Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

Grand Cherokee Trackhawk key figures

A Hellcat engine in a Jeep

Jeep revealed the Trackhawk on 9 April 2017, just before its public debut at the New York International Auto Show. The idea was simple: take the supercharged V8 of the Dodge Challenger and Charger Hellcat and fit it to the Grand Cherokee, which already had a fast SRT version with a 6.4-litre naturally aspirated V8. The Trackhawk name was new, and the car was positioned above the SRT as the top of the range.

The result was one of the most powerful SUVs of its time. The fourth-generation Grand Cherokee and all its engines are covered in our Jeep Grand Cherokee generations guide; this page looks only at the Trackhawk. The engine's background is explained in our history of Dodge, from the Dodge brothers to the Hellcat.

The supercharged Hemi and its eight-speed automatic

The 6.2-litre Hemi V8 uses a supercharger and runs to a 6,200 rpm redline. In US form it produces 527 kW (707 hp, 717 PS) at 6,000 rpm and 875 Nm at 4,800 rpm. The figures published for other markets were slightly lower: the German launch press quoted 522 kW (710 PS), and the New Zealand importer listed 522 kW and 862 Nm. The New Zealand road test also noted that the supercharger can move up to 500 litres of air per second.

By our calculation, the Trackhawk has about 51 % more power and 37 % more torque than the already fast SRT. The eight-speed automatic was strengthened for the extra torque, as were the rear driveshafts and the all-wheel-drive system. In Track mode it shifts in about 160 milliseconds. A launch-control function called Torque Reserve builds boost while the car is stationary so that it leaves the line without a delay.

All-wheel drive and chassis

The Trackhawk has an all-wheel-drive system with selectable modes, each with its own default torque split between the axles. According to the New Zealand road test, the splits are as follows:

Bilstein adaptive dampers, a ride height 25 mm lower than a standard Grand Cherokee and 20-inch forged wheels with 295/45 ZR20 Pirelli tyres complete the chassis. Customers could choose all-season run-flat tyres or P Zero performance tyres. The Brembo brakes have six-piston calipers at the front and four-piston calipers at the rear, and the road testers described them as the largest brakes fitted to a Jeep at that time. Lateral grip reached 0.88 g.

The weight is the price of all this. With about 2,433 kg and a 55/45 front-to-rear distribution, the Trackhawk carries about 4.6 kg per kW by our calculation. You can compare that with other cars in our power-to-weight calculator.

Acceleration, top speed and thirst

The factory figure for European and New Zealand Trackhawks was 3.7 seconds to 100 km/h, while early press material at the reveal spoke of just over 3.5 seconds. The official quarter-mile time was 11.6 seconds. On a test day at Phillip Island in Australia, journalists recorded 3.3 seconds to 100 km/h. The top speed was quoted as 289 km/h in Germany and New Zealand and 290 km/h elsewhere.

The fuel use matches the power. The New Zealand road test recorded an average of 16.8 litres per 100 km, and the engine needs premium petrol. Running costs at that rate can be checked with our fuel cost calculator. The Trackhawk can also tow up to 3,266 kg, so it is a usable, if very thirsty, tow car.

Inside the Trackhawk: an SRT cabin with carbon trim

Inside, the Trackhawk follows the luxurious SRT. It has Laguna leather, carbon fibre trim, an 8.4-inch touchscreen and digital instruments, with seating for five. The Trackhawk badge and specific instrument graphics are the main differences from the SRT cabin, so the interior feels familiar to any Grand Cherokee owner. The old version of this page listed a boot of 782 litres. Outside, black details, more aggressive bumpers and the 20-inch wheels set it apart from other Grand Cherokees, and Jeep offered it in nine colours.

What the Trackhawk cost in Germany, the US and New Zealand

In the United States the Trackhawk was the most expensive Grand Cherokee. The old version of this page put the 2018 price at about 87,000 US dollars, roughly €74,000 at the time. In Germany the car arrived in the second quarter of 2018 at €119,900, almost exactly the price of a BMW X5 M (from €122,100), which had 423 kW (575 PS) against the Jeep's 522 kW (710 PS). By our calculation, the German buyer paid about €230 per kW for the Jeep and €289 per kW for the BMW.

New Zealand received 70 cars for 2018 at 169,990 New Zealand dollars each, about €100,000 at the time, and half were spoken for before the launch. The Trackhawk was built in Detroit at the Jefferson North Assembly plant alongside the other WK2 Grand Cherokees.

End of the Trackhawk and its rivals

The Trackhawk was built until the end of the WK2 generation, with 2021 the last model year. The fifth-generation Grand Cherokee (WL) introduced that year added a plug-in hybrid but no supercharged Trackhawk successor. That makes the WK2 Trackhawk the most powerful Grand Cherokee so far.

Its rivals were the BMW X5 M, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and, from 2018, the Lamborghini Urus. The Jeep offered the most power for the money, while its European rivals were more focused on handling. The Trackhawk also kept genuine towing ability and the higher seating position of a full-size SUV.