If you’ve been wondering when Jeep was going to replace its midsize Cherokee model, wonder no more, as its successor is due sometime this year. While catching up with Jeep CEO, Bob Broderdorf, during the media drive for the Wagoneer S, he noted that launching a new midsize model for 2025 is one of his top priorities. Broderdorf provided some insight into Jeep’s plans for 2025, which involves launching nearly $3.2 billion worth of new products throughout 2025. This plan is a part of the company’s massive product strategy, which will define Jeep’s next generation of models.
So far, we’ve seen a new Grand Cherokee, and the launch of the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer over the past couple of years. Now, the next phase involves the rest of the lineup, beginning with the debut of the all-electric Wagoneer S. By process of elimination, the supposed midsize model will likely be a replacement for the previous fifth-generation KL Cherokee.
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The Next-Gen Cherokee Will Be Jeep’s First Standard Hybrid Model
While sharing details about Jeep’s massive 2025 product offensive, Broderdorf mentioned the new “midsize replacement” will be the company’s first standard, non-plug-in hybrid model. Now, you may think, Jeep already has two hybrid models: the Wrangler 4xe and the Grand Cherokee 4xe. While they’re both technically hybrids, they’re plug-in hybrids, meaning owners can recharge the propulsion system’s gas-electric battery pack like a conventional electric vehicle.
The midsize replacement, however, will be the company’s first hybrid model that’s not the plug-in type.
Speaking about Jeep’s 2025 rollout, Broderdorf explained three main segments within the company’s lineup, including “core off-road” models, followed by “mainstream,” and “premium.” The “core off-road” models include the enthusiast-aimed cars such as the Wrangler and the new incoming Recon.
The top segment consists of the premium models, such as the Wagoneer and its variants. But in the middle is the mainstream models, which starts “with the Compass, our new midsize replacement, Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L,” Broderdorf explained.
Jeep Aims To Correct Its Strategies
The new midsize replacement is one of the “new cars” Broderdorf briefly spoke about, noting that a midsize model has been a “massive miss” within its sales portfolio.
“This [midsize] product needs to come in as quickly as humanly possible. It’s the one that our dealers have asked for. We’ve moved more engineers towards rallying around this product, getting it off the ground quickly,” Broderdorf continued. “And this will be the introduction of our first hybrid into the portfolio as well. That’s going to be a big one.
Jeep discontinued the fifth-gen KL Cherokee in 2023 after a nearly decade-long series production cycle, due to age and dwindling sales. It launched back in 2013 as a 2014 model-year car and shared the same FCA Compact Wide platform as the last Chrysler 200 sedan. It sold globally with a range of Fiat-sourced gasoline and diesel four-cylinder engines. But in North America, it came with the choice of either a Fiat-sourced 2.4-liter Tigershark gasoline four-cylinder, or Chrysler’s own 3.2-liter Pentastar VVT V-6.
All Cherokees sold with a ZF-sourced, Chrysler-assembled nine-speed automatic, making it the first Jeep to feature a nine-speed transmission.
