In 2018, someone at Jeep decided that the perfectly reasonable 475-horsepower Grand Cherokee SRT simply wasn’t ridiculous enough. So engineers stuffed the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 from the Dodge Challenger and Charger Hellcat into the Grand Cherokee, strengthened the drivetrain, and sent 707 horsepower to all four wheels.
That's how the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk was born, more or less.
The 5,300-pound family SUV was now capable of hitting 60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds and reaching a top speed of 180. In 2018. Jeep sold the Trackhawk through 2021, with prices eventually climbing past $90,000 before production ended with the outgoing WK2-generation Grand Cherokee.
Today, depreciation has made the Trackhawk significantly more attainable—but calling one "cheap" would still be a stretch. Early examples now hover around the mid-$50,000 to low-$60,000 range, while later Trackhawks can easily cost $70,000 or more.
Still, there aren’t many SUVs that deliver this much insanity for the money.
Why Buy The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk?
Two words: Hellcat. Jeep. It's really that simple.
The Trackhawk uses a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 producing 707 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic sends that power through a specially reinforced all-wheel-drive system, giving the Jeep enough traction to rocket from 0-60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. Jeep quoted an 11.6-second quarter-mile and a top speed of 180 mph.
And unlike the Challenger and Charger Hellcat, the Trackhawk actually uses most of that power without immediately turning the rear tires into smoke. Launch control, adaptive Bilstein dampers, huge Brembo brakes, and an adjustable all-wheel-drive system help make the Jeep far more serious than simply a Grand Cherokee with a giant engine.
When Motor1 first drove the Trackhawk, we summed it up pretty succinctly:
- 'You guys, this is an eleven-second Jeep. Just think about that for a moment.'
- 'The Trackhawk’s inherent lunacy is obvious from the moment you hit the throttle.'
- 'This is a 5,300-pound, all-wheel-drive SUV that will do 0-60 in 3.5 seconds and generate 1.4 gs of acceleration force while doing so. It’ll run a quarter mile in 11.6 seconds.'
More importantly, the Trackhawk remains a genuinely useful SUV. It seats five, offers 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, and can tow up to 7,200 pounds when properly equipped. Put it in Auto mode, and it drives surprisingly normally, too.
Well, until you put your foot down.
How Much Is A Used Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk?
The Trackhawk has depreciated, but not nearly as dramatically as most other luxury performance SUVs. This is still an enthusiast vehicle, after all. According to current Kelley Blue Book values, here's roughly what buyers can expect to pay:
- 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk: $51,760
- 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk: $54,000
- 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk: $58,900
- 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk: $65,310
Actual prices vary considerably based on mileage, modifications, accident history, and condition. Low-mileage, collector-quality examples can command significantly more. Recent auction results have ranged from $40,000 for a higher-mileage 2018 all the way to six figures for exceptionally low-mileage examples.
But you're also getting a 707-hp, all-wheel-drive SUV that originally started at $85,900 for 2018 and climbed to $91,665 by 2021. And there really isn't anything else quite like it.
Check Used Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Listings
Which Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Should You Buy?
Here's the nice thing: Mechanically, they're basically all the same.
Every Trackhawk sold from 2018 through 2021 has the same 707-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8, eight-speed automatic, all-wheel drive, adaptive suspension, and massive Brembo brakes. So instead of obsessing over model year, focus on condition and history.
Personally, I'd target a clean 2019 or 2020 Trackhawk.
The 2019 model was essentially unchanged from 2018, while the 2020 received a few minor upgrades, including a standard single-pane sunroof, new wheel options, and additional interior choices. Neither year carries quite the same final-year premium as a comparable 2021.
A 2018 can also make sense if the price is right. Just make sure any applicable recalls have been completed. A small number of early 2018 Trackhawks were recalled due to a fuel supply line that could separate, potentially causing an engine stall or fire.
And if you're thinking about long-term collectibility, the final-year 2021 probably makes the most sense. Just expect to pay for it.
What Could Go Wrong?
The biggest concern with any used Trackhawk isn't necessarily the Trackhawk itself. It's the previous owner.
Remember what you're buying: A 707-hp SUV with launch control and one of the biggest performance aftermarket communities imaginable. Plenty of Trackhawks have been tuned, pulley-swapped, drag raced, launched repeatedly, or otherwise driven exactly how you'd expect someone to drive a 707-hp Jeep.
Modifications aren't automatically bad, but an unknown tune or undocumented engine work should make you cautious.
Try to find the most original Trackhawk possible with a complete service history. Get a pre-purchase inspection from someone familiar with Hellcat-powered vehicles, and pay especially close attention to the drivetrain, differential, transmission, supercharger, cooling system, tires, and brakes.
Specialist buying guides also point to potential issues with the intercooler circulation pump and wear within the supercharger drive system, so those are worth checking during an inspection.
Consumables aren't cheap, either. The Trackhawk rides on enormous 295-width tires and uses six-piston Brembo front brakes with 15.75-inch rotors. Replacing four tires or doing a complete brake job can quickly remind you that this was originally a six-figure SUV, once you added a few options.
Then there's fuel economy.
The EPA rated the Trackhawk at 11 mpg city, 17 highway, and 13 combined. Premium fuel is required. If you're concerned about gas mileage, though, you've made it remarkably far into the wrong article.
Insurance is also worth checking before you buy. High-performance SUVs can be expensive to cover, and a Trackhawk isn't exactly invisible to thieves.
What Are The Alternatives?
If you want the same basic idea with three rows, there's the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat. It uses essentially the same formula with 710 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and room for more passengers.
A regular Grand Cherokee SRT is probably the smarter buy. Its naturally aspirated 6.4-liter V-8 makes 475 hp, which is still plenty, and used examples cost considerably less. You lose the supercharger whine and face-melting acceleration, but ownership should be slightly less terrifying financially.
German alternatives include used versions of the BMW X5 M, Mercedes-AMG GLE63, and Porsche Cayenne Turbo. They're generally more sophisticated and luxurious than the Jeep.
But none of them quite have the Trackhawk's personality, and that's the whole point.
Why The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Makes Sense
"Sensible" probably isn't the right word for a vehicle that gets 13 mpg and can run an 11-second quarter-mile. But used Trackhawks make a compelling argument. They're a vehicular siren song for anyone who wants to pair insane capability with actual usability.
For roughly $50,000 to $70,000, you can get an SUV with 707 hp, all-wheel drive, launch control, massive Brembo brakes, adaptive suspension, room for five, and enough towing capacity to pull a decent-sized trailer.
So go out and find an unmodified Trackhawk. Get it inspected. Budget for tires, brakes, fuel, and speeding tickets. Then enjoy one of the dumbest—and greatest—performance SUVs ever built.
Jeep
$85,900 (2018) Base Price 7,200 Pounds Towing 5,363 Pounds Weight Five Seating Capacity All-Wheel Drive Drive Type 11 City / 17 Highway / 13 Combined Efficiency 180 Miles Per Hour Maximum speed 3.5 Seconds Speed 0-60 MPH Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission 707 Horsepower / 645 Pound-Feet Output Supercharged 6.2-Liter V8 Engine
