2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk Review: What It Offers and How It Works

2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk In our opinion, the 2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk is a good middle ground. It's rugged but not monstrous, and it's comfortable but not overly luxurious. The Trailhawk also looks good! Appearance92Cabin Design83Driving Dynamics80Safety and Performance80Everyday Functionality84Automotive PowerEfficiency Off-road CapabilitiesCabin CareSafetyEngine Noise Truck Capacity84

The Cherokee nameplate has been back since 2014 and continues to get better. Jeep is synonymous with the outdoors, and the Trailhawk enhances the Cherokee's off-road capabilities. It comes in seven different packages and offers something for just about anyone looking for a stylish and functional SUV.

The Trailhawk is our favourite Cherokee because it offers an attractive combination of standard equipment and serious off-road capability. With the Trailhawk, you can get an optional 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with more power and better fuel economy than the V6.

This week, we tested the 2020 Cherokee Trailhawk SUV. And the term «rated» isn't something we made up! In fact, it's much more than just a badge on the side of an SUV.

Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk: what's new for 2020?

There are no significant changes for the 2020 model year. There are a few little things like Sangria and Spitfire Orange exterior paint colours and available 19-inch wheels for Limited models, but otherwise the Jeep Cherokee is virtually unchanged for 2020.

Standard features: Looking for a part!

Our 2020 Cherokee Trailhawk Elite 4×4 tester ($ 34,505) came standard with leather upholstery; heated front seats and a heated steering wheel; an upgraded in-dash driver display; an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system; and a nine-speaker audio system.

The Trailhawk, dedicated to off-roading, also features an advanced all-wheel drive system (Active Drive II with Active Drive Lock). It gets wider wheels and all-terrain tyres; increased ground clearance; off-road suspension tuning; locking rear differential; hill climb and hill descent control; baseplates; tow hooks; and unique upholstery.

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk.

Additional functions: machinery and towing

Additional packages for our tester included Elite Package ($3,195) with ventilated front seats, power tailgate and remote start.

Group Technology ($1,595) adds full-speed forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking; adaptive cruise control; lane departure warning; automatic wipers; automatic high beams; and an automatic parking system that works for both parallel and perpendicular spots.

Trailer towing package ($795) added a self-contained transmission cooler and a Class III hitch; a trailer wiring harness for the four- and seven-pin system; and a full-size spare. It also came with a sunroof ($1,595), navigation ($895) and black aluminium wheels ($655).

How much does a 2020 Jeep Cherokee cost?

Total manufacturer's recommended retail price, including destination, for our 2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk tester: $45,425. By comparison, the 2020 Jeep Cherokee costs from $25,840 in base Latitude trim with front-wheel drive; Pricing for the 4×4 Trailhawk starts at $34,755.

If you're thinking about a new Jeep Cherokee, this free and easy search tool* can help you find the best price. Depending on local incentives and inventory availability in your area, you may be able to purchase below the manufacturer's recommended retail price.

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk drives through town.

Interior features: sleek and warm

Inside, the Trailhawk is leather-trimmed and equipped with premium features like heated and ventilated front seats. In fact, the heated seats and steering wheel came in handy this week during our cold mountain descents in Colorado - the perfect place to test this Trailhawk. Other premium features include a rear rearview camera, a power tailgate, remote start, an eight-way power driver's seat, and four-way driver's lumbar adjustment.

There are some hard plastics, but they make it easy to clean after a dusty day on a high mountain trail.

Our tester had an all-black interior with chrome inserts on the dash and console. The centre console has been redesigned, it's moved back slightly, creating space for cellphone storage, as well as two USB ports and a 12V socket. There's also the latest version of FCA's Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch display.

Interior features: pleasant views

The panoramic sunroof opens at the touch of a button above the windscreen. On a trip this week, we opened the lid to give our passengers a full view of the mountains. They kept commenting, even after we returned, how nice it was to have a sunroof in our Cherokee Trailhawk tester.

Rear passengers get 40.3 inches of legroom, nearly two inches more than the Grand Cherokee. The 60/40 rear seats fold down for more cargo capacity. Jeep says the rear has expanded to nearly 26 cubic feet, enough to hold a couple of golf bags. With the rear seats folded down, the maximum cargo volume is nearly 55 cubic feet.

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk on the open road.

2020 Jeep Cherokee: engine and transmission

Our Trailhawk came with an optional 2.0-litre turbocharged I-4 engine producing 270 horsepower (5,250 rpm) and 295 lb-ft of torque (3,000 to 4,500 rpm). The engine is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission standard on all Cherokees, regardless of interior or engine trim level.

A 3.2-litre Pentastar V6 engine with 271 hp and 239 lb-ft. of torque is available as an option for the Trailhawk. Although not available for the Trailhawk, a 2.4-litre Tigershark I-4 engine with 180 horsepower is offered for other trims.

How much can a 2020 Jeep Cherokee Tow?

С trailer towing package The Cherokee Trailhawk with the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine can tow a maximum of 4,000lb. That number increases to 4,500 lbs. with the 3.2-litre Pentastar V6.

Gasoline consumption of the 2020 Jeep Cherokee

EPA ratings for our tester with the 2.0-litre turbo were 20/26 city/highway and 22 when combined with Jeep Active Drive Lock (4×4). By comparison: The 3.2-litre V6 has 18/24 city/highway and 21 when combined with Jeep Active Drive Lock.

Driving dynamics: powerful and stable

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk with the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine would be our engine of choice, although it can be a bit noisy. It has lower torque than the V6, and the turbocharger is ideal for high altitude where oxygen is scarce. We had all the power we needed to climb sharply up a steep slope into the mountains west of Denver.

The ride is a bit stiffer due to the off-road suspension setup, but the Trailhawk is still quite smooth on the motorway. The nine-speed transmission is mostly flawless, but we did notice a slight delay between gear changes at lower speeds. This could be a result of the first gear being an aggressive 4.71: 1 for low frequencies.

Gears six through nine are tuned to a higher gear for the highway and work well with the 2.0-litre engine. Ninth gear is super overdrive, 0.48: 1. In contrast, the low gear ratio in first gear is ideal for off-road driving.

Driving dynamics: off-road!

If you're looking for a true off-road-oriented SUV, the Trailhawk should be on your shopping list. The Active Drive Lock system (with a two-speed power transfer unit) and rear differential lock cut down on off-road work. It's designed for climbing and descending the steepest terrain. The Trailhawk's 56: 1 scanning ratio makes it easy to reach a remote campsite.

The Trailhawk features Selec-Terrain for extra grip and stability when leaving the pavement. It has five modes: Auto, Snow, Sport, Sand/Dirt and Rock. Once off the motorway, we drove on a slippery and ice-covered dirt road in Snow mode. We felt confident as the Firestone Destination A / T tyres kicked in and kept us moving.

Conclusion: the pavement is unnecessary

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk is designed for those with an active lifestyle, but it adds more upside for off-pavement adventures. The Trailhawk is truly in a class of its own, and you'll be able to drive it off the beaten path, cruising around town all week long. Don't let its good looks fool you, the Trailhawk will go just about anywhere you point it.

Denis Flierl has worked in the automotive industry for over 25 years in various positions. All of his first-hand reviews are archived on our test drive page. Follow Denis on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy

2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk Gallery

Photo: FCA US LLC.

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