Return of Powerful Engines: Jeep Grand Cherokee Could Get Hemi V8
Jeep management hints at a possible return of the Hemi V8 engine for the Grand Cherokee model. The model’s chief engineer urged fans to stay tuned, as news may appear in the near future. The most likely candidate is the 5.7-liter engine, however, the appearance of a supercharged V8 variant is not ruled out.
Just last summer, Jeep CEO Bob Broderdorf stated the company’s commitment to V8 engines, confirming that the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 remains in the lineup. This strategy has already been implemented in a number of new models, such as the Wrangler Willys 392 and Wrangler Moab 392. Broderdorf also confirmed that additional V8 models are in development, sparking speculation about the return of the 5.7-liter Hemi to the Grand Cherokee family or the creation of a new variant from the SRT division.
Market Reaction and Potential
Recently, Jeep representative Joe Aljajawi, responding to a question about a possible engine return, noted that the company listens to its customers and suggested to “stay tuned for details.” While this is not a specific confirmation, the trend is already visible: Ram recently brought back the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 for the 1500 pickup, and this move was an instant success, as the brand received over 10,000 orders in less than a day. In the pickup, this engine develops 395 hp and 555 Nm of torque.
Current Offerings and Future Possibilities
Currently, the Grand Cherokee offers the familiar 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with 293 hp, and from 2026 it will be joined by the new turbocharged four-cylinder Hurricane 4 engine. This 2.0-liter unit, which will be standard for more expensive versions, produces 324 hp and 450 Nm, which is not too far from the figures of the former 5.7-liter V8 with 360 hp and 528 Nm.
In addition to the return of the classic Hemi, the revival of the SRT division opens up much more interesting prospects, such as the possibility of creating a new Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. If Jeep is indeed working on a high-performance crossover, it could borrow technology from the Ram 1500 TRX pickup and get a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 777 hp. Ram and SRT CEO Tim Kuniskis hinted at additional high-performance models at the end of last year, stating that the TRX “hints at something else brewing for the future.”
The popularity of powerful engines among buyers of large SUVs and pickups remains consistently high, despite the overall global trend towards electrification and downsizing. The success of the Ram 1500 with the Hemi V8 clearly demonstrated that market demand for such units exists. For Jeep, whose image is closely tied to power and capability, offering a Grand Cherokee with a V8 could become a key argument for the conservative part of the audience, providing a logical link between the brand’s heritage and its future. The decision could also strengthen the model’s position in the competitive battle with other large SUVs that offer similar powerful powertrains.