We Finally Get a Look at the 2026 Cherokee's Rear View | Carscoops
The 2026 Jeep Cherokee will share its STLA Large architecture with the Wagoneer S and Recon EV, and it is set to begin production later this year, offering a hybrid variant.
The front design incorporates styling elements taken from the forthcoming electric Recon 4xe. Interior spy images reveal a sizable digital instrument cluster and touch-sensitive controls.
Update: Although Jeep is teasing the 2026 Cherokee slowly and has avoided revealing any full rear views ahead of the official announcement later this year, KindelAuto on Instagram has revealed a rear photo of the SUV without disguise.
The rear design retains the squared-off theme seen at the front, with taillights and the license plate area bordered by what appears to be piano black trim. This design hints at a subtle influence from the Land Rover Discovery, though it also bears a resemblance to the third-generation Honda Accord from Europe—an unexpected comparison, but not entirely unreasonable.
And if you were anticipating a name change, you can forget it. Despite some speculation that the brand might replace “Cherokee” with a new name to respect the Cherokee Nation, they have decided to keep the original name. It seems that debate has been resolved.
More: A Remake of a Forgotten Jeep for 2027 Has Us Wanting It Back
While the camouflaged prototypes gave us a good idea, the official press images show that the new Cherokee embraces a more conventional Jeep aesthetic, contrasting the more fluid design of its 2023 predecessor. It adopts a boxier silhouette, sharing some styling elements with the upcoming electric Recon 4xe, while remaining faithful to what Jeep enthusiasts recognize.
“The all-new Jeep Cherokee highlights our commitment to offer more products, innovation, choices, and standard features to our customers than ever before,” stated Bob Broderdorf, CEO of Jeep. “The Jeep Cherokee will feature competitive pricing that targets the largest vehicle segment and fits seamlessly between the Jeep Compass and Jeep Grand Cherokee, enhancing our successful mainstream lineup.”
Aside from confirming its name, Jeep announced that this mid-size SUV will launch with a “new, efficient, and powerful hybrid propulsion option.” Traditional internal combustion engines and, eventually, an all-electric model could also be introduced since the STLA-Large platform accommodates various powertrains.
For more on the new Cherokee, refer to our original article below, which includes exclusive interior shots.
John Halas contributed to this report.
The Jeep lineup has expanded significantly over the past few years with the introduction of the luxury Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, as well as the all-electric Wagoneer S, which will soon be joined by the electrifying Recon. However, the 2026 Cherokee may hold more significance than all of them, and new spy photos have unveiled the front design and interior for the first time.
Compared to earlier prototypes, this one reveals much of the front-end design, showcasing a grille that combines elements from several other Jeep models. The five visible vertical grille sections (two remain hidden) are taller than those on the Grand Cherokee and appear more prominent. However, they lack the trim piece above displaying the model name, as seen in the Wagoneers.
Related: What We Know So Far About Jeep's 2026 Cherokee
Even if there were a trim piece with the name, what would it say? We're referring to this SUV as the Cherokee because it effectively replaces the model that discontinued in 2023, fitting below the Grand Cherokee in the Jeep lineup. Nonetheless, some reports indicate that Jeep may move away from the name it has used for decades to honor the Cherokee Nation.
Regardless of its name, the dashboard design of this new Cherokee is more similar to the Wagoneer S EV than the existing Grand Cherokee. The first interior photos of this competitor to the Ford Bronco Sport display a large digital cluster and a central touchscreen angled above a row of touch-sensitive climate control buttons.
It's reassuring to see that drivers won't need to access the infotainment system to adjust the temperature, and while the buttons look appealing, actual physical push-buttons would be preferable. Further down the center console is what appears to be a rotary dial for the transmission and a toggle for selecting driver modes. The passenger side of this prototype is covered with cloth, but it's possible that Jeep could include a third screen above the glovebox, similar to the Wagoneer S.
Nestled between the shock towers of the Stellantis STLA Large platform, the Cherokee will introduce its first-ever hybrid powertrain options, with an all-electric version expected to follow. Leaked documents indicate that production is slated to begin this fall for the 2026 model year, and we anticipate more details—including the name—will emerge in the upcoming months ahead of the debut.
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We Finally Get a Look at the 2026 Cherokee's Rear View | Carscoops
The 2026 Cherokee utilizes the STLA Large architecture, which it shares with the Wagoneer S and Recon EV.