How Will Jeep's Grand Cherokee Reintroduce The Hemi V8 To Shoppers?

Stellantis may not be done reinstalling V8s in vehicles it used to offer them in. In fact, fresh comments from Jeep suggest the Grand Cherokee might be the next candidate for a Hemi revival.

Speaking to The Drive, Joe Aljajawi, chief engineer for the current WL-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, was asked whether the 5.7-liter Hemi could return to the SUV lineup. His response was brief but pointed.

“I would say for the Grand Cherokee customers that we are listening to you, and then stay tuned for more,” Aljajawi said. That’s definitely not a confirmation, but it’s also not a denial.

The V8 That Went Away

Jeep phased out the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 in stages. The two-row Grand Cherokee lost the engine in 2023, while the three-row Grand Cherokee L kept it a year longer before it too became dust.

The refreshed 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee is now reaching dealerships, but the V8 has not returned—at least not yet. The current engine lineup includes the 3.6-liter V6 and a new turbocharged four-cylinder. Neither matches the 7,200-pound tow rating previously available with the V8.

But why hasn't Jeep simply installed the 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six in the Grand Cherokee? In Ram applications, both the standard-output and high-output versions produce more power and torque than the outgoing 5.7-liter V8. The inline-six is a fundamentally longer engine than either the Hemi V8 or the Pentastar V6, not to mention the ancillary bits needed to keep the temperature of the twin-turbo engine moderately chill.

AutoGuide's Take:

Stellantis, in particular, the vestiges of the old FCA, have shown a willingness to listen to customer feedback around powertrain choices—to an extent. Tim Kuniskis, who now serves as Stellantis' head of American brands and North America marketing and retail strategy, has pushed to bring back the Hemi under the hood of the Ram 1500, but only to a degree.

The 1500 is available with a mild-hybrid V8 application across the trim levels, while the brand also reintroduced the Ram 1500 TRX with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 Hellcat engine. However, Kuniskis has so far refused to drop the 6.4-liter V8 into something more akin to a sport truck due to the limited volume and potential cannibalization that would happen.

It's possible we see a similar play for the Grand Cherokee—where the mild-hybrid 5.7-liter Hemi is made available across the trim levels, while the 6.2-liter Hellcat is reintroduced as a spiritual successor to the old Trackhawk. Then again, the Durango‚ which shares an assembly line with the Grand Cherokee, is offered with the 5.7, the 6.4, and the 6.2 supercharged V8.

Stellantis has already confirmed it has substantially ramped up production of V8 engines with plans to build over 100,000 Hemi V8 engines this year alone. It's easy to say "it's easy," but it does sound relatively easy to add the V8 back to the Grand Cherokee's product mix and satisfy shoppers with a tried and true powertrain option.

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