2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Methuen Buyers Guide

The short list of what changed

If your last Grand Cherokee was a 2022 or 2023, the first thing you will notice is the face. Jeep reworked the grille, the front fascia and the LED headlamps for 2026, and the rear picked up matching updates. Inside, a 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 NAV touchscreen is now the screen you get, with Apple CarPlay built in and Android Auto compatible, so the smaller display is gone from the cheaper trims. There is also a new available Hands-Free Active Driving Assist system for people who spend a lot of time on the highway.

The bigger story is the powertrain. A 2.0-liter turbo four called the Hurricane 4 now makes 324 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. Jeep quotes 23 mpg combined and a best-in-class driving range of 529 miles for the turbo in rear-wheel drive, and the EPA’s own figures are 21 city, 27 highway and 23 combined. The older 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 (293 horsepower, 19/26/22 mpg) remains only on Laredo and Laredo X. Both engines are rated to tow 6,200 pounds with the right equipment, so the turbo is a performance and economy upgrade rather than a towing one. Car and Driver timed a Summit 4×4 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds, roughly a second quicker than the V6 version.

Two housekeeping notes. Altitude used to be its own trim and is now a blacked-out appearance package sold on the Laredo, which is why it shows up as Laredo Altitude. And the plug-in hybrid Grand Cherokee 4xe is being phased out beginning with the 2026 model year, so ask the sales team directly if you are hoping to find one.

Pick a trim

Five seats or seven

Every trim comes in two body lengths, and the choice matters more than most trim decisions. The regular Grand Cherokee has a 116.7-inch wheelbase, seats five, and carries 38 cubic feet of cargo behind the second row (71 with the seats folded). The L adds a real third row for up to seven and costs about $2,000 more, with the same trims, engines and equipment. Families with kids in sports and a trunk full of gear will probably want the L. If the third row would live folded flat, the shorter body is easier to park in a crowded shopping-center lot and a little easier to live with on the tighter streets near the center of town.

What buyers around Methuen say

The dealership holds a 4.3-star average across roughly 1,600 Google reviews. The feedback is not uniform, which is true of any store with that volume, so here are two recent buyers in their own words. A couple who bought a 2026 Grand Cherokee in September wrote that they “had an exceptional experience purchasing a new 2026 Grand Cherokee at the Methuen Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership” and added, “They handle everything! (We live 25 miles from Methuen, a 45 minute drive)!” — Kathy W. Another September Jeep buyer, who had just flown in from out of state and was worried about closing time, said the store “offered to stay open to meet with us, which was extremely nice. Obviously, the end of the month encouraged this, but other dealers absolutely did not offer this same opportunity.” — Don W.

Living with one in the Merrimack Valley

Methuen sits right on the New Hampshire line, so a Grand Cherokee here sees a lot of I-93 and I-495 commuting, plenty of stop-and-go on the local roads, and a long salted winter. The service and repair guide covers the upkeep side of that, and the pricing and leasing guide walks through the Massachusetts sales tax, the annual excise bill and how lease versus finance plays out. To compare stock, the dealership’s Grand Cherokee page and its Grand Cherokee L page list what is on the lot.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee worth buying?

For most shoppers who want a five- or seven-seat SUV with real four-wheel-drive hardware, yes. The new turbo is quicker and a little more efficient than the V6 it replaces, the touchscreen is larger on every trim, and the towing rating holds at 6,200 pounds. The main reason to hesitate is price, since the top trims cross $60,000 before options, which is why the Limited and Laredo Altitude tend to get the most attention.

What is different on the 2026 model compared with 2025?

The grille, front and rear fascias and LED headlamps are new, the Hurricane 4 turbo replaces the V6 on every trim from Laredo Altitude up, the 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 NAV screen is standard, Hands-Free Active Driving Assist is available, and the trim lineup was reorganized so that Altitude is now a package on the Laredo. Overland and Summit Reserve no longer appear on the 2026 list.

Is there a 2027 Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Jeep has begun listing the 2027 model year on its website, with starting prices from $39,730 MSRP before destination, while the 2026 remains on sale. This guide covers 2026 vehicles only, so ask the sales team which model years are on the lot and how the pricing compares before you decide.

Is the Grand Cherokee the same vehicle as the new Jeep Cherokee?

No. The Cherokee is a smaller, separate SUV that Jeep brought back for 2026 with a turbo-hybrid powertrain. The Grand Cherokee is the larger model covered here, available as a five-seat two-row or a seven-seat L.

How much can a 2026 Grand Cherokee tow?

Both engines are rated to tow up to 6,200 pounds when properly equipped, and the maximum payload is 1,280 pounds. That covers most small boats, pop-up campers and utility trailers, but trailer weight, hitch class and wiring should be matched to the specific vehicle and trim before you buy.

What does a new Grand Cherokee cost with Massachusetts taxes?

MSRP runs from $39,515 to $60,600 before destination, then Massachusetts adds a flat 6.25 percent sales tax on what you actually pay, plus registration and title fees and an annual excise bill from your town. The pricing and leasing guide works through each piece, and the dealership posts current factory offers on its offers and incentives page.

Where can I test drive one in Methuen?

Methuen Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram is at 175 Pelham Street in Methuen. You can meet the team on the staff page or reach sales at (978) 747-5531 or through the contact page, and a short drive in a two-row and an L back to back settles most seating questions.

The takeaway

The 2026 refresh gave the Grand Cherokee a better engine, a better screen and a cleaner trim ladder without taking away what people liked about it. If you are choosing between trims, start with how much you drive and whether you need the third row, then read the individual trim guides. The full Jeep lineup page is a good place to browse after that.

All 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee guides

• 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo
• 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo X
• 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo Altitude
• 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
• 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited Reserve
• 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit
• Jeep Grand Cherokee service & repair in Methuen
• 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee pricing & leasing in Methuen