Jeep’s Core Family Hauler Is Getting Its Mojo Back, Just Not How Fans HopedGear PatrolgvandykeUpdatedThu, September 24, 2026 at 8:56 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleThe 5.7-liter Hemi may not be in the cards for the Grand Cherokee, but that could work out for the better.Earlier this year, we reported on some speculation that Jeep might restore some of the Grand Cherokee's old muscle by bringing back the 5.7-liter engine.While those rumors have since turned out to be … overly optimistic, that doesn't mean the Grand Cherokee will be doing without a performance boost in the foreseeable future.AdvertisementAdvertisementA new report indicates Jeep is still giving its core family hauler a significant power upgrade, just not the one many fans were counting on.The Grand Cherokee won't be getting V8 power, but that could work out for the better. - Credit: StellantisHurricane in the forecastThe update comes thanks to Mopar Insiders. According to information from a "well-placed source," the Grand Cherokee will get Stellantis's twin-turbo 3.0-liter Hurricane inline 6-cylinder for the 2028 model year.Of the two available configurations, the report identifies it as the Standard Output (SO) rather than the High Output (HO) engine.SRT engineers proved the Hurricane fits. - Credit: StellantisWhile this seems to close the door on the possibility of the V8 returning, it would actually work to the Grand Cherokee's benefit.AdvertisementAdvertisementThat's because the powertrain could yield an even more potent Jeep SUV. As it appears in vehicles like the Ram 1500 and the Wagoneer, the engine makes 420 horsepower and 469 lb-ft of torque.By contrast, the Hemi-equipped Grand Cherokee topped out at 357 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque.If Jeep were to give the Grand Cherokee the Hurricane, it would make for a massive boost. - Credit: StellantisAnd that's not even addressing towing. While the 5.7-liter V8's 7,200-pound towing capacity was one of its more appreciated qualities, the Hurricane gives vehicles like the Wagoneer a 10,000-pound total.A move with precedentAs natural as it is to point to past rumors to dismiss this report, the Hurricane's compatibility with Grand Cherokee is a known quantity.The demo might not have been the exact spec, but it puts any practical concerns to rest. - Credit: StellantisDuring SRT Day this summer, engineers showed off a development vehicle fitted with the H/O engine to demonstrate the new e-Boost tech.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile the system was the star of the show (and the inline-6 featured a more powerful tune), the fact that the engine fit at all does ground the report.The Durango thrives on its V8 associations, but the Grand Cherokee has the potential to be more flexible. - Credit: StellantisMoreover, from a practical standpoint, as Mopar Insiders points out, the Hurricane is a more fitting choice than the Hemi. Keeping the Grand Cherokee engine options different from the Dodge Durango allows Stellantis to position the vehicles more distinctly.Whether that kind of move satisfies longtime fans is another question. We'll have to wait until Jeep makes any kind of announcement to see if the report holds up, but it does show promise.About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he's not chasing the latest industry news, he's probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.AdvertisementAdvertisementWant to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.