Jeep's Cherokee Replacement Sets Sights On Hybrid Power
During the Los Angeles Auto Show, Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa told journalists a new hybrid Jeep model would be arriving next year.
The model should be set to replace the Cherokee, which bowed out in 2023. Jeep originally confirmed the plan to AutoGuide during the launch of the Wagoneers S in New York City earlier this year. The Cherokee filled the mid-size SUV hole in Jeep’s lineup, a segment that has seen increasing hybridization.
Jeep had very little to say about the vehicle’s dimensions beyond its use of the word midsize, but a direct Cherokee replacement feels right.
However, it’s not entirely clear what form the hybrid powertrain will take. During his speech to journalists, the CEO did not explicitly tie the upcoming model to Jeep’s 4xe subbrand of plug-in hybrid models comprised of popular SUVs like the Wrangler.
However, Jeep is still poised to stay flexible, and a versatile platform, per Filosa, will help Jeep adapt to consumer demands. This could mean the vehicle won’t be a plug-in 4xe model—but a PHEV is likely considering the demands of CARB 2 Compliance—and a fully electric version could be in the cards if consumer demands call for it.
Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.
Chase is an automotive journalist with years of experience in the industry. He writes for outlets like Edmunds and AutoGuide, among many others. When not writing, Chase is in front of the camera over at The Overrun, his YouTube channel run alongside his friend and co-host Jobe Teehan. If he's not writing reviews of the latest in cars or producing industry coverage, Chase is at home in the driver's seat of his own (usually German) sports cars.
More by Chase Bierenkoven
Comments
Join the conversation