Pentastar’s and Hemi power could both be combined by a turbo four-cylinder model and a plug in hybrid model.

The new Jeep Grand Cherokee will be available. In August 2019, we saw the prototype of a heavily camouflaged, but it has remained elusive in spy photos. Although we only had one sighting, it gave us a taste of the next-gen SUV. However, a report from Allpar gives us more flavor in the form powertrain rumors.

There has been speculation that the next Grand Cherokee will be a standard Grand Cherokee, meaning it would not have V6 or V8 engine options, as automakers are moving to smaller turbocharged engines. According to the Allpar report, there will be two options for buyers: a Pentastar V6 and a Hemi V8. This is unconfirmed, and Jeep does not offer any official information on in-development cars. It makes sense to provide some familiarity for customers in this highly competitive SUV segment.

These engines are not the only options. A turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with turbocharging will arrive several months after Grand Cherokee’s launch. The four-pot’s power output and potential replacement for the V6 are not known. It is believed that Jeep will launch with the engines they are familiar with, and then introduce the 2.0-liter to get them used to the idea of a Grand Cherokee four-pot. The Allpar report talks about a plug in hybrid model being introduced after that, possibly for as long as a year.

No matter how you slice it it, the Grand Cherokee is undergoing major changes. Although the current generation was introduced in 2011, sales haven’t been affected by its age. In 2019, 242,969 units were sold, an 8 percent increase over 2018. We can see why Jeep is reluctant to make a big splash with new engines and hybrid powertrains.

Jeep will unveil the new Grand Cherokee in 2021, as we expect.