Jeep officially confirmed with us that a refreshed Grand Cherokee is on the calendar for debut sometime this year. Speaking with us during the media drive for the Jeep Wagoneer S, CEO Bob Broderdorf confirmed the impending arrival of an updated version of its best-selling SUV is slated to arrive in the coming months. Although he shared no specifics, Broderdorf only made note of its scheduled arrival while sharing Jeep’s big product plan offensive for 2025.
Given that the current fifth-generation WL Grand Cherokee launched in 2021 as a 2022 model-year SUV, it’s about due for a midcycle refresh as it turns three to four years old this year. That’s about half-way through the average lifecycle of most series production generations, which typically last six to eight years. If the updated WL Grand Cherokee arrives this year as a 2026 model-year car, that would make it almost five years old. The average life expectancy of each generation of Grand Cherokee has been around six years.
The Current Jeep Grand Cherokee Could Gain More Powertrain Options
Broderdorf shared the information during his presentation about Jeep’s major product plan for the 2025 year. It involves launching a whopping $3.2 billion worth of new product, with that sum signifying the amount invested in its new vehicles. Jeep’s been hard at work trying to reshape its next generation of automobiles while also weathering a major storm involving significant changes to its executive management.
First, Jeep, one of 14 Stellantis brands, went through a change in corporate ownership when Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles merged with France’s PSA, or the parent company to Peugeot and Citroën. The merger, which was finalized in 2021, led to the conglomerate becoming the third-largest automobile company.
Recent Executive Changes
Over the past year, major changes at the executive level also disrupted Jeep’s operations, along with all the other Stellantis brands. In late 2024, CEO Carlos Tavares resigned, while other major shifts in management occurred at the brand level, leading to Broderdorf’s appointment as CEO.
Now that the company appears to be getting back on track, Jeep can proceed with overhauling its lineup. That plan includes an update of the Grand Wagoneer and Wagoneer models, with the Wagoneer S EV commencing the next stage in the product offensive. It also includes a next-generation Compass, the launch of the new Recon EV off-roader, and the company’s first-ever hybrid, which is expected to take form as a midsize Cherokee successor. In the mix, an updated and refreshed Grand Cherokee.
“So as we reposition nearly every Jeep, how does the Jeep bring to growth? A significant investment in new product: $3.2 billion of new product will be launched in 2025, marking one of the most historic years in over an 80-year history of Jeep,” Broderdorf told us in his presentation.
In addition to a new three-part lineup offensive, which categorizes Jeep’s next-generation of cars into core off-roaders (Wrangler, Recon, Gladiator), mainstream (Compass, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee), and premium (Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, Wagoneer S), he also noted that a revitalized Grand Cherokee is a part of the plan.
Significant Changes Coming For The Grand Cherokee
“This $3.2 billion part of the story also means the Grand Cherokee will get a facelift and a refresh, and we will continue to expand our powertrain line,” Broderdorf mentioned. However, he didn’t go into further detail about what specifics involve expanding the Grand Cherokee’s powertrains.
Currently, the WL Grand Cherokee still comes with Chrysler’s tried, tested, and true 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 good for 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The only other powertrain option is the plug-in hybrid Grand Cherokee 4xe, which gets a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-banger with electric-hybrid assist, resulting in a total output of 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of twist.
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