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Critics and drivers don’t have many positive things to say about how Stellantis has been handling Jeep. The declining sales aren’t much of a surprise as beloved models like the Jeep Cherokee have been neglected. But at least the Cherokee could still have a pulse. 

The Jeep Cherokee could return in 2026 

The Jeep Cherokee has been discontinued twice despite being a popular nameplate. Stellantis has been neglecting this once-popular Jeep SUV instead of helping it. Some could say that it was abandoned. 

Stellantis simply let the Cherokee plant in Belvidere, Illinois go idle in 2023. The last Cherokee model quietly rolled off the line with an uncertain future. 

But because the Cherokee was left basically unchanged since 2014. It was completely redesigned in 2014 and had years of success. 

As it aged, Stellantis only provided a slight mid-cycle refresh in 2019. But the tech and other features felt outdated. Stellantis fumbled the Cherokee, so the declining sales were no surprise. 

Other neglected models include the now-discontinued Jeep Renege, the overpriced Jeep Compass, and the struggling Jeep Gladiator. 

However, the Jeep Cherokee has been around since 1974 and it isn’t going to the grave for good, yet. It was discontinued in 2001 and returned in 2013. Now we can prepare for it to return again, but I’m not sure if it will be triumphant. 

The 2022 Jeep Cherokee parked by a lake
2022 Jeep Cherokee | Jeep

According to MotorTrend, the Cherokee could make a return in 2026. Unlike the upcoming new Jeep Renegade, it’s not expected to be an electric vehicle. 

It could have a unibody design and use the STLA Large platform with gas-powered engines. Plus, a Cherokee 4xe variant could emerge. 

Of course, it will slot under the larger and more refined Jeep Grand Cherokee. Because the 2024 Grand Cherokee starts at $38,035, assuming that the Cherokee will have a reasonable price is a gamble. 

The 2024 Jeep Compass starts at $25,900, so hopefully the new Cherokee stays under $30,000. Stellantis hasn’t shared many specs, but the sixth-generation Cherokee could arrive soon.

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Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.