Jeep has only just brought the Cherokee back, but its replacement is already being lined up for the end of the decade.
The next-generation model is scheduled to enter production in the second half of 2029 at Stellantis’ Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois (via Motor1). Pilot builds are expected to start much earlier, during the first half of 2028.
That could give the current Cherokee a fairly short run. Introduced for the 2026 model year, it brought the nameplate back after the previous version disappeared in 2023. It also rides on Stellantis’ STLA Large platform, which is shared with models including the Dodge Charger.
Its replacement will make a significant change underneath. The next Cherokee is set to become the first US-assembled vehicle built on STLA One, a new architecture designed to bring five existing platforms into one scalable setup. It covers B-, C- and D-segment vehicles and can support several different types of powertrain.
Exactly what that means for the Cherokee is still unclear, as Jeep has yet to reveal its design or engine options. Stellantis is preparing Belvidere to handle different powertrain types and has added another $200 million to the more than $600 million already committed to the plant.
Until then, the current Cherokee carries on with a 1.6-litre turbocharged hybrid system producing 210hp. Four-wheel drive comes as standard, with Jeep quoting up to 37mpg combined and more than 500 miles of range on a tank of gas.
So anyone buying the newly revived Cherokee does not need to worry about it disappearing straight away. Still, with another generation already scheduled for production in 2029, this version looks set to spend less time on sale than most new cars.