2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Road Test and Review

2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk front three quarter ・ Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee is the largest SUV in the Jeep lineup. It’s big, but still only has two rows of seating with room for up to five passengers. It’s offered in seven different trims with a choice of rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. There’s a version of this SUV to suit every family’s needs from the off-road-focused Trailhawk to the luxurious Summit.

There’s also the Trackhawk, which is something of an outlier in the world of SUVs. It takes the capability of a Jeep, combines it with the versatility of an everyday SUV, and then adds in a powerful engine that makes this an SUV worthy of a day at the track. This isn’t just about style, as is often the case with the sportiest trims of SUVs. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk has genuine performance chops. Let’s take a closer look.

So Much Power

The Jeep Grand Cherokee lineup features four engines that vary depending on the trim you choose. The most powerful one is a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 707 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. That’s quite simply an insane amount of horsepower for an SUV. Some SUVs need a lot of horsepower to handle the weight of the vehicle. While the Grand Cherokee isn’t light, it does just fine with the less powerful engines available on other trims.

So, it doesn’t need this engine — but it is an absolute joy to drive a 707-horsepower SUV. It takes some getting used to because if you hit the gas the way you do in most cars, you’ll find yourself speeding out ahead more aggressively than intended. On the highway, merging in with traffic isn’t an issue, nor is getting an extra burst of speed for passing.

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It’s ready for the track.

This vehicle is called the Trackhawk with good reason. Jeep didn’t simply put a powerful engine under the hood. It also gave this Grand Cherokee additional features to make it truly track-worthy. There are high-performance Brembo brakes with 15.75-inch slotted rotors and six-piston front brake calipers to make sure the Grand Cherokee comes to a stop when you hit the brake pedal. There’s active damping that improves handling and makes the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk more sure-footed when it’s pushed through the corners.

Like the less powerful and less expensive Grand Cherokee SRT, the Trackhawk has five drive modes: auto, sport, tow, snow, and track. Switching to track mode reduces transmission shift times; sets stability control, four-wheel drive, and steering systems for track driving; and adjusts the suspension to its firmest setting. There’s even launch control so you can create the perfect launch at the touch of a button even if you don’t have the skills of a professional driver.

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It looks every bit the performance SUV that it is.

Look at the numbers and you know this is a performance SUV, but all you really have to do is look at the design. This isn’t a sleek or elegant vehicle. It doesn’t look the least bit delicate. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk looks big, bold, and aggressive with plenty of exterior styling elements that hint at its track focus. This includes gloss black inserts on the front fascia with a black grille and black roof molding. There are standard 20-inch Black Satin SRT wheels and bright quad exhaust tips.

While some SUVs aim for modern, refined styling with sweeping lines, that’s not the Jeep Grand Cherokee. This an SUV that shows off rugged styling that makes it look capable, along with unique accents on the Trackhawk that make it look like a performance vehicle. It stands out from the growing pack of SUVs on today’s roads.

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Interior styling matches its performance focus.

The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk looks like a performance SUV on the outside and it maintains that image on the inside. There are standard suede and Nappa leather performance seats with heavy bolstering to keep you in place when you take the corners. Despite that bolstering, the seats aren’t tight, so they remain comfortable even over longer road trips. There’s also a leather-wrapped performance steering wheel.

The optional Signature Leather-Wrapped Interior Package adds Laguna leather seats with perforation, a leather-wrapped lower instrument panel, and a high-performance audio package. This further enhances the Trackhawk’s sporty feel and adds a bit of luxury. Combined with the standard heated front and rear seats and options like the rear entertainment system, the Trackhawk's interior offers an attractive combination of performance and luxury touches.

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Even the infotainment system is geared toward track driving.

The Uconnect infotainment system found in the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is one of the most intuitive systems on the market. It’s easy to learn with well-organized icons and a responsive touchscreen. Even passengers new to the system will easily find what they’re looking for without being instantly frustrated. On the Trackhawk, standard features include an 8.4-inch touchscreen, dual USB charging ports, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a premium nine-speaker Alpine audio system with a subwoofer and 506-watt amplifier. A 19-speaker Harman Kardon system is available as an option.

Unique to the Grand Cherokee's SRT and Trackhawk trims are Performance Pages, which are accessed through an icon in on the infotainment screen. Here you’ll find information specifically for when you’re out on the track. You can monitor everything from G-force to pressure gauges. It also lets you keep track of performance statistics like 0-60 times.

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Plenty of room for cargo with towing, too.

If you’re buying the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, then you’re likely planning to spend time on the track — but you’ll need it for hauling people and cargo, too. The Grand Cherokee is up to the task with 36.6 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 68.3 cubic feet behind the front seat when you fold the backseat flat.

It’s easy to fold the seats with a release lever that pulls right up. It also automatically flips down the rear headrests to they don’t get caught on the front seats and force you to adjust them in the middle of the process. The rear opening of the Grand Cherokee is wide, so fitting in large, bulky items is possible. The load floor is a bit high for heavy things, but it's just right for easily stowing groceries and lighter items. The vehicle can also tow up to 7,200 pounds when properly equipped.

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A wide range of standard and available safety features.

The Grand Cherokee comes with an impressive range of standard safety features. These include hill-start assist, rear parking sensors, ready alert braking, rear cross-path detection, and trailer sway control. As you move up the trim ladder, the number of standard and available features increases. Once you get all the way to the Trackhawk, everything is standard so there’s no need to add additional packages to get the most features possible.

The Trackhawk adds adaptive cruise control with stop, a forward-collision warning with active braking, parallel and perpendicular parking assistance, and a security alarm. In crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee received an overall five stars with four-wheel drive and four stars with rear-wheel drive. Its combination of standard and available features along with solid crash test ratings help set your mind at ease.

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Pricing puts it at the top of the Grand Cherokee lineup.

The wide range of Grand Cherokee trims includes an equally wide price range. The base Laredo with rear-wheel drive starts at $32,240 or $34,540 with four-wheel drive. That’s manageable for most budgets. Pricing edges higher by the time you reach the more luxurious Limited, which starts at $40,050. Once you get all the way to the Trackhawk, pricing starts at $87,095 — putting this version of the Grand Cherokee firmly in luxury car territory.

The good news is the Trackhawk is packed with features for the price. You get that 707-horsepower engine, bold exterior styling with unique performance details, additional performance enhancements for track driving, and a beautiful, spacious interior. If you do choose to add on packages, then pricing can creep over the $100K mark. While the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk isn’t the most affordable trim in the lineup, it’s by far the most fun for driving enthusiasts.

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Final Thoughts

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk offers a unique combination of features. It has the versatility of an SUV to carry people and cargo, a high tow rating, and a performance focus. This isn’t just an SUV with a few styling enhancements to make it look sporty. The Trackhawk backs up its looks with a 707-horsepower engine and upgrades specifically designed to make it track-worthy.

The one drawback is its price. It sits at the top of the Grand Cherokee lineup with a price more than double the base trim. That puts it out of reach for many buyers, but for those who have it in their budget and want a performance SUV, the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk will not disappoint.

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