Jeep Grand Cherokee

– Cleveland, Ohio

Jeep’s iconic Grand Cherokee gets two new trim levels for 2017. The first is a luxuriously appointed, range-topping trim named Summit (for which we had high praise in our review) and the second is this, the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk.

This is the third model to which Jeep has affixed a Trailhawk badge, the first two being the Cherokee and Renegade (the fourth will be the all-new Compass). The name bestows its wearer with a rugged appearance and athleticism more befitting Jeep’s off-road reputation, thereby ensuring the brand doesn’t look soft as the real-deal Wrangler becomes more and more outnumbered by less-capable car-based Jeep crossovers.

Pros

• This is the real deal. The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk isn’t just a trim-and-paint affair that gives you the look of adventure without the capability to get you there; it will get you anywhere. It’s fitted with Jeep’s Quadra-Drive II 4x4 system that supplies an electronic limited-slip differential and drive modes for sand, snow, mud, and rock. The Trailhawk also gets a special version of the Grand Cherokee’s air suspension that improves suspension travel and articulation while off-roading (check out our comparative slider to see the difference). There’s up to 10.8 inches of ground clearance with the suspension fully raised, and you can remove the lower front fascia to achieve a maximum approach angle of 36.1 degrees. For comparison’s sake, a new 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport only manages 8.3 inches of ground cle...