The Jeep Cherokee Laredo is the second step in the 2026 Cherokee lineup, and it is the trim where Jeep Canada puts the two winter features a Manitoba driver asks about first: a heated steering wheel and remote start. Jeep Canada lists one powertrain for the 2026 Cherokee, a hybrid with no plug, and it lists full time all wheel drive with Active Drive 4x4 on the base model the Laredo builds on. If you already know you want one, browse our new Jeep Cherokee inventory and use the Trim filter to pull up the Laredos.
Shopping already? Browse our new Jeep Cherokee inventory in Portage la Prairie.
Every trim, feature and figure below comes from Jeep Canada's 2026 Cherokee page as we read it in October 2026, and the fuel numbers come from Natural Resources Canada's 2026 fuel consumption ratings. Jeep Canada has also posted a 2027 Cherokee page that features a returning Trailhawk, which our post on the Cherokee Trailhawk's return covers. This guide is about the 2026.
Key Takeaways
- The Laredo is one of five 2026 trims. Jeep Canada's 2026 Cherokee page lists the Cherokee, Laredo, Limited, Overland and 85th Anniversary Edition.
- One powertrain. Jeep Canada lists a 1.6 litre four cylinder turbo hybrid with an electronic variable transmission and up to 210 horsepower, and no plug.
- Winter features. Jeep Canada lists a heated steering wheel and remote vehicle start among what the Laredo adds over the base Cherokee, along with a 10 way power driver seat. Heated front seats are already on the base Cherokee.
- Fuel. Natural Resources Canada rates the 2026 Cherokee Hybrid at 6.1 L/100 km city, 6.7 highway and 6.3 combined, one row for the model rather than one per trim.
- Grip. Active Drive 4x4 helps you get moving on the first snow; winter tires are what help you stop and steer.
The 2026 Cherokee Lineup and Where the Laredo Sits
The Cherokee name came back for 2026 as a hybrid SUV. Jeep Canada's 2026 Cherokee page offers five models, and it lays out the first steps as a ladder: the Laredo's list is written against the base Cherokee, and the Limited's against the Laredo.
Cherokee. The base model.
Laredo. The subject of this guide, the first step up.
Limited. The step above the Laredo.
Overland. Jeep Canada lists its key equipment against the Limited.
85th Anniversary Edition. An edition with its own Blue Agave door decals and 4x4 badges, according to Jeep Canada.
What Comes Standard on the Laredo
Jeep Canada lists equipment as "key standard equipment", so treat these lists as the headline items rather than the full build. The window sticker on a given Laredo is the complete list.
From the base Cherokee. Jeep Canada lists heated front seats, a 12.3 inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen with a 10.25 inch digital cluster display, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, and Full Time AWD plus Active Drive 4x4 with the Selec-Terrain Traction System.
What the Laredo adds. Against the base Cherokee, Jeep Canada lists:
- A 10 way power adjustable driver seat (the heated front seats are already on the base Cherokee)
- A heated premium wrapped steering wheel
- Remote vehicle start
- Front LED fog lamps
- Dual USB Type C ports for the second row, for charging only
The powertrain. Jeep Canada lists one: the 1.6L I-4 EP Turbo Hybrid, paired with an Electronic Variable Transmission (EVT), with up to 210 horsepower. Jeep Canada says the hybrid gives the benefits of electrification without the need for external charging, so there is no cord and no charging stop. It also states an 800 km combined total range "using a combination of battery power and gas power."
Towing. Jeep Canada rates the 2026 Cherokee to pull up to 1,587 kg (3,500 lb) when properly equipped, and our Jeep Cherokee towing capacity guide works through what that means for a utility trailer or a sled trailer.
What the Limited Adds, and Whether You Need It
Against the Laredo, Jeep Canada's 2026 Cherokee page lists these as the Limited's key additions:
| Limited adds | What it changes |
|---|---|
| Premium Capri leatherette perforated seats | Seat material |
| Security alarm | Theft deterrent |
| Wireless charging pad | Phone charging without a cable |
| Power liftgate with adjustable height | Opening the hatch by button |
| Auto dim rearview mirror | Headlight glare from behind |
Here is our honest read for a Manitoba buyer. None of those five is a winter feature. The heated seats, the heated wheel and remote start are already on the Laredo, and the drive system is the same Active Drive 4x4 Jeep Canada lists on the base Cherokee. The Limited is a comfort and convenience step. The one item we would weigh in January is the power liftgate, because opening a hatch by button beats digging for a handle with mitts on and an armful of groceries. If that matters to you, step up. If the winter list is what you are shopping for, the Laredo already has it.
The Winter Read for Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg
Out here a trim gets judged on a January morning, not on a spec sheet. These are the features that decide it, as Jeep Canada's 2026 Cherokee page lists them.
| Winter feature | Where Jeep Canada lists it |
|---|---|
| Heated front seats | On the base Cherokee |
| Heated steering wheel | Added on the Laredo |
| Remote vehicle start | Added on the Laredo |
| Full Time AWD plus Active Drive 4x4 | On the base Cherokee |
Remote start. Picture the commuter in MacGregor, Oakville or Elie who leaves before sunrise for a shift in Winnipeg. Remote start means the Cherokee is already running before you walk out, and the heated wheel means bare hands on the rim instead of gloves on a cold rim for the first ten minutes down Highway 1.
The hybrid on a minus 30 morning. Jeep Canada's 2026 Cherokee page says nothing about how the hybrid system behaves in deep cold, and we are not going to guess. The owner's manual for the vehicle is the place to check what Jeep says about cold weather operation, so read it before your first real cold snap. Jeep Canada does say the driver picks between battery and gas power through one of three drive modes, and the owner's manual is where to read what each one does. If you plug in a block heater out of habit, ask our team whether one is offered for the Cherokee hybrid; our service department installs block heaters.
The First Snowfall on Highway 1
The first snow of the year on the Trans-Canada between Portage and Winnipeg often arrives wet, then glazes as the evening cools, and it catches drivers still on summer habits.
Active Drive 4x4 sends power to all four wheels, and that helps a Cherokee get moving from a stop and hold its line under gentle throttle. It does not add grip for braking or steering. On a glazed lane the tires decide where the vehicle stops and turns, so the order of operations is winter tires first, then a lighter right foot and more room to the vehicle ahead.
We are a participating retailer in the MPI Winter Tire Program. Manitoba Public Insurance states that "only manufacturer designated winter tires that display the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol will be eligible." In plain terms, as of October 1, 2026 the program covers tires marketed solely as winter tires; all weather and all season tires no longer qualify, even with the mountain snowflake mark. Book a winter tire changeover with our service team before the snow stays.
Fuel Economy From Natural Resources Canada
Natural Resources Canada's 2026 fuel consumption ratings list one row for the 2026 Cherokee Hybrid, a small sport utility vehicle with a 1.6 litre four cylinder and a continuously variable transmission, running on regular gasoline:
| Rating | L/100 km |
|---|---|
| City | 6.1 |
| Highway | 6.7 |
| Combined | 6.3 |
The city figure is lower than the highway figure, so town driving around Portage is where the rating is best. The row is for the model, not the trim, so the Laredo carries the same rating as the rest of the 2026 lineup. Jeep Canada's page states the same 6.3 combined and notes that actual consumption will vary with driving habits and other factors, and a Manitoba winter is one of those factors. For a 2027 Cherokee, look up that model year in Natural Resources Canada's fuel consumption ratings once it is published.
Shopping for a Cherokee Laredo
Dunn Ram Trucks in Portage la Prairie sells Jeep across Manitoba, and we deliver anywhere in Manitoba with road access; ask our team for the details. The window sticker on the exact Laredo is the final word on its equipment, so read it with the lists above in hand. To see what is running this month, check our current Jeep offers.
FAQs
Is the Laredo a trim of the 2026 Jeep Cherokee?
Yes. Jeep Canada's 2026 Cherokee page lists five models: the Cherokee, Laredo, Limited, Overland and 85th Anniversary Edition. The Laredo is the first step up from the base Cherokee.
Does the Jeep Cherokee Laredo have a heated steering wheel and remote start?
Yes. Jeep Canada's 2026 Cherokee page lists a heated premium wrapped steering wheel and remote vehicle start among the Laredo's key standard equipment over the base Cherokee, along with a 10 way power adjustable driver seat. Heated front seats are already standard on the base Cherokee.
Is the Jeep Cherokee Laredo all wheel drive or four wheel drive?
Both names apply. Jeep Canada's 2026 Cherokee page lists Full Time AWD plus Active Drive 4x4 with the Selec-Terrain Traction System as key standard equipment on the base Cherokee, the model the Laredo builds on. The window sticker on the exact vehicle confirms it.
What is the fuel economy of the Jeep Cherokee Laredo?
Natural Resources Canada rates the 2026 Cherokee Hybrid at 6.1 L/100 km city, 6.7 L/100 km highway and 6.3 L/100 km combined. It publishes one row for the model, not one per trim, so the Laredo carries the same rating.
Do you have to plug in the Jeep Cherokee hybrid?
No. Jeep Canada describes the 2026 Cherokee as a hybrid that gives the benefits of electrification without the need for external charging, so there is no charging cord or charging stop.
The Bottom Line
For a Manitoba driver, the Laredo is where the 2026 Cherokee gets its heated steering wheel and remote start, on top of the heated seats and Active Drive 4x4 Jeep Canada lists on the base model. The Limited adds comfort, not winter capability, so step up only if its list speaks to you. Put winter tires on whichever you choose.
See the new Jeep Cherokee Laredos in our inventory. If you have a vehicle to move on, see what it is worth with our trade-in value tool, and you can apply for financing online. Any approval, rate or term is on approved credit.
Tyler Dunn, Dunn Ram Trucks, Portage la Prairie
