Jeep won’t get a redesigned mid-sized SUV until mid-decade.
That’s according to a report from trade publication Automotive News, which reports a next-generation Cherokee isn’t expected to launch until 2025.
That means it’ll be just over a decade old by the time it’s been replaced, and it’ll be lost among a flurry of new product for the brand.
A new all-electric Jeep will reportedly be launched in 2023, followed by a redesigned Compass and Renegade in 2024. The latter have recently received plug-in hybrid 4xe variants in their current generations.
The company is also expanding its line-up from both ends. The new, seven-seat Grand Cherokee L touches down later in 2021, the new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs have been launched in the US (but won’t come here), and a light SUV is set to enter production in Poland late in 2022.
Jeep has already teased two future electric models in wireframe: one a rugged, Wagoneer-esque model, the other with smoother styling more similar to the Grand Cherokee.
It teased both at a presentation for Stellantis’ new STLA Large all-electric architecture, and confirmed it was working on a “very capable” off-roading “whitespace vehicle” for Jeep – that’s likely the more rugged-looking of the two.
The lengthy wait for a new Cherokee is unusual given the massive popularity of mid-sized SUVs.
While Jeep has sold more than 200,000 units of the KL Cherokee in the US in three different years since its late-2013 launch there, sales have recently levelled off.
In 2020, it was outsold by the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5, placing 10th overall in its segment according to Carsalesbase.
While it still sells in relatively large numbers in the US, it has absolutely cratered here despite a facelift in 2018.
In 2015, Jeep sold 6156 Cherokees, outselling the likes of the Ford Kuga, Holden Captiva 5 and Suzuki Grand Vitara, if not quite posing a threat to stalwarts like the Toyota RAV4.
Volume then fell massively to 2079 sales in 2016, with sales sliding gradually thereafter.
Jeep sold just 357 Cherokees in Australia last year per VFACTS, putting it above only the Citroen C5 Aircross (89), Peugeot 5008 (242), SsangYong Korando (252) and discontinued Volkswagen Golf Alltrack (343) in the mid-sized SUV segment.
The Cherokee has been relegated to niche status, with the range of the revised, smaller Compass overlapping with it in price.
As CarExpert reported earlier this month, the naturally-aspirated 2.4-litre ‘Tigershark’ petrol four-cylinder engine is being dropped globally.
That means the entry-level, front-wheel drive Sport has been axed for 2022, with the now V6-only local range opening with the Limited.
In contrast, European buyers currently have a choice between 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder or a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four that’s optional in the US alongside the 3.2-litre petrol V6.
We’ve never received the turbo-petrol in Australia, which puts out 200kW of power and 400Nm of torque.
An all-wheel drive turbo-diesel KL Cherokee was briefly offered here, however, available only from 2014 to 2015 in Limited guise.
While petrol V6 engines were once available in mid-sized crossovers like the Kia Sportage and Toyota RAV4, the Cherokee is now the only mid-sized SUV to offer one in Australia.
It’s also unique in offering an overtly off-road oriented variant, the Trailhawk.
MORE: Everything Jeep Cherokee
