Overview
The second act in Jeep’s late 20th-century comeback special, the Grand Cherokee SUV was a hit out of the box for its blend of practicality, capability, and OG SUV coolness. The 2027 doesn’t stray far from that path, merging five-passenger comfort with an urban-ready chassis that comes standard with genuine off-road chops for when the weather gets dicey, or the pavement ends.
Standard power is supplied by the venerable 293-hp 3.6-liter V-6 engine, but a new 324-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four is available as an option. An eight-speed automatic transmission pairs with either rear- or all-wheel drive. Refreshed for 2026, its styling continues to offer a modern interpretation of the GC’s beefy square-jaw style. A reasonably wide choice of trims and addons from Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts allows for customization at the dealer level.
Expert Tip: Jeep also offers the three-row Grand Cherokee L, but we review that model separately
What’s New for 2027?
Jeep returns to form for 2027 with the reintroduction of the Trailhawk trim. While details are TBD, we expect it to have more ground clearance, knobbier tires, underbody protection, and better suspension articulation than the rest of the Cherokee lineup. We don’t expect the plug-in hybrid to return, but it’s unclear whether the Trailhawk will come with the standard V-6, available turbo-four, or both.
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We’re stoked for the return of the Trailhawk trim, but the Cherokee is plenty capable as is. Therefore, we feel the Limited Reserve is the Grand Cherokee to get. It comes with 20-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a digital rearview mirror, and an off-road camera system. If your destination sits atop a several-mile-long, rock-strewn, rarely maintained path up the side of a mountain in snow country, the Traihawk is for you.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance Engines: 293-hp 3.6-liter V-6, 324-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder Transmission: 8-speed automatic Drivetrains: rear-wheel-drive, all-wheel-drive, four-wheel drive
A 293-hp 3.6-liter V-6 is standard on most Grand Cherokee models. A 324-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder is available as an upgrade. Both engines come paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and three all-wheel drive setups of increasing off-road capability are available—one of which can send 100 percent of the power to a single wheel, if that’s the only one with traction.
On pavement, all Grand Cherokees are impressively composed and have an exceptionally smooth ride, particularly the higher-level variants that use air springs and adaptive dampers. When we drove the 2026 Grand Cherokee, we found that the new turbo-four engine provides strong enough acceleration to feel lively and an interesting soundtrack.
0–60-MPH Times C/D 60-mph Test: 7.4 seconds (V-6 Summit) C/D 60-mph Estimate: 6.5 seconds (Turbo I-4)
In Comparison: Interestingly, the quickest Grand Cherokee was the hybrid 4xe model, reviewed separately, which leapt to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds and completed the quarter-mile in 13.9 seconds at 100 mph. Sadly, this powertrain has been discontinued. The Passport TrailSport we tested got to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds.
Additional ResearchTowing and Payload Capacity
In Comparison: The maximum 6200-pound towing capacity is just slightly more than rivals such as the Toyota 4Runner offer and is also more robust than the Jeep Wrangler’s maximum capacity.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG C/D 75-mph Highway Fuel-Economy Test: 22 mpg (V-6 Summit) EPA City Rating: 19 mpg (V-6), 21 mpg (turbo-four) EPA Highway Rating: 26 mpg (V-6), 26-27 mpg (turbo-four)
Fuel-economy estimates for the V-6–powered Grand Cherokee are typical of the mid-size SUV segment at 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined when paired with either rear- or all-wheel drive. We saw 22 mpg in our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test.
The Grand Cherokee with the turbocharged four-cylinder is rated at 21 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined with rear wheel drive; adding all-wheel drive reduces the highway estimate by one to 26 mpg.
For more information about the Grand Cherokee’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
In Comparison: The Honda Passport, which has standard AWD, is EPA-rated for 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. Passport TrailSport trims, with their chunkier all-terrain tires, are rated slightly worse at 18 mpg city, 23 highway, and 20 combined. However, the TrailSport beat its estimate in the real world and returned 25 mpg on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
First Row: While base Laredo models offer the essentials, upscale Limited and Summit trims offer premium-level environs with luxuries including fancier quilted leather upholstery, open-pore wood trim, and high-tech digital displays.
Second Row: Rear seat riders will find plenty of space for their head and legs. Sitting three across will be snug for adults, but kids should fit fine. The Grand Cherokee is strictly a two-row SUV, but buyers seeking a third row can upgrade to the longer Grand Cherokee L, which we review separately.
Cargo Capacity: The Grand Cherokee offers generous cargo space behind the rear seat; we fit 13 carry-on suitcases back there during our testing. With the rear seats folded, we squeezed in 28 carry-ons.
Infotainment and Connectivity Infotainment: 12.3-inch touchscreen (standard), 10.3-inch passenger touchscreen (optional) Connectivity: Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Audio System: 6-speaker stereo (standard), 9-speaker Alpine stereo (optional), 19-speaker McIntosh stereo (optional)
Set at an angle in the center of the Grand Cherokee’s dashboard is a 12.3-inch touchscreen with standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. In-dash navigation with real-time traffic and weather updates is available, and higher-end models can be had with a digital gauge cluster, a 10.0-inch head-up display, and another 10.3-inch display embedded into the right side of the dashboard for use by the front-seat passenger.
While the Laredo and Limited models ship with a standard six-speaker stereo, two premium stereo systems are available as options: a nine-speaker Alpine audio setup or a high-end 19-speaker McIntosh arrangement.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Basic driver-assistance features such as automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring are standard fare. More advanced tech, including adaptive cruise control with lane-centering, remains optional.
Standard Safety Features: automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring Optional Safety Features: adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature
For information about the Grand Cherokee’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Jeep’s standard warranty package is fairly basic. Rivals such as the Kia Sorento and the Hyundai Santa Fe both offer longer terms here, but the Jeep’s warranty lines up with most other mainstream rivals, including the Chevrolet Blazer and the Toyota 4Runner.
Limited Warranty: three years or 36,000 miles Powertrain Warranty: five years or 60,000 miles Complimentary Maintenance: noneC/D Test Results and Specs
Each year, we put hundreds of vehicles through our rigorous instrumented testing regimen. If the data in the chart below is for a different model year, that’s because this vehicle hasn’t changed from when we last tested it, and the test results remain accurate.
Specifications
Specifications
2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Vehicle Type: front-engine, rear- or all-/four-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base: Laredo 4×2, $40,410; Laredo 4×4, $42,410; Laredo X 4×2, $42,905; Laredo X 4×4, $44,905; Limited 4×2, $45,810; Laredo Altitude 4×4, $45,850; Limited 4×4, $47,810; Laredo Altitude 4×4, $47,850; Limited Reserve 4×4, $53,405; Summit 4×4, $62,190
ENGINES
DOHC 24-valve 3.6-liter V-6, 293 hp, 260 lb-ft; turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve Miller-cycle 2.0-liter inline-4, 324 hp, 332 lb-ft
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 116.7 in
Length: 193.5 in
Width: 77.5 in
Height: 70.8–70.9 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 56/51 ft3
Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 71/38 ft3
Curb Weight (C/D est): 4250–4800 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 6.5–7.0 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.6–15.0 sec
Top Speed: 120 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST)
Combined/City/Highway: 22–24/19–21/26–28 mpg
