Jeep Hints at Fast-Charging Capability for Updated 2026 Grand Cherokee 4xe
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Jeep gave us our first look at the updated Grand Cherokee with the world today, and the automaker’s first images hint at a big improvement for the plug-in hybrid 4xe variant.
Set to arrive in time for the 2026 model year, it appears that the Grand Cherokee 4xe will be able to recharge faster than ever. Based on the information on the passenger-side screen in the image shared by Jeep, the occupants in the vehicle shown here are looking for a 450V DC fast-charging plug.
Currently, the Grand Cherokee 4xe is limited to slower Level 2 charging speeds (240V), which means that its 17 kWh battery pack takes around two hours to fully charge. Access to DC fast charging stations would significantly improve that. For comparison, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which has a 20 kWh battery and can go from 10-80 per cent state of charge in as little as 38 minutes at a fast-charging station.
Elsewhere, updates look minor, though they may still have a big impact. The infotainment stack, for instance, appears to have changed moderately. The two knobs that used to sit below the screen now appear to have moved up, and sit on either side of the touchscreen. A column of haptic buttons now appears to also bracket the touchscreen and control features like the seat heating. That has cleaned up the area below the screen, which is now a simple row of buttons that appear to control the HVAC system.
Overall, though, Jeep’s designers appear to have taken an ‘if ain’t broke don’t fix it’ approach, and the handsome cabin remains largely familiar for the upcoming model year. From what we can see of the exterior, that’s more or less the approach the exterior designers took, too.
The overall appearance isn't a massive departure from the current vehicle, though there are some updates to the front facia. The air intake below the seven-slot grille appears to have been split into two sections, and the chrome trim piece that runs across the bumper has grown and now curls farther up the side air intakes.
Jeep says that it has now begun final validation testing for the updated 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The automaker plans to fully unveil the new SUV later this year.
