Jeep Grand Cherokee to get seven seats in 2020

Jeep's Grand Cherokee will undergo a major overhaul in 2020, with an all-new model to offer seven seats over three rows, plugging a sizeable gap in the SUV company's current line-up.

That's the news out of the USA, where new company CEO Mike Manley will relaunch a long-dormant Detroit engine facility to specifically handle the manufacturing of the three-row Grand Cherokee.

According to reports, the three-row Grand Cherokee will be an addition to the line-up, rather than a replacement for the five-seat version. It's also understood that its production will run alongside Jeep's plans to relaunch the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer nameplates.

The news, published by American outlet The Detroit News, also sheds light on when exactly we can expect to see an update to Jeep's now-ageing flagship.

The Grand Cherokee featured in FCA's five-year plan, announced earlier this year, with executives promising a new model by 2022. But with Jeep now targeting a 2021 model year, a new Grand Cherokee could be on the streets by late 2020.

The new Grand Cherokee will use a version of Alfa Romeo's Giorgio architecture - the same as that underpins the Stelvio SUV - and is expected to arrive ahead of the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer vehicles, which will use a different platform entirely.

If the timings are to believed, it marks the start of a busy few years for Jeep, with the brand's five-year plan also promising more Trackhawk models, as well as the launch of a new Deserthawk nameplate, the latter of which will be glued to its off-road-focused performance models.

“The Trailhawk models were quickly recognised as the most capable offerings in their respective segments,” Manley said at the time. “We then followed them up with the second in our Hawk range, this time focussed on on-road capability, with the Trackhawk.

“But our intention was never to stop at two Hawks. We always had a third one in mind. This time it is focused on high-speed desert capability, in our all-new Deserthawk.”

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