Jeep Teases 2027 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, Arriving Later This Year
The Trail Rated SUV is coming back after an abrupt cancellation—but what will power it?
There's no busier time of the year for Jeep than spring. This year's Easter Jeep Safari brought with it half a dozen cool concepts, then a surprise Cherokee concept. Did we mention it was also a milestone anniversary, being the 60th annual pilgrimage to Moab? Jeep isn't done with the product blitz either, teasing the return of the Trailhawk trim for the Grand Cherokee.
The venerable mid-sized SUV saw a significant shake-up this year. The mid-cycle refresh brought in slightly tweaked looks and upgraded tech while adding a seriously muscular four-cylinder Hurricane engine for most trims. The Trailhawk was set to return, but just before the launch Jeep abruptly cancelled all of its four-cylinder plug-in hybrid 4xe models. As the Trailhawk was exclusively available with the electrified setup, it disappeared from the launch lineup.
Jeep won't confirm what is powering this new Trailhawk. In fact, it didn't confirm much at all, only saying that the model will launch later this year, and that we'll learn more "in the coming months." We suspect a fall launch, then.
While there's no word on powertrain, we suspect the Trailhawk will have much of the same equipment the previous model had. Expect a raised suspension with over 10 inches of ground clearance, ample water fording capability, integrated tow hooks, and suitably knobbly all-terrain rubber. We'll find out later this year.
AutoGuide's Take:
It's clear that the cancellation of Jeep's 4xe powertrain and the short-term absence of the Trailhawk weren't part of the plan. And it's also clear Jeep needs this model: the Grand Cherokee carries the torch for the brand as arguably its most important vehicle. As we were told when we drove the then-Pentastar-powered Trailhawk way back in 2021, while most buyers probably won't use its capability, they want to know it's available.
What will power the Trailhawk will be the big question. The easy money is on the new Hurricane four-cylinder; it's powerful and grunty and is standard in most higher trims, of which the Trailhawk will certainly be one.
We have a slightly more out-there theory: the inline-six Hurricane. Assuming Jeep can fit it in there, the 'six would provide serious firepower in a way we haven't seen since this WL-generation model launched five years ago. And if that opens the door for a return of the Trackhawk, well, what a nice bonus, right?
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Kyle began his automotive obsession before he even started school, courtesy of a remote control Porsche and various LEGO sets. He later studied advertising and graphic design at Humber College, which led him to writing about cars (both real and digital). He is now a proud member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), where he was the Journalist of the Year runner-up for 2021.
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