2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Tested: A Not So Mighty Wind

From the July/August 2026 issue of Car and Driver.

Looks can be deceiving. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit's handsome face pairs with a lavish cabin full of leather and wood. But a new engine and a clunky ride mar this SUV's sparkle.

While a 293-hp 3.6-liter V-6 still powers the lower trims of the Grand Cherokee, the biggest change of the 2026 model refresh is that a new 324-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, dubbed Hurricane 4 Turbo, is found in the more premium versions. This engine is a version of the turbocharged 2.0-liter found in Alfas and Wranglers. It has two injectors (port and direct), two spark plugs per cylinder, and a variable-geometry turbocharger. It also features novel prechamber ignition, technology that clattered to life in the Maserati MC20, with the promise of more complete combustion. All of this is Jeep's attempt to gain substantial power and better fuel economy.

The engine feels punchy enough once you get going, but it requires prodigious boost (34.8 psi peak) to produce max power. It takes time for the boost to build, and until it does, the little engine feels overburdened by the Jeep's 4881 pounds.

HIGHS: Quicker and more efficient than the V-6 Grand Cherokee, Summit interior wow factor, bounty of luxury features.

Give the Jeep the cane, and it will move to 60 mph in a respectable 6.3 seconds, 1.1 seconds ahead of the V-6 Grand Cherokee. But our real-world 5-to-60-mph time of 7.6 seconds is a better indicator of how hard the Hurricane blows. There is an upside at the pump: The 2.0-liter returned 26 mpg at 75 mph versus the V-6's 22 mpg.

The slothful turbo four is less noticeable on the highway, where the Summit's beautiful interior, massaging front seats, and 19-speaker McIntosh stereo shine. Just try to avoid using the haptic climate controls, unless your fetish is frustration.

LOWS: Laggy engine, crashing ride, frustrating haptic climate controls.

Aside from the lack of giddyap, the Jeep handles well for its size, but firm air springs crash over potholes on the SUV's 21-inch wheels. The brake pedal, meanwhile, is annoyingly grabby in traffic.

Jeep's hands-free driver-assistance system is optional on the Summit. It works but is hesitant in corners and inspires less confidence than similar tech from GM, Ford, and Tesla.

At an as-tested $66,585, the Grand Cherokee Summit boasts a luxurious interior and a long list of features, but despite the fuel-economy benefit, the engine requires too much effort to extract meaningful performance. But if you can overlook the powertrain's weaknesses, the Jeep is a well-appointed, spacious family hauler.

VERDICT: More of a tropical storm than a hurricane.

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Specifications

Specifications

2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4x4
Vehicle type: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $62,595/$66,585

ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve Miller-cycle inline-4, aluminum block and head, port and direct fuel injection
Displacement: 122 in3, 1995 cm3
Power: 324 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 332 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm 

TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: multilink/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 13.9-in vented disc/13.8-in vented disc
Tires: Continental CrossContact LX Sport
275/45R-21 110W M+S ContiSilent

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 116.7 in
Length: 193.5 in
Width: 77.5 in
Height: 70.9 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 56/51 ft3
Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 71/38 ft3
Curb Weight: 4881 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.3 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.9 sec @ 91 mph
100 mph: 18.8 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 7.6 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.2 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 4.9 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 117 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 177 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.81 g

Interior Sound
Idle: 39 dBA/3 sone
Full Throttle: 73 dBA
70-mph Cruising: 68 dBA/23 sone

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 19 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 26 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 590 mi 

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 22/20/25 mpg

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.