Trailhawk is a title reserved for high-end Jeep models. It first appeared as an Easter Jeep Safari concept in 2012. The concept was so well received by the public that Jeep made it available as a trim option on the 2014 Cherokee as well as the polished, improved, and enhanced 2016 Jeep Renegade. The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk will be Jeep’s best-selling SUV that has been optimized for off-road use. That is, until the release of the iconic off-road Jeep Wrangler.
The Trailhawk name denotes a high level of off-road performance. The trim is best suited to those who want to combine a modern, tough exterior with excellent performance on difficult roads. There appear to be a lot of them, as previous Trailhawk models were among the brand’s best-sellers. It stands to reason that Jeep’s best SUV will also be available in Trailhawk trim.
Exterior design
The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk shares the same exterior design as the 2016 Grand Cherokee 75th Anniversary Edition. An intriguing change is the ability to remove the lower front fascia, which is very useful when going off-road. In addition, the Grand Cherokee has strategically placed air vents and electrical features. Driving through water up to 20 inches deep is thus completely safe.
Redline Red, Bright White, Billet Silver, Diamond Black Crystal, Rhino, Granite Crystal, and Velvet Red are the exterior colors available for the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk. All of these colors are also available on other Grand Cherokee trims, so there’s nothing new there.
In addition, there are grey door mirrors, a grey roof rack, and red “Trail-Rated” badges all over the car. Finally, the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk stands out from the crowd with its signature red tow hooks that protrude from the front and rear bumpers. Then there are standard skid plates and a special Mopar rock rails addition, so serious off-roading won’t easily damage the car.
Finally, the hood is adorned with a matte-black decal that not only looks cool but also serves as an anti-glare system.
Interior design
The interior of the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is dark and attractive. The seats are made of black leather with suede accents on the backrests and seat cushions. The seats, steering wheel, and the red stitching on the doors and center console all have distinctive red Trailhawk stitched badges.
Furthermore, the Trailhawk interior has wonderful shiny black and gunmetal inserts, which add to the car’s luxurious feel.
The Trailhawk’s standard infotainment screen is 8.4 inches and runs Chrysler’s Uconnect software. A standard brandless system or, for a premium, a Harman Kardon or Alpine sound system controls the audio in the car.
Engine specs
Let’s take a look at what the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk has to offer in terms of off-road capability. The Trailhawk comes standard with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine with Variable Valve Timing. The engine has a maximum output of 290 horsepower. The 5.7-Liter HEMI V8 Engine with Multi Displacement System comes next, producing 360 horsepower. Finally, a 3.0 liter EcoDiesel V6 engine with 240 horsepower is available.
All engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, adjustable air suspension, and Jeep’s proprietary Quadra-Trac II four-wheel drive system. The latter is essential when driving off-road or in bad weather. Sensors are installed in all four tires as part of the system. Then, it can send up to 100 percent of engine power to the wheel or wheels with the best traction. As a result, the car will be less affected by road and weather conditions. In other words, there’s no need to steer yourself out of a bind any longer!
Tech specs
UConnect controls the infotainment system, which includes Jeep’s Off-Road pages. This section provides an overview of the four-wheel drive system, suspension height, and wheel articulation, as well as other off-road information. The infotainment system can be upgraded to NAV, which includes navigation, integrated voice command with Bluetooth, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Roadside Assistance, SiriusXM digital radio, and a five-year subscription to SiriusXM TravelLink and Traffic Service are also included.
The Hill ascent and descent functionality is also available on the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk. When going off-road, this feature can be activated, and the car will automatically accelerate and brake as needed. The paddle shifters are used to change the speed.
Automatic High Beams are available from the Trailhawk Luxury Group. Blind Spot and Cross Path Detection can be purchased separately for a fee.
The Jeep Active Safety Group offers additional safety features. Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop, Advanced Brake Assist, and Lane Departure Warning are included in the package. There’s also Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist, as well as Rain Sensitive Windshield Wipers.
Price and sale date
The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is already available in the United States. Pricing ranges from $43,095 to around $53,000 with all options.
This amazing off-road perfected SUV will also be available in Europe, and it will be available at the start of 2017. The starting price is expected to be around €75,000 (Germany).