--- title: "New Jeep Cherokee Will Still Be Capable Off-Road, CEO Says" date: "2025-08-21" modified: "2025-08-21" authors: - name: "Byron Hurd" job_title: "Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/byron-hurd" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/new-jeep-cherokee-will-still-be-capable-off-road-ceo-says" categories: - "Jeep News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Hybrid cars" - "Jeep Cherokee" - "suv/crossover" --- # New Jeep Cherokee Will Still Be Capable Off-Road, CEO Says ![2026 Jeep Cherokee]() After a multi-year hiatus, the [Jeep Cherokee is officially back]()! And while the 2026 model will be a mid-sizer like the car it replaced, it will hit the showrooms of a very different Jeep brand operating in a challenging and unpredictable environment. Over at Stellantis, we hear they call that "Tuesday." But the market has changed considerably since we last saw a Cherokee. This time, it won't be going it alone against a sea of cute 'utes and dated competition. Toyota has a [new Land Cruiser]() and a [new 4Runner](), [Subaru]() and [Honda]() have both gotten more serious about the off-road capabilities of their midsize two-rows, and Nissan says it will [find a way to bring back the Xterra](). Plus, being an SUV brand just isn't special anymore. It's 2025. They're *all* SUV brands. If you take a look at a Jeep showroom, you'll find a bunch of people window shopping for Wranglers and Gladiators, but driving off the lot in Grand Cherokees and Compasses. Where Stellantis hasn't spent the last several years pricing itself out of many mainstream markets, it has been forced to axe highly profitable, long-running products. The reasonably priced, midsize Cherokee will give Jeep dealers a third relief valve for buyers whose wallets force them to be more sensible than their hearts would otherwise allow. ![]() ![]() But just because Jeep needs volume [doesn't mean its volume models necessarily *have* to be boring](). Jeep CEO Bob Broderdorf was eager to reassure us that despite that giant elephant in the room, the new Cherokee will indeed lean into the company's 4x4 heritage. When asked about its future aspirations, Broderdorf assured us that not only will a Trailhawk happen eventually, but even the most basic Cherokee models will have the fundamental mechanical components needed to go off-road. "It's a Jeep," Broderdorf said, with confident emphasis. And while Cherokee arrives on the same new chassis as the company's other midsize cars and SUVs, this is not going to be a primary outlet for the company's electrification push, nor should we expect to see any of Jeep's longitudinal powertrains in the midsize Cherokee. The four-cylinder hybrid is an east-west setup with a traditional mechanical transaxle and prop shaft going to the rear. In other words, no, [that thang ain't got a Hemi](), nor should you expect one. The only question Broderdorf wasn't able to answer is "When?" *Got a tip? Let us know at tips@thedrive.com.* ## Author Byron is an editor at The Drive with a keen eye for infrastructure, sales and regulatory stories. He brings a light, punchy style to all of his content, believing that there's plenty out there to be laughed at—himself included. Born and raised in Maryland but now based just a stone's throw from Detroit, Byron is an auto enthusiast and generalist who enjoys building and tinkering with things of all kinds, from cars, computers and digital cityscapes, to the new garage that will soon house his fleet (a CT4-V Blackwing, a JK Wrangler and an NA Miata). Inspired by an early love of rollercoasters, Byron quickly caught the high-performance driving itch. He's been tracking and auto-crossing his cars since 2007. In his downtime, Byron enjoys reading, playing city builders, and studying the history of the Motor City. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()