The Jeep Cherokee has been around since 1974. That might seem astonishing, but it’s true. In fact, the first Jeep Cherokee was one of the first vehicles to use the title sport utility vehicle. Since then the Jeep Cherokee has undergone many transitions, though none in the last few years. Yet there’s another generation of Jeep Cherokees coming, and the rumor is that it just might be electric. Is there any truth to that rumor? Here’s what Jeep has to say – or not say – about an electric Jeep Cherokee.

Will the Jeep Cherokee go electric?

Most auto manufacturers are moving an electric direction these days. Nearly every vehicle that you could imagine some compact SUVs to full-size pick up trucks are getting electric power trains. So it’s no surprise that the next generation of Jeep Cherokees will be joining the electric revolution.

In what way will the upcoming Cherokee be electric? So far, Jeep is being relatively quiet about that fact. Global President of the Jeep Brand James Morrison spoke to MOTORTREND about it but gave a few details about what exactly an electric Cherokee would entail. All that he said is that the new Cherokee will take awhile to debut and when it does, it will have an electric component to it.

Jeep is making other moves toward an electric future

We aren’t expecting to see an updated Jeep Cherokee for several years, but in the meantime, Jeep has been making more efforts to be earth friendly. Both the 2022 Jeep Wrangler and 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee offer hybrid power trains in their 4xe models. In addition, there is an electric Jeep compact crossover due out in 2023.

Electric SUVs are just one part of Jeeps new path. Just this year it released both the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer and the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Both of these SUVs recall the original Jeep Grand Wagoneer, the infamous wood paneled behemoth that dominated the roads for decades. In addition, a new version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee has debuted this year. Known as the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, this is a larger version of Jeep’s beloved three-row SUV.

The next generation Jeep Cherokee will be “bigger and better than ever”

although Jeep has not made it clear when the Jeep Cherokee will see any updates, it has said that there will be some significant changes. Morrison told MOTORTREND that the next iteration of the Jeep Cherokee will be bigger and better than ever. This will be a welcome change, as the jeep Cherokee has not seen any major updates since it’s 2014 inception.

while the Jeep Cherokee may live somewhere in the shadows of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, it certainly has its own fans. Those who love the Jeep Cherokee’s small stature and off-road ability will be pleased to know that it will soon get a new look as well as some new features and possibly an electric powertrain. Just what the next generation Cherokee will include we will have to wait and see.