2021 Jeep Cherokee: Trackhawk vs. Trailhawk

Drivers who want an SUV that’s both capable of handling the grind of daily driving and off-road trails often look towards the Jeep Cherokee or Jeep Grand Cherokee. Of course, both of these vehicles come with specialized trims made to provide more power and more prowess to their adventure lifestyles. That’s where the Trackhawk and Trailhawk come into play.

Here’s what you need to know about these amazing rigs:

Different At The Base

While the Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee share a similar name, they are vastly different vehicles. The Jeep Cherokee is considered a small crossover SUV, while the Grand Cherokee falls into the mid-size class. Both models offer seating for up to five, but the mid-size option is going to offer a little more room.

Think of it this way. Both options are highly capable machines. The Grand Cherokee is larger and offers higher-performance numbers than the Cherokee. The compact SUV, however, is more maneuverable and serves as an excellent urban crossover.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk

The Trailhawk edition of the larger SUV is loaded with features that makes it ready to take on the off-road. Along with all of the standard features that come on the Laredo and Limited trims, the Trailhawk adds some extra perks:

• Unique 18-inch wheels
• All-terrain tires and all-terrain drive modes
• Underbody skid plates
• An air suspension tuned for off-road
• Standard four-wheel-drive
• Heated/ventilated front seats
• Heated rear seats
• And more

The Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk

The Trailhawk is pretty much the top trim for the Grand Cherokee. Instead of the 470-hp V8 engine that comes with the SRT model, the Trailhawk is loaded with a 707-hp V8 engine and heavy-duty eight-speed transmission. To further your off-load abilities, this model comes with the following:

• • 20-inch black-painted aluminum wheels
  • Black exterior trim elements
  • High-performance braking
  • Sport exhaust with quad exhaust tips
  • High-performance suspension
  • And more

The Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk

As the smaller SUV, the Jeep Cherokee does not offer both of these off-road trims. The Trailhawk trim is one of the higher-level models on this crossover. It’s only available with the 3.2-liter V6 engine (271 horsepower). The optional turbocharged engine that is available for other trims isn’t an option here.

Your Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk also comes loaded with popular features:

• • • The 8.3-inch touchscreen infotainment center
    • All-terrain tires
    • Active drive lock with rock mode
    • Windshield wiper de-icer
    • Heated front seats
    • Rear USB ports
    • And more

Which Jeep Is Right For Me?

If you want the most prominent and capable off-road vehicle around, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is as good as it gets. The Grand Cherokee, overall, is going to be the bigger and more powerful option. Those who plan on kicking up a lot of mud should look at this beast.

If you’re interested in a small Jeep that works as a great everyday driver, but you want to throw in some off-roading on the weekends, there’s nothing wrong with the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk.