2026 Jeep Cherokee Up Close: Boxier Should Be Better

Key Points

• We had our first chance to see the all-new 2026 Jeep Cherokee compact SUV in person.
• The 2026 Cherokee is an all-new design that is the first Jeep in North America to use a traditional gas-electric hybrid powertrain.
• The boxy design results in a comfortable interior with solid outward visibility, and the upscale interior is reminiscent of the Jeep Wagoneer S.
• We’ll have to wait until we get to drive the new Cherokee to see how the hybrid performs.

The curtain lifted on the all-new 2026 Jeep Cherokee — with a new hybrid powertrain — back in August, and we recently got our first chance to see the new compact SUV in person at the 2025 edition of Chicago Drives Electric, a Chicago-area event for consumers who are curious about electrified vehicles, to see and test-drive the latest all-electrics, hybrids and plug-in hybrids.

Cars.com previously owned a 2014 Cherokee back when the Cherokee returned to Jeep’s North American lineup after a decade-plus hiatus. Our ownership experience was … not great. What about the all-new Cherokee?

Related: 2026 Jeep Cherokee Returns as High-Mileage Hybrid

Less Polarizing Exterior

Takeaways:

• The 2026 Cherokee has a boxy exterior design that draws from the iconic XJ Cherokee of the ‘90s.
• It’s less polarizing than the previous-generation Cherokee’s design.
• A large front air dam looks set to cause problems.

When the previous-generation Cherokee debuted, opinions were mixed. I think the 2026 model looks like, well, a Jeep, which seems like it should be the goal for every model in the brand’s lineup. The 2026 design is said to be inspired by the boxy and iconic XJ Cherokee, and you can see that in its look, though the 2026 is also more rounded at the edges and more sculpted, likely to improve aerodynamic efficiency.

Two things stood out from my exterior inspection. First, the cargo load floor seemed low to me (I’m 6-foot-1), which would be helpful for those loading the Cherokee up with gear, pets, groceries or anything else. Second, the model on display had a large front air dam; we’ve had experience with these in some of our non-Jeep long-term test vehicles, and it’s been unfavorable. Jeep says the new Cherokee has 8 inches of ground clearance, but those looking to do off-roading with their Cherokee might want to consider removing the air dam ahead of leaving the pavement.

Familiar, Comfortable Interior

Takeaways:

• Materials quality and interior space both seem good for a compact SUV.
• Some controls felt a bit cheap, but this was a preproduction model.
• Beware of glare on the touchscreen, and the wide center console design may affect manspreaders.

We previously noted that the new Cherokee’s interior largely mimics the all-electric Wagoneer S, and that’s (mostly) not a bad thing. There’s ample room in the front and rear seats, though my knees were more elevated than I prefer when sitting in the back.

Aesthetically, the Cherokee’s interior is suitably stylish and upscale — important considering its roughly $37,000 starting price (all prices include destination) — and the gear selector knob has a premium feel to it. Other controls have a less-than-premium feel, however, though that may be because this was a preproduction model. The large controls on the squircle-shaped steering wheel and the climate-control bar are single pieces; when I pushed a specific function, the entire piece moved. Materials seem fine for the class and maybe even a little upscale (which makes sense with pricing starting at around $37,000 and going up to $46,000), but we’ll wait for a production version to confirm quality.

About that squircle-shaped steering wheel: Some of the editors here, including myself, find that shape a bit frustrating to use. The positive here is that, from the driver’s seat, it appeared perfectly formed to allow me to see the digital instrument panel.

There were some potential issues in the interior. The angled center touchscreen looks just as susceptible to glare as touchscreens we’ve seen in other Jeeps, and the grated design on the top of the dashboard can be reflected in the windshield, which could be distracting while driving. The wide center console design may also cut into knee room for the driver and front passenger.

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• Which Compact SUV Has the Most Cargo Room?

How Will It Drive?

Takeaways:

• The biggest question mark is how the new Cherokee drives.
• Jeep estimates the Cherokee will achieve 37 mpg combined.

Competition in the compact SUV class is always fierce, and with a new Toyota RAV4 arriving soon, it will likely only intensify. Jeep claims the 2026 Cherokee will achieve an estimated 37 mpg combined, which would be competitive with some of the most popular hybrid compact SUVs currently on sale. We’ll have to wait and see if it can deliver that kind of efficiency, as well as what it’s like to drive, so stay tuned for more. The upscale Limited and Overland trims should go on sale late in the year, with the base and Laredo versions following in early 2026.

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