2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Review: A Lavish Interior Can’t Hide a Lazy Engine

The 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit looks the part of a luxury SUV, with a sharp exterior and a cabin dripping in leather and real wood. But under the hood, a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a stiff ride keep this model from reaching its full potential. 0-liter turbo four called the Hurricane 4.

It’s a sophisticated unit—borrowed from Alfa Romeo and Jeep Wrangler builds—featuring dual fuel injectors, two spark plugs per cylinder, and a variable-geometry turbo. The engine even uses prechamber ignition technology first seen in the Maserati MC20, designed to burn fuel more completely for better power and efficiency.

On paper, the Hurricane four-cylinder promises punch, but in practice it feels sluggish off the line. 8 psi of boost before delivering its full 324 horses, and until then, the 4,881-pound SUV feels heavy and unresponsive. 3 seconds—about a second quicker than the V-6 version. 6 seconds.

That lag is hard to ignore in daily driving. The payoff comes at the pump: the four-cylinder returns 26 mpg on the highway at 75 mph, versus 22 mpg for the V-6. On the highway, the Summit’s interior shines with massaging front seats and a 19-speaker McIntosh stereo. Just steer clear of the frustrating haptic climate controls.

The Grand Cherokee handles reasonably well for its size, but the standard air suspension—paired with 21-inch wheels—turns potholes into jarring events. The brake pedal feels overly grabby in stop-and-go traffic, making smooth stops a challenge. Jeep offers a hands-free driver-assistance system, but it’s hesitant in corners and doesn’t inspire the same confidence as systems from GM, Ford, or Tesla.

At $66,585 as tested, the Summit delivers a gorgeous interior and a long list of features. But the engine requires too much effort to get moving. If you can live with that, it’s a spacious and well-appointed family hauler. If not, look elsewhere.