Quick Facts:
- Vehicle: 2028 Jeep Grand Cherokee (WL generation), per a MoparInsiders source report.
- Reported engine: 3.0L twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six, Standard Output tune.
- Expected output: About 420 hp and 468 lb-ft, the current Grand Wagoneer rating.
- Old HEMI output: 357 hp and 390 lb-ft from the 5.7L V8 in the Grand Cherokee.
- HEMI towing: 7,200 lb maximum, the highest rating of the current WL generation.
- Current towing: 6,200 lb with either the 2.0L Hurricane 4 or the 3.6L Pentastar V6.
- Status: Not confirmed by Jeep or Stellantis.
- Best for: Grand Cherokee owners who tow campers or boats and miss the V8.
 8 min read
In This Article
- What the 2028 Jeep Grand Cherokee Report Says
- Towing: Will It Reach 7,200 Pounds Again?
- Confirmed vs. Reported
- Why Jeep Won’t Bring Back the HEMI
- The SRT Test Mule Shows the Six Fits
- Grand Cherokee Engines Compared
- 2028 Grand Cherokee Power vs. the Old V8
- What the 2028 Six Means on the Trail
- Buy Now or Wait for 2028?
- Hurricane Six vs. HEMI V8: Pros and Cons
- Is It Worth Waiting For?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What the 2028 Jeep Grand Cherokee Report Says
The 2028 Jeep Grand Cherokee will reportedly get the twin-turbo 3.0L Hurricane inline-six, according to a source report from MoparInsiders. According to the outlet, a leaked document points to the Standard Output version, not the High Output engine. In the 2026 Grand Wagoneer, the Standard Output six makes 420 hp and 468 lb-ft. With the same tune, the next Grand Cherokee would out-muscle the 5.7L HEMI V8 it lost after the 2023 model year.
Over the years I have owned five Jeeps: two Grand Cherokees, a couple of Wranglers, and a Gladiator. Both Grand Cherokees were Overland editions, and as I recall, both carried V8s. I have a lot of love for this brand, so I like the idea of Jeep widening the engine menu again.
Will the 2028 Jeep Grand Cherokee Tow 7,200 Pounds Again?
Towing is the gap the six is most likely to close, although Jeep has published no number yet. For reference, the HEMI Grand Cherokee was rated for 7,200 lb, while today’s 2.0L and 3.6L engines stop at 6,200 lb. MoparInsiders expects Jeep to target the old 7,200 lb figure.
If you pull a camper or a boat, the math matters more than the badge. A 6,000 lb camper with the common 10 to 15 percent tongue load puts 600 to 900 lb on your hitch. Because Jeep sets a separate tongue-weight limit, check your owner’s manual and find your vehicle’s towing capacity on the door-jamb label. Also, the Grand Cherokee’s tow package is pre-wired for a trailer brake controller but ships without one, per Mopar’s parts catalog.
Three pieces of gear handle both problems. A Sherline LM-2000 scale reads tongue loads up to 2,000 lb, so it covers the full 600 to 900 lb range. For brakes, pick one controller. The Tekonsha Prodigy P3 mounts under the dash and needs wiring, while the CURT Echo plugs into the 7-way connector and runs from your phone.
The Towing Gear From the Math Above
CURT 51180 Echo Mobile Bluetooth Trailer Brake Controller
For context, the same six tows up to 10,000 lb in the 2026 Grand Wagoneer, per Jeep. However, the Grand Wagoneer is a larger body-on-frame SUV, while the Grand Cherokee is a unibody, so expect a lower Grand Cherokee rating.
What Jeep Has Confirmed and What Is Still a Report
Jeep has not announced a six-cylinder Grand Cherokee. Therefore, separate the official facts from the report before you plan a purchase around it.
| Confirmed by Jeep or Stellantis | Reported, Not Confirmed |
|---|---|
| Current engines: 2.0L Hurricane 4 and 3.6L Pentastar V6 | Hurricane six arrives for the 2028 model year |
| Current maximum tow rating is 6,200 lb | Standard Output tune, not High Output |
| 2026 Grand Wagoneer six makes 420 hp and tows up to 10,000 lb | Output near 420 hp in the Grand Cherokee |
| An SRT Grand Cherokee test mule ran a Hurricane six | A tow rating near the old 7,200 lb figure |
Why Jeep Won’t Bring Back the HEMI
Stellantis has ruled out a return of the 5.7L. In a spring 2026 interview with The Drive, Stellantis Head of American Brands Tim Kuniskis said a HEMI Grand Cherokee “doesn’t make sense.” He added, “The Grand Cherokee should not be the same as a Durango.”
His reasoning is brand separation and refinement. For example, Dodge runs a V8-first strategy for the Durango. Kuniskis also said the aging 5.7L does not belong in a highly refined SUV like the Grand Cherokee. Still, he acknowledged the lost 7,200 lb tow rating and promised Jeep would do more with the SUV.
Asked about a Hurricane six, he said, “It’d be great,” while stopping short of a commitment. Four months later, the MoparInsiders report suggests the idea has moved from wish list to production plan.
The SRT Test Mule Shows the Six Fits
For years, the long inline-six reportedly would not fit the WL engine bay without changes to the engine cradle, according to MoparInsiders. Then, at SRT Day in Detroit in summer 2026, engineers showed a Grand Cherokee test mule with a Hurricane High Output engine and an experimental eBoost Air electric compressor. MoparInsiders reported the prototype makes about 640 hp and 600 lb-ft.
This mule is far wilder than any expected 2028 model. Even so, it proved the six fits under the WL hood. Below, a Stellantis video shows the same engine family in High Output form in the Ram 1500 RHO.
Grand Cherokee Engines Compared: Four-Cylinder to Hurricane Six
First, the table below lines up every recent Grand Cherokee gas engine against the reported six. Output and towing figures come from Jeep and Stellantis.
| Engine | Output | Max Tow | Grand Cherokee Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L Hurricane 4 Turbo | 324 hp / 332 lb-ft | 6,200 lb | Current, above Laredo X |
| 3.6L Pentastar V6 | 293 hp / 260 lb-ft | 6,200 lb | Current, Laredo and Laredo X |
| 5.7L HEMI V8 | 357 hp / 390 lb-ft | 7,200 lb | Two-row model dropped after 2023 |
| 3.0L Hurricane Standard Output | 420 hp / 468 lb-ft (2026 Grand Wagoneer) | Not announced for Grand Cherokee | Reported for 2028 |
| 3.0L Hurricane High Output | 540 hp / 521 lb-ft (Ram 1500 RHO) | Not announced for Grand Cherokee | SRT test mule only |
Notably, Jeep still sells the Pentastar V6 on the 2026 Grand Cherokee Laredo and Laredo X. Every trim above those gets the 2.0L Hurricane 4 in the Grand Cherokee. The Stellantis video below walks through the current lineup and the four-cylinder.
2028 Grand Cherokee Power vs. the Old V8
On paper, the six wins the power contest by a wide margin. At 420 hp and 468 lb-ft, it beats the Grand Cherokee V8 by 63 hp and 78 lb-ft. Compared to today’s Hurricane 4, the gain is 96 hp and 136 lb-ft. This torque jump is nearly double the four-cylinder’s 72 lb-ft edge over the Pentastar.
Torque arrives in a different place, too. In the Grand Wagoneer, the six hits peak torque at 3,500 rpm, per Jeep’s published specs. By contrast, the Hurricane 4 peaks at 3,000 rpm, per Stellantis. So the four responds a little sooner on paper, while the six brings 136 lb-ft more once it gets there.
My own garage history shapes how I read those numbers. Those two Overlands were V8 Grand Cherokees, as I recall, and my Gladiator ran the 3.6L Pentastar. Today I drive a Colorado ZR2 with a turbo four. For this reason, a turbo six in a Grand Cherokee Overland sounds like the right blend to me.
The sound is a different matter. No turbo six will rumble like the 5.7L, and some Jeep Grand Cherokee HEMI loyalists will never forgive the change.
What the 2028 Six Means on the Trail
The current hardware sets a high bar. For instance, the Trailhawk and Overland return for 2027 with serious off-road gear, including a two-speed transfer case. Per Stellantis, the Trailhawk lists 11.4 inches of ground clearance. Its approach, breakover, and departure angles measure 36, 24.4, and 30.3 degrees. In addition, it rides on 30.5-inch Goodyear Territory All-Terrain tires.
A six would add low-speed torque for loose climbs and for crawling with a loaded roof rack. The downside is size. Specifically, an inline-six is longer and heavier than a four-cylinder, so expect more weight over the front axle. Jeep has not said how a six would change the Trailhawk’s angles, ride height, or Trail Rated status.
Even so, tire pressure and recovery gear still rank ahead of horsepower on my trail list. A six-cylinder Trailhawk needs the same basic kit as any other trail rig.
These three items suit the Trailhawk’s tires and a two-row SUV. An ARB E-Z Deflator pulls the valve core for fast air-downs and reads pressure as you go. Next, a VIAIR 88P refills tires up to 33 inches, so 30.5s sit inside its rating. MAXTRAX MKII boards get you out of sand without a winch anchor, and they ride well on a roof rack.
A Trailhawk Trail Kit
ARB ARB600 E-Z Deflator Kit 10-60 PSI 0-4 BAR Tire Pressure Gauge R…
VIAIR 88P 00088 12V Portable Air Compressor Kit for Car and Truck T…
Buy a 2026 or 2027 Now, or Wait for 2028?
Your answer depends on what you tow. A common rule of thumb says to stay at or below 80 percent of your tow rating. On a 6,200 lb rating, 80 percent is about 5,000 lb. If your loaded trailer weighs less than 5,000 lb, a 2026 or 2027 Hurricane 4 model fits your needs today.
On the other hand, if your loaded trailer weighs more than 5,000 lb, waiting makes more sense. However, the six is still a report, and Jeep has confirmed neither pricing nor timing. Alternatively, a used 2022 or 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee HEMI model offers the 7,200 lb rating now. Our 2022 Grand Cherokee launch coverage lists the HEMI-era specs.
Hurricane Six vs. HEMI V8: Pros and Cons
Pros
- About 420 hp, 63 hp more than the Grand Cherokee HEMI.
- About 468 lb-ft, 78 lb-ft more than the HEMI.
- Adds 96 hp and 136 lb-ft over today’s 2.0L Hurricane 4.
- The same six tows 10,000 lb in the body-on-frame Grand Wagoneer.
- An SRT test mule proved the six fits the current WL body.
- The same engine family already runs in Ram, Dodge, and Jeep models.
Cons
- Jeep has not confirmed the engine, output, or timing.
- No Grand Cherokee tow rating exists for the six yet.
- No V8 sound, a deal-breaker for some HEMI fans.
- A longer, heavier engine than the four adds front-axle weight off-road.
- Pricing for a six-cylinder trim is unknown.
Is the 2028 Jeep Grand Cherokee Worth Waiting For?
Yes, if your loaded trailer weighs more than 5,000 lb and the report holds. At 420 hp, the 2028 Jeep Grand Cherokee would be the most powerful WL-generation model by horsepower. It also targets the towing gap Kuniskis himself acknowledged.
The trade-offs are the lost V8 sound and the lack of official numbers. Also, every number beyond the Grand Wagoneer’s output is still a projection. If you need 7,200 lb today, a used HEMI model is the proven choice.
After two Grand Cherokee Overlands, I think the six is the right call for this SUV. It keeps the Grand Cherokee refined while giving back the muscle buyers lost with the HEMI. Even so, I would wait for Jeep’s official tow rating before signing anything.
If you tow under 5,000 lb, a current Hurricane 4 model already covers your needs. For bigger trailers, the Grand Wagoneer offers the confirmed six and a 10,000 lb rating today, at a higher price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2028 Jeep Grand Cherokee getting a V8?
No. Current reports point to the 3.0L twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six, not a V8. In a 2026 interview with The Drive, Stellantis executive Tim Kuniskis said a HEMI Grand Cherokee “doesn’t make sense.”
How much horsepower does the Hurricane inline-six make?
The Standard Output version makes 420 hp and 468 lb-ft in the Grand Wagoneer. In comparison, the High Output version makes 540 hp and 521 lb-ft in the Ram 1500 RHO. Reports tie the 2028 Grand Cherokee to the Standard Output tune.
Is the Hurricane engine better than the HEMI?
On output, yes. The Standard Output six makes 63 hp and 78 lb-ft more than the 5.7L HEMI did in the Grand Cherokee. However, the HEMI still wins on sound and on a proven 7,200 lb Grand Cherokee tow rating.
Which Jeep Grand Cherokee has a V8?
The two-row WL Grand Cherokee offered the 5.7L HEMI V8 for the 2022 and 2023 model years. Meanwhile, the three-row Grand Cherokee L kept it from 2021 into the 2024 model year, and earlier generations offered V8s too.
What is the Grand Cherokee V8 towing capacity?
The 5.7L HEMI Grand Cherokee was rated to tow up to 7,200 lb when properly equipped. Today’s 2.0L Hurricane 4 and 3.6L Pentastar V6 models top out at 6,200 lb.