We know that Jeep’s output over the past 18 months or so includes debuting the battery-electric Wagoneer S and Recon, putting a 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain in the Gladiator, and possibly changing the engine mix in the Grand Cherokee. We also know that a fifth-generation Jeep Cherokee is on the way, the return of a nameplate so historically vital to the brand that modern CEO Antonio Filosa subtly questioned its retirement under his predecessor. When Jeep was supposed to discuss a modern model in 2022, we expected it to be in 2024 or 2025. Italian newspaper Sun 24 hours (translated), By Mopar insidersbelieves “Cherokee’s successor will be announced by the end of the year.”
But the article only states that when a reporter asked Filosa about the Cherokee’s arrival next year, “Filosa considered the arrival of a Cherokee successor likely (since certainty could be announced by the end of this year).” So take this with a grain of salt from the proverbial Italian sale.
The newspaper’s article expresses Cherokee’s interest in believing there is a chance Stellantis will build the SUV at its plant in Melfi, Italy, for the European market. Stellantis has recently been meeting with Italian unions and government officials about production there, in an attempt to prevent further revolts over production capacity and naming rights. Car manufacturer confirmed that five vehicles had been allocated to the factory, one of the modern generation Compass, the others are two DS models (Citroen’s luxury brand), a Lancia Gamma crossover and an Opel. The name Cherokee never appeared. All these five Melfi vehicles are based on the STLA Medium architecture, however next Cherokee keeps getting envisaged for the gigantic STLA platform. The Italian plant in Cassino produces STLA Immense models, such as the current Maserati Grecale and the future Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
The Cherokee for our market is expected to be built at the Stellantis plant in Toluca, Mexico, where only the Compass is currently built. The automaker confirmed this this week The Wagoneer S on the STLA Immense platform is headed to Toluca, as is the Recon on the STLA Frame architecture.
On a more solid footing, the upcoming Cherokee will grow a bit bigger and offer upscale options like the Wagoneer version. STLA Immense specification comparison to the CUSW platform, the STLA Immense has a wheelbase longer than the aged Cherokee by seven to eight inches, a vehicle length four to 11 inches longer and a width approximately 1.5 inches wider. At the upper end of these dimensions, a modern Cherokee the size of an aged Dodge Journey could be created.
Motor trend suspicious starting price is around $40,000, which means the all-new model will be less than $1,000 away from the price of the 2023 Cherokee, which is still in Jeep’s service center and has 900 units in stock despite ending production this year.
