2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee 2.0-Liter MPG: Barely Better Than the V-6

What Car Shoppers Need to Know

• Jeep’s new turbo four-cylinder barely improves on the V-6’s fuel economy.
• The 2.0-liter shines in its combination of efficiency and power.
• Premium fuel is not required, though optimal performance comes with 91 octane or higher.

Engine downsizing comes for everybody, but how warmly it’s received varies wildly. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder is a jarring arrival in the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee, a vehicle that just five model years ago was available with a 707-horsepower, supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V-8. The point of smaller engines, of course, is improved fuel economy, and through this lens, the new Hurricane might seem like somewhat of a folly with minimal gains over the V-6.

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The Grand Cherokee four-cylinder’s EPA ratings are only 1-2 mpg better than the V-6. The Hurricane four-cylinder returns its best EPA-rated fuel economy of 23 mpg combined in the short-wheelbase, rear-wheel-drive Grand Cherokee, slipping to a low of 22 mpg in the long-wheelbase, four-wheel-drive SUV. Compare that to the V-6, which is rated at 22 mpg in the RWD five-seater and 21 mpg in the 4WD seven-seat Grand Cherokee L, and it seems like a small return on the major investment of developing an all-new engine.

The (Goodish) Catch

The Hurricane turbo-four may only just eke out a win in fuel economy, but it scores a decisive victory in output. Its 324 hp and 332 pounds-feet of torque are improvements of 31 hp and a remarkable 72 pounds-feet over the six-cylinder’s 293 and 260, respectively. As we observed in our quick spin of the 2.0-liter Grand Cherokee, it makes for a noticeably quicker Jeep, and piped-in sound obfuscates the engine’s cylinder count and size. Also, the Grand Cherokee’s tow rating is unchanged with the smaller engine, holding steady at 6,200 pounds.

What Fuel Does the Hurricane Turbo Four Require?

Here’s where it gets complicated. The 2026 Grand Cherokee’s owner’s manual states it generates “satisfactory” fuel economy and performance on regular 87-octane fuel, but “optimal” performance will come with 91 octane and above, most notably in hot conditions or while towing. So, while the improved efficiency might only save buyers $100 or so on their annual fuel bill with regular octane, that could go the other way when using more expensive, higher-octane fuel.

Here’s the direct quote from the 2026 Grand Cherokee’s owner’s manual regarding the 2.0-liter Hurricane four-cylinder engine:

“This engine is designed to meet all emissions requirements, and provide satisfactory fuel economy and performance, when using high-quality unleaded regular gasoline having an octane rating of 87, as specified by the (R+M)/2 method. The use of 91 or higher octane premium gasoline will allow these engines to operate to optimal performance. This increase in performance is most noticeable in hot weather or under heavy load conditions, such as while towing.”

If a Trackhawk owner ever pooh-poohs your little engine, you can always point out that the 2.0-liter is vastly more power-dense. If the 162 hp it generates per liter of displacement was scaled up to Hellcat proportions, this little firecracker would put out more than 1,000 hp. Who’s the tough guy now?

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