.com 2) Jeep tied the Cherokee’s comeback to its 85th anniversary marketing and staged the launch as a public event in Brooklyn’s Domino Park, with the reveal streamed in Times Square. The company’s campaign borrowed the line “Don’t Call it a Comeback” as it tried to turn a discontinued nameplate into a fresh start. (www.media.stellantisnorthamerica.com) For Jeep, the immediate test is simple: whether a hybrid Cherokee can win back mainstream family buyers while the Recon pulls the brand into the electric era. The company has now put both bets on the same show floor. (www.autoshowny.com) (media.stellantisnorthamerica.com)
