Jeep Launches 85th Anniversary Edition Cherokee and Grand Cherokee Models With Premium Interior Upgrades

Key Points for Jeep's new 85th Anniversary Editions

• Premium Tech Standard: The 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 and Navigation are now standard, starting at approximately $45,815 for Grand Cherokee models.
• Exclusive Trim Details: Models feature "Acidic Silver" exterior accents and unique 18-inch wheels, differentiating them from standard Altitude trims.
• Value Positioning: The 85th Anniversary Edition bundles high-tier luxury features without the typical $5,000+ surcharge found on Limited or Overland packages.

There aren’t many vehicles, brands or even products that can claim 85 years of dominance in their markets, but Jeep can. The Jeep Wrangler is a direct descendant of the original 1941 Willys that was designed to help carry troops over rugged terrain. Since then, in 1945, the Jeep Willys CJ-2A was adapted for other uses, including farming and ranching. The little vehicle that could climb over nearly anything and its fold-down tailgate made carrying and delivering supplies easier. Now, Jeep has a whole family of vehicles that carry the original off-road legacy. Each Jeep vehicle including the Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Grand Wagoneer and Compass are all getting a special 85th Anniversary model to join in the celebration. 

“Jeep brand was purpose‑built to do more than move people; it was built for duty before it was built for the adventures our customers experience every day, designed to go anywhere and do anything, without compromise,” said Bob Broderdorf, Jeep brand CEO. “We’ve listened to our customers for 85 years, and that feedback has guided Jeep since the 1941 Willys, the vehicle that set the standard for every Jeep that came after it.”

Wrangler and Gladiator Special Editions Debuted First

In January, I reported on the 85th Anniversary Editions of the Wrangler and Gladiator. The release of the two special versions coincided with the Detroit Auto Show. This 85th Anniversary Edition honors the Wrangler’s 85 years of off-road leadership. The special editions are part of Jeep’s Twelve 4 Twelve celebration. This special Wrangler harkens back to some earlier Jeep Americana with plaid upholstery and other design touches. The celebration also extends to the Jeep Gladiator 85th Anniversary edition, bringing the same heritage‑inspired designs to the industry's only Wrangler-inspired mid-size pickup.

“For 85 uninterrupted years, every Jeep vehicle has been built with purpose, designed first for capability, engineered for real world use and shaped by the needs of those who rely on it,” said Bob Broderdorf, Jeep brand CEO. “The Wrangler 85th Anniversary special edition reflects this enduring mindset, translating into thoughtful details and authentic design cues that honor the past while continuing to deliver confidence and capability for today’s adventures.”

New for Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Grand Wagoneer and Compass Models

The exteriors of each 85th Anniversary edition are easily distinguished with Steel Oxide wheel designs and unique badging graphics finished in Agave Blue. On the inside, vehicles receive unique elements, including Mayan Gold thread accents and seat tags finished in Blue Agave and Mayan Gold.

CEO Broderdorf said on social media, 

“Today, and all year long, marks a special moment for the Jeep® brand. 85 years of purpose-built vehicles shaped by our customers, our heritage, and our belief that freedom is always worth pursuing.

Since the original 1941 Willys, Jeep has been built on one idea: Go anywhere. Do anything. Without compromise.

As we celebrate this milestone, we’re introducing our limited 85th Anniversary editions for the Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Grand Wagoneer and Compass. Each model blends authentic Jeep heritage, from plaid-accent interiors to Agave Blue badging, with the capability and innovation that define our future.

These editions join our Jeep Wrangler Twelve 4 Twelve and the Gladiator Convoy program, continuing a long legacy of listening to Jeep owners and delivering what they want and need.

For 85 years, your feedback has guided us, from the first Wrangler in 1941 to the Wagoneer in 1963 to the launch of Cherokee in 1984 that helped define the modern SUV, all the way to the capability and innovation that set Jeep apart today. 

And later this year, we’ll take another leap forward with the world’s first electric Trail Rated SUV, the all-new Jeep Recon.

Thank you for being part of our past, part of our present, and part of our future.

The adventure ahead is bright, and we can’t wait to share it with you.”

A Future Built on 4x4 Leadership

Jeep became legendary because of its ability to traverse just about any terrain without getting stuck. Also, because the first models were so light weight and agile, if they did get stuck, they could easily be freed with a quick tow or even lifted by the  passengers.  

Customers quickly grew to appreciate and trust the 4x4 capability, safety and recreation associated with the Jeep brand. Jeep says it created the world’s first SUV in 1963, called the Jeep Wagoneer.

Jeep’s innovation continued when in 1973, the Jeep brand introduced the Quadra-Trac 4x4 system. Fewer than 10 years later, Jeep created the modern SUV segment with the 1984 Cherokee. In 1993, Jeep brand’s trend-setting nature ushered in the original, premium SUV with the Grand Cherokee.

Today, the Jeep brand is still the only true open‑air, off‑road legend. While other SUVs have challenged Jeep in their off-roading and four-wheel-drive markets, Jeep is still the grand-daddy of them all. Backed by 85 years of legendary 4x4 expertise, Jeep’s innovation and capability power a full lineup of adventure SUVs. Later this year, the brand will launch the world’s first electric Trail Rated SUV: the all‑new Jeep Recon.

Over the years Jeep has logged a number of firsts:

• 1949: Willys Wagon introduced as the first all-steel utility vehicle
• First utility vehicle to feature four-wheel drive
• 1955: Jeep Dispatcher keeps America’s postal service moving
• 1957: Jeep Forward Control provides U.S. with 4x4 utility pickup to tackle toughest work
• 1963: Jeep marries four-wheel drive and passenger-car styling with the world’s first SUV, the Jeep Wagoneer
• Wagoneer was first four-wheel drive mated to an automatic transmission
• 1973: Jeep brand introduces innovative Quadra-Trac 4x4 system
• 1984: Jeep Cherokee becomes first unibody SUV
• 1993: Jeep goes premium with new Grand Cherokee
• 2014: The first Trailhawk-badged model debuts with KL-generation Cherokee
• 2018: The Jeep Trackhawk model debuts – the fastest Jeep ever, with a 707-horsepower HEMI V-8
• 2020: Jeep Gladiator debuts – the first open-air midsize pickup truck

Jeep Reintroduces Affordability to the Lineup

I think probably the most important move Jeep has made recently is cutting prices. Previously Jeep management kept adding more luxury appointments and technology and raising prices. CEO Bob Broderdorf and his team have concentrated on instead only adding what most Jeep buyers want and cutting starting prices by as much as $20,000-$30,000. For a while, the most powerful, HEMI-driven Wranglers were starting about $100,000. Now, less loaded models are in the $70,000 range. 

The Jeep Wrangler Twelve 4 Twelve initiative continues throughout 2026 with a new, special-edition Jeep Wrangler debuting once a month. Also, the Jeep Gladiator Convoy program will continue to roll out special-edition Gladiator models to honor the only open-air midsize truck.

Photos by Jeep.

About The Author

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin. Follow Mary at @MaryConwayMedia on X  and on Facebook, and send her car news tips for future stories. Mary Conway is an esteemed automotive and business reporter who was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2019. Mary is a member of the Automotive Press Association, Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, Society of Professional Journalists, and NATAS.