We can forgive you if you didn’t realize that Jeep’s Cherokee was discontinued after the 2023 model year. Despite being one of the brand’s best-selling vehicles, the Cherokee just never resonated with enthusiasts. Maybe it was the unibody construction or front-wheel drive bias, it just never really clicked with its legendary namesake. We’re hopeful that’s about to change as Jeep just announced that an all-new 2026 Cherokee will be arriving soon.

While not much is known, Jeep has dropped the first official photos of the 2026 Cherokee ahead of a full reveal and arrival at dealers “later this year.” It would appear at first glance that Jeep has listened to its biggest Cherokee fans, and their subsequent complaints. What we see is a return to the rough, rugged, and boxy style that made the XJ Cherokee so loveable. A spokesperson for Jeep says the new Jeep Cherokee will honor its rich history while keeping an innovative eye on the future.

The next-generation Jeep Cherokee is coming late 2025.

“The all-new Jeep Cherokee headlines our efforts to deliver more product, innovation, choice and standard content to customers than ever before,” said Bob Broderdorf, Jeep CEO. “Jeep Cherokee will boast competitive pricing that strikes at the core of the largest vehicle segment and sits perfectly between Jeep Compass and Jeep Grand Cherokee to bolster our winning mainstream lineup.”

Also tucked in Jeep’s slim note is a quick nugget about what might be powering the new 2026 Cherokee. The company says that a new Jeep Cherokee hybrid will join the brand’s robust lineup of vehicles that currently features internal combustion propulsion along with plug-in, hybrid, and all-electric offerings. What’s not clear is if the Cherokee will carry the 4xe moniker (we think it will) and if it will be hybrid only or offer ICE and EV options as well (we also think it will.)

The Jeep Cherokee fits neatly in the popular compact SUV market (don’t let Jeep fool you, based on generally accepted marketing classifications, it’s not a midsize). This means that it will be competing against the likes of Toyota’s Rav4 and Honda CR-V. Jeep promises that the 2026 Cherokee will remain affordable, and with it slotting between the Compass and Grand Cherokee in the Jeep lineup we suspect a starting price of about $30,000 will be in order.