Jeep Reportedly Adding Hurricane Six to Grand Cherokee

Reports point to Jeep preparing a major powertrain upgrade for the Grand Cherokee — rumor has it the automaker plans to drop the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged Hurricane inline-six into the SUV for the 2028 model year.

According to MoparInsiders, the midsize SUV will gain the standard-output version of the twin-turbo six-cylinder, filling a void that enthusiasts have felt since the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 was phased out.

For the 2026 model year, Jeep introduced a 2.0-liter Hurricane inline-four making 324 horsepower. While punchy, that turbocharged four-cylinder lacks the smooth refinement and deep torque curve buyers expect in high-spec Grand Cherokee trims.

The standard-output 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six generates 420 horsepower and 468 lb-ft of torque in other Stellantis products. That represents a substantial jump over both the new four-cylinder and the old 5.7-liter V8, which topped out at 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft. The extra muscle would noticeably improve the Grand Cherokee's maximum towing capacity, which is currently capped at 6,200 pounds with the four-cylinder.

While regular Grand Cherokee models are unlikely to regain a traditional V8 option due to Stellantis wanting to differentiate the SUV from the Dodge Durango, high-performance variants remain on the table. Jeep leadership says an SRT-badged model is in development, which could mean the return of a supercharged V8 or a high-output Hurricane setup like the one used in the Charger Super Bee.

Jeep hinted at the inline-six swap earlier this year when it showcased a prototype Grand Cherokee running a modified, high-output Hurricane engine equipped with an "eBoost Air" anti-lag system. While that show car teased up to 640 horsepower, the upcoming 2028 production model is expected to stick with the 420-horsepower standard output.

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