2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Is the Hurricane 4 Turbo Worth It?

For 2026, the Jeep Grand Cherokee swaps its V6 Pentastar for a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder dubbed the Hurricane 4, pumping out 324 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque. This engine replaces the six-cylinder on all trims except the two base Laredo models, raising a real question: does a two-liter block belong under the hood of a premium SUV that tops $60,000 in Summit trim?

"35 pounds of boost — and it's exactly what I thought it would be: A little odd, exceptionally quick, and kind of laggy." — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive

324 Horses from 2.0 Liters: Stellantis's Technical Bet

The Hurricane 4 isn't some run-of-the-mill four-cylinder pulled from a Fiat 500. Stellantis designed it as a derivative of its Hurricane inline-six 3.0-liter — same basic architecture, same turbulent flow injection tech — but scaled down to two liters with a single turbo. Boost pressure hits 35 psi, which is a lot. For comparison, most turbos of similar displacement run around 15 to 20 psi in normal use.

On paper, the result is 324 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque (about 450 Nm), channeled through an eight-speed automatic. Towing capacity is rated at 6,200 pounds (about 2,812 kg) in either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. That's solid for a family SUV.

How Does It Drive?

The reviews agree on the essentials: it pulls hard, but not without caveats.

Caleb Jacobs of The Drive tested a Summit version north of $60,000 in the Santa Monica Mountains. His verdict is blunt — the engine is "punchy" but has noticeable turbo lag off the line. Logan K. Carter of Jalopnik, who drove the same vehicle in Malibu, admits he doubted the four-cylinder's ability to move such a heavy SUV before getting behind the wheel. Road & Track, which tested the Grand Cherokee L (the long three-row version), concludes that "four cylinders can be better than six" — but that's Road & Track writing, not the average driver hopping into this thing for the first time.

The turbo lag is real. On low-speed throttle applications, the block takes a brief moment to respond. Not a deal-breaker, but noticeable — especially for anyone who's driven a V6 or V8 that responds instantly without delay. Once the turbo spools up, those 324 horses come on strong, with acceleration nobody calls disappointing.

Price and Equipment

Starting Price

The two entry-level trims (Laredo and Laredo X) keep the 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar as standard. From the Laredo Altitude upward, the Hurricane 4 takes over. The version tested by The Drive, a Summit, topped $60,000. Road & Track tested a Grand Cherokee L Limited Reserve 4x4 listed at $49,810 base price, with an as-tested total around $56,000.

What stings a bit is the removal of the 4xe. The plug-in hybrid powertrain, which powered the Trailhawk among others, is dead with the 2026 update. The Overland trim, a historic off-road variant in the lineup, has also disappeared from the spec sheet. A "Limited Reserve" version replaces it in terms of interior content, but without the tow hooks or increased ground clearance of the bumper. Mauricio Lopez, Jeep's VP of global sales, responded to The Drive with a terse "stay tuned" when asked about the Overland and off-road variants.