- Jeep could add the Hurricane inline-six-cylinder engine to the Grand Cherokee lineup for 2028.
- Reports suggest it will be the 420-horsepower standard-output version of the engine.
- Jeep has already shown off a prototype Grand Cherokee SRT using a modified version of the Hurricane engine.
Grand Cherokee shoppers miss having V8 power on tap. The current lineup offers a choice between an aging 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Jeep might be cooking up a far more enticing alternative, however, and it could arrive for the 2028 model year.
According to Mopar Insiders, the Grand Cherokee lineup is set to expand thanks to the arrival of the Hurricane inline-six as a new engine option. Jeep has long said that the straight-six doesn't fit between the front fenders of the fifth-generation WL Grand Cherokee.
Apparently, that's no longer the case.
More Power Than The Old V8
The previous generation Grand Cherokee featured a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 as a popular engine choice. You could jump to the SRT or Trackhawk versions for even more oomph, but the regular old 5.7 was a healthy option.
Today, the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six would pack an even more powerful punch. The standard output Hurricane six delivers 420 horsepower and 468 pound-feet of torque. That's a solid jump over the 360 hp and 390 lb-ft provided by the 5.7-liter V8.
Even better, for those focused on more power for the Grand Cherokee, is the notion that if the standard output fits, then so does the high-output Hurricane engine. Perhaps a 550-hp SRT version is waiting in the wings?
Motor1's Take: The Hurricane six is a terrific option for the Grand Cherokee. It doesn't add as much heft over the noise as the old V8, delivers more power, and will help raise the model's tow rating as well.
Customers want a more capable Grand Cherokee, and this is the perfect powertrain to do just that.
