Jeep is reportedly preparing to install its twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre Hurricane inline-six in the Grand Cherokee for the 2028 model year, a move that would give the brand's mid-size SUV a significantly more powerful option at the top of its range. The claim, first reported by MoparInsiders and attributed to a well-placed source and a leaked document, has not been confirmed by Jeep, so it remains a rumour for now.
According to the report, the Grand Cherokee would receive the standard-output version of the Hurricane engine rather than the more powerful high-output tune. Using the Grand Wagoneer as a reference point, that specification could deliver around 420 hp (313 kW) and 468 lb-ft (634 Nm) of torque. That output would comfortably exceed the current turbocharged four-cylinder offered in the Grand Cherokee and would also eclipse the retired 5.7-litre Hemi V8.
The appeal for Jeep is straightforward. A Hurricane-powered Grand Cherokee would not need to become the standard engine across the line-up. Offering it on a small number of upper trims would create clearer separation from the more affordable four-cylinder models and give buyers a further reason to move up the price ladder. The strategy mirrors a broader industry trend of expanding the upper reaches of model ranges with increasingly expensive and desirable variants, a tactic with which Jeep is already familiar.
There is also precedent within the Grand Cherokee itself. Earlier this year, SRT revealed a Grand Cherokee development vehicle fitted with the high-output 3.0-litre Hurricane engine alongside an experimental electric compressor called eBoost Air. That prototype was considerably more extreme than what is reportedly planned for production, but it demonstrated that the engine physically fits the vehicle.
The current Grand Cherokee is already regarded as a strong proposition, combining an upscale cabin with genuine off-road capability, and the three-row Grand Cherokee L remains one of the more compelling family SUVs on the market. What the line-up has lacked is a high-performance flagship at the very top. A variant producing more than 400 horsepower could fill that gap and strengthen the Grand Cherokee's position at the expensive end of the mid-size SUV segment.
Jeep has yet to confirm any new powertrain for the Grand Cherokee, and the reported 2028 timing means the plan could change before any production model arrives. For now, the claim rests on a single report and a leaked document, and buyers should treat the prospect of a 420-hp Grand Cherokee as unconfirmed.