Jeep first unleashed the Grand Cherokee for the 1993 model year, and three decades later, the mid-size SUV has gained a steady cult following across five different generations.
At a time when most SUVs were still reliant on the old-school body-on-frame construction, Jeep innovated at the time of release with the Grand Cherokee sporting a unibody chassis. Designed as a successor to the well-known Cherokee, this mid-size SUV opened a new chapter in the company's history – it was the first Chrysler-owned Jeep product developed from the ground up since the company bought AMC in 1987. Luckily for them, it was the right decision – the Grand Cherokee spearheaded Chrysler's return to fame and fortune as the company moved in the nascent and quickly expanding market of sport utility vehicles and crossovers.
Today, more than three decades later, the Grand Cherokee has embraced the styling of the fifth generation (WL) since early 2021. Back then, Jeep first introduced the world to the long-wheelbase Grand Cherokee L version that blurs the lines between the mid-size and full-size segments where the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models are supposed to be kings. The classic, two-row version was then revealed that same fall and the models have lived a happy V6 and V8 life ever since.
However, the wind of change is blowing in Jeep's direction, too, as the brand doesn't have the same strong sales recently. As such, it's always good to quickly take care of core models to make them a little more desirable. Well, the imaginative realm of digital car content creators jumped ahead of Jeep for the upcoming 2025 or 2026 model year refresh of the WL Grand Cherokee. The good folks over at the Q Cars and AutomagzPro channels on YouTube, for example, have unleashed their resident pixel masters to portray the visions of this mid-size CUV well before the official reveal.
The peeps over at Q Cars probably think that a slightly more rugged Grand Cherokee will help Jeep set the model apart from unibody crossovers like Toyota's Highlander and make it a worthy adversary for the upcoming 2024 Land Cruiser, instead, even if their mid-size SUV doesn't feature a body-on-frame design. Well, if done right, a boxier styling could work wonders for Jeep – we have seen the Hyundai Santa Fe move in that direction and with great acclaim from both fans and critics.
If a slightly less expansive redesign is more likable, then no worries – AutomagzPro'sresident pixel master has that unofficial styling covered, too. The choice is yours, after all – would you like to see a boxier Grand Cherokee to better fight the upcoming 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser and 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe or something along the same coordinates as today?
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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