Jeep Grand Cherokee tipped to get Hurricane six-cylinder power
Words: Kyle Cassidy
Jeep’s Grand Cherokee could be in line for a useful dose of extra muscle, with reports suggesting the twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six will join the range for the 2028 model year.
According to MoparInsiders, as reported by Car and Driver, Jeep is planning to fit the standard-output version of the 3.0-litre engine. It produces 313kW and 635Nm in other Stellantis models, although specifications for a Grand Cherokee application have yet to be confirmed.
That would help fill the gap left by the departure of the 5.7-litre Hemi V8, while comfortably exceeding the older engine’s 268kW and 529Nm.
The Hurricane six would sit above the turbocharged four-cylinder introduced to the US-market Grand Cherokee for 2026. That engine produces around 242kW, but the larger six promises more pulling power and potentially greater towing capability.
A return for the regular Hemi V8 appears less likely. Stellantis’ American brands boss Tim Kuniskis has previously said putting the 5.7-litre engine back into the Grand Cherokee “doesn’t make sense”, with the company seeking to give it a different character from the Dodge Durango.
Read more – 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Summit Reserve review
A future SRT version could be another matter. Jeep has indicated a Grand Cherokee SRT is coming, but suggestions it could use a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 remain unconfirmed.
Jeep has also demonstrated a Grand Cherokee prototype with a high-output Hurricane six and an experimental eBoost Air system designed to reduce turbo lag. That development points to the engine’s potential, although the reported 2028 production model is expected to use the less powerful standard-output configuration.
What’s available in New Zealand?
Jeep’s current New Zealand offering centres on the five-seat Grand Cherokee, with V6 petrol and plug-in hybrid options.
The Limited is priced from $84,990 and the Overland from $99,990, both using a 3.6-litre petrol V6, eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. The Summit Reserve 4xe tops the range at $119,990, combining a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder with plug-in hybrid technology.
