National Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM · Jacksonville, NC
Jeep Grand Cherokee Hurricane Engine: Jacksonville Commute
For the first time in the nameplate's history, most Grand Cherokees leave the factory with four cylinders. The 2.0L Hurricane Turbo makes 324 horsepower and carries an EPA highway estimate around 30 mpg. If you drive into Jacksonville from Richlands, Swansboro or Hubert, that combination is worth understanding before you shop.
324 hp2.0L Hurricane Turbo I4
332 lb-ftTorque, from about 3,000 rpm
30 mpgEPA highway estimate
FirstFour-cylinder Grand Cherokee ever
What the Hurricane Engine Actually Is
The 2.0L Hurricane Turbo I4 is a turbocharged four-cylinder making 324 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, run through an 8-speed automatic. For 2026 it is standard from Laredo Altitude up through Summit, on both the two-row Grand Cherokee and the three-row Grand Cherokee L.
The headline is that this is the first four-cylinder ever fitted to a Grand Cherokee. In a nameplate that spent thirty years selling V8s, that is a real change, and the reaction most buyers have is skepticism. It deserves a straight answer.
Against the 3.6L Pentastar V6 it replaced on those trims, the Hurricane wins on both counts that matter off the line: 324 horsepower against 293, and 332 lb-ft against 260. Peak torque lands around 3,000 rpm, low enough that the truck pulls cleanly away from a light on N Marine Blvd instead of downshifting twice to find its footing.
What you give up is towing headroom. A 2026 Grand Cherokee tows up to 6,200 lbs when properly equipped, below what the discontinued HEMI trims managed. We cover that history in full on our page about which Grand Cherokee model years had a V8.
Laredo Altitude and up run the Hurricane Turbo. Laredo and Laredo X keep the Pentastar V6.
The Drive In on US-17 and NC-24
Plenty of people who work in Jacksonville do not live in Jacksonville. They come in from Richlands, from Swansboro, from Hubert and Holly Ridge, and up from Havelock. Those are highway-weighted drives, which is exactly the condition where a small turbocharged engine does its best work and where the 30 mpg EPA highway estimate is most relevant.
Two features matter more than the engine on that drive. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go is standard equipment and it handles the N Marine Blvd backup at shift change, when the corridor turns into a long accordion and your left foot gets a workout. And available 4WD earns its money in coastal weather, when a squall crosses NC-24 and the road goes greasy in about ninety seconds.
The 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 screen arrives on Laredo Altitude and above. If your commute involves a phone mount and a tangle of cables today, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on a screen that size is the kind of small daily upgrade you stop noticing in a week and would not give back.
The routes this page is actually about
- US-17. The north and south spine. Havelock and New Bern traffic comes in this way.
- NC-24. The run east toward Swansboro and Hubert, and the road that gets slick fast in a coastal squall.
- N Marine Blvd. The main auto corridor, and the bottleneck at shift change.
- US-258 toward Richlands. Two-lane, rural, and dark early once the clocks change.
Best trim for the commute: Limited
Standard 4WD, the 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 screen, heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel. It is the trim where the daily-driver features stop being options and start being standard.
What the MPG Difference Is Really Worth
The seat you will spend an hour a day in. Test drive it on your real route.
Here is the part most dealer pages oversell, so we will do the arithmetic in the open and let you judge it.
The Hurricane carries an EPA combined estimate around 24 mpg. The Pentastar V6 sits around 22. Drive 15,000 miles a year and that gap is roughly 57 gallons. At three dollars a gallon, call it about $170 a year.
That is real money, and it is also not a reason on its own to jump two trim levels. If your driving is highway-heavy the gap widens, because the split is 30 mpg against 26 on the highway rather than 21 against 19 in town. If you mostly drive across Jacksonville, it narrows.
The better reason to want the Hurricane is that it is the quicker engine and it arrives packaged with the equipment you actually wanted anyway. Treat the fuel savings as a bonus, not the argument. If a salesperson leads with the fuel math, ask them to show it to you the way we just did.
MPG figures are EPA estimates for comparison purposes. Your actual mileage will vary with driving habits, load, weather, and vehicle condition. Fuel-cost figures use a stated 15,000 annual miles and a three-dollar-per-gallon price for illustration only. Compare official ratings at fueleconomy.gov.
Back to topWhich Trims Get the Hurricane
Two engines, one clean dividing line. Laredo and Laredo X run the V6. Everything above them runs the Hurricane.
| Trim | Engine | EPA City / Hwy | Starting MSRP | Who It Fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laredo | 3.6L Pentastar V6 | About 19 / 26 | About $40,410 | Lowest entry price. 8.4-inch screen, cloth or leatherette. |
| Laredo X | 3.6L Pentastar V6 | About 19 / 26 | About $42,000 | Adds sunroof, heated front seats, power liftgate. |
| Laredo Altitude | 2.0L Hurricane Turbo I4 | About 21 / 30 | About $43,000 to $44,000 | Cheapest way into the Hurricane and the 12.3-inch screen. |
| LimitedCommuter pick | 2.0L Hurricane Turbo I4 | About 21 / 30 | About $47,000 to $50,000 | Standard 4WD, heated front and rear seats, heated wheel. |
| Limited Reserve | 2.0L Hurricane Turbo I4 | About 21 / 30 | About $52,000 to $55,000 | Nappa leather, dual-pane sunroof, surround-view camera. |
| Summit | 2.0L Hurricane Turbo I4 | About 22 combined | About $60,195 to $62,190 | McIntosh audio, air suspension, available night vision. |
EPA estimates and starting MSRP figures are approximate and exclude tax, title and dealer fees. Verify against the official Jeep specifications page or call for the current figure on a specific vehicle. The Grand Cherokee L uses the same engine split and runs about $2,000 more per trim.
Need a third row on that commute? See our guide to the 2026 Grand Cherokee L for Jacksonville families. Shopping used instead? Start with the strongest Grand Cherokee model years.
Back to topQuestions Onslow County Commuters Ask
What is the Hurricane engine in the Jeep Grand Cherokee?
It is a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder making 324 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic. It is the first four-cylinder ever offered in a Grand Cherokee, and for 2026 it is standard from Laredo Altitude on up. Peak torque arrives around 3,000 rpm.
What gas mileage does the 2026 Grand Cherokee get?
With the Hurricane Turbo I4, EPA estimates are about 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, roughly 24 combined. With the 3.6L Pentastar V6 on Laredo and Laredo X, estimates run about 19 city and 26 highway, roughly 22 combined. These are EPA estimates and your actual mileage will vary with how and where you drive.
Is a four-cylinder enough engine for a Grand Cherokee?
On paper it beats the V6 it replaced, with 324 horsepower against 293 and 332 lb-ft against 260. Torque arrives low, so it pulls away from a stop light on N Marine Blvd without hunting for gears. The honest catch is towing, which tops out at 6,200 lbs when properly equipped.
Which 2026 Grand Cherokee trims get the Hurricane engine?
Laredo Altitude, Limited, Limited Reserve and Summit all run the 2.0L Hurricane Turbo I4. Laredo and Laredo X keep the 3.6L Pentastar V6. The same split applies to the Grand Cherokee L. If fuel economy is the reason you are shopping, Laredo Altitude is the cheapest way into the Hurricane.
Does the Hurricane engine need premium fuel?
Check the fuel door and the owner's manual on the specific vehicle, because turbocharged engines vary and recommendations can change by model year. Ask us before you buy and we will confirm it against the build sheet on that exact truck rather than guessing.
Is the Grand Cherokee a good commuter from Richlands or Swansboro?
It is a strong fit if your drive is highway-weighted, because the Hurricane's 30 mpg highway estimate is where the engine does its best work. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go handles the N Marine Blvd backup at shift change, and available 4WD covers the wet NC-24 runs when coastal weather comes through.
Can I test drive one near Camp Lejeune?
Yes. We are at 2223 N Marine Blvd in Jacksonville, a short run from either Camp Lejeune gate. Drive it on your actual commute route, not a lap around the lot. Call (910) 347-3777 and we will have one ready with a full tank.
Drive It On Your Actual Commute
We are at 2223 N Marine Blvd in Jacksonville. Take a Grand Cherokee out on the road you drive every morning, not a loop around the lot. Ten minutes on NC-24 tells you more about an engine than any spec table on any website, including this one.
Sales: (910) 347-3777
Mon to Fri 9:00am to 8:00pm · Sat 9:00am to 6:00pm · Sun closed
What Jacksonville Drivers Say
Four Cylinders, 324 Horsepower, One Test Drive
The spec sheet will not settle this one. The on-ramp will.
National Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM · 2223 N Marine Blvd, Jacksonville, NC 28546