Jeep (10)
The reality is that most SUVs and crossovers are used for shopping mall trips and soccer practices.
But Jeeps are different. They still have a loyal crowd who gets a bit more adventurous and goes places most of us won’t go. With that in mind, their Trailhawk offerings are offered to please this off-the-beaten-path crowd.
I recently spent some time in a Jeep Compass Trailhawk, and I’m back with a full report.
LOOKS
No surprises on the grille: Your standard Jeep design can be found up front with the seven stripes.
In terms of an overall look, it’s a pretty straightforward small crossover design, with a clearly all-business/rugged look to it. The two-tone paint scheme on the hood did spice the look up a bit.
Inside seats on the Compass Trailhawk were comfy, but this isn’t a vehicle that’s trying to be luxurious (leather-wrapped steering wheel being a lone exception to that rule). The front row was comfy, but overall the inside is a bit cramped, especially in the back seat.
There is a well-designed layout of all the interior controls and a great setup on the center touchscreen. Steering wheel controls are also straightforward, and you get the option to add a power liftgate, as well as a dual-pane sunroof.
With more than 200,000 vehicles sold each year, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is one of the best-selling SUVS in the U.S. every single year. And while there aren’t many changes for 2019, it remains a powerful, high-class and tech-savvy SUV option for those who don't need a third row.
LOOKS
The 2019 Grand Cherokee offers a strong visual package, with my test vehicle (A Grand Cherokee Limited X 4x4) featuring an attractive velvet red pearl exterior paint job, paired with black, leather-trimmed interior seating.
Inside there was comforts including a leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic temperature control, heated front seats, and an overall roomy and high-class interior featuring quality materials.
Jeeps have a rich history and are known for getting you places other vehicles can’t take you. And even the more pedestrian Jeep offerings have versions that will do just that.
Take the Jeep Cherokee, which in its regular version is a normal compact crossover competing with the likes of the Ford Escape and Honda CR-V.
But if you go for the Trailhawk version of the Cherokee, which I recently tested, you’re in for a whole different set of capabilities.
I recently spent time in a 2019 Cherokee Trailhawk and I’m back with a full report.
LOOKS
The Trailhawk I tested featured a sharp blue paint scheme and a unique nose design that I liked but might not please everyone, taste being subjective and all
The interior space is pretty tight in rear seat, but you get decent storage space with seats down.
There are also some clever storage spots, including one atop the dash.
The Jeep brand, without a doubt, is one of the most recognizable brands in the auto world, and has its rabid fans across the globe. But when examining the lineup, highlighted by vehicles like the rough-and-tumble Wrangler and the plush Grand Cherokee, some tend to be more forgotten.
The Jeep Compass (which is larger than the subcompact Jeep Renegade, but slightly smaller than the Jeep Cherokee) is one of those more forgotten vehicles, so it has gotten a refresh in the past year in an effort to get it more up-to-date and boost its profile in the Jeep lineup.
I recently spent some time in a 2018 Compass and I’m back with a full report on what it has to offer.
Jeep is a brand that will always have an audience, both in America and abroad, and it carries a lot of the load for FCA. Much of that success is from annual top-sellers like the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee, but there’s also some very cool special editions that come out -- including the 2017 Jeep Renegade Desert Hawk, which I recent had a chance to test out.
IT’S GOT THE LOOK
The Renegade comes in many trim levels, including the off-road friendly Trailhawk. The Desert Hawk is basically a limited edition of the Trailhawk with a very cool look that’s all its own. As with most Jeeps, the trail-rated Desert Hawk is aimed at those who like to hit the road where the road ends
Visually the Renegade Desert Hawk is one of the most attractive vehicles I’ve seen all year. It starts with a strong paint scheme (Mojave Sand), then up front it features the bold Jeep grille and a unique headlamp design, going up to the hood and its huge but not gaudy map decal design. It’s not a stretch to say that when driving a Desert Hawk, no vehicle on the road will look quite like yours.
Other colors are offered on the Desert Hawk (gray, white, green), but the Mojave Sand is easily the best-looking option.
While the overall state of FCA as an auto company can be debated, there’s no question that Jeeps remain very popular, and are one of FCA’’s biggest strongholds in the industry (along with their Ram trucks). And while many Jeep fans have turned into city dwellers and haven’t left the pavement in years, there are still some dedicated off-roaders out there who remain committed to the brand.
For them, there are still some Jeep options that keep their needs in mind, including the 2017 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, in which I recently spent some time.
What is a Trailhawk?
There are two engine options on the Cherokee Trailhawk; A tamer 2.4-liter four cylinder option (184 hp); or a powerful 3.2-liter V6 (271 hp). My test vehicle had the stronger option and it performed admirably for me; I would recommend the upgrade.
The vehicle features a 9-speed transmission, and optional all-wheel drive (again, it’s recommended).
The Cherokee Trailhawk is designed for off-roading capability, so it must be said that this vehicle does not offer the best feel on regular roads (it can be quite bouncy and unsettling at times, to be honest).
Instead, it is designed to perform in adverse conditions (snow, sand/mud and rock settings are included via the Selec-Terrain system), and work well no matter what conditions you are driving in.
The Cherokee Trailhawk features all-terrain tires, Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, Selec-Speed Crawl Control, Off-Road Suspension, All Speed Traction control, Electronic Stability Control, Electronic Roll Mitigation and Anti-lock 4-wheel disc brakes, plus higher ground clearance and tow hooks, and unique designs in the front and rear vs. a standard Cherokee. Add all that up, and you end up with a Trail Rated vehicle -- and not in name only. It’s gone through the testing to show it can handle the not-so-beaten path.
“It’s truly a labor of love for the Jeep team to develop exciting, capable concept vehicles each year for Moab and the Easter Jeep Safari,” said Mike Manley, Head of Jeep Brand – FCA Global. “We look forward to the reaction and feedback from enthusiasts and our most loyal customers as these new Jeep concepts are put through their paces on the trails in Moab.”
An array of production and prototype Jeep Performance Parts were used on this year’s collection of concept vehicles. The Mopar brand is responsible for developing, building and ensuring that all Jeep Performance Parts meet rigorous specifications and with 4x4 capabilities in mind, enabling Jeep owners to further enhance their stock vehicles.
“Jeep and Mopar have teamed up over 15 years to create unique, fun and highly capable concept vehicles for the popular Easter Jeep Safari in Moab,” said Pietro Gorlier, Head of Parts and Service (Mopar), FCA – Global. “These concept vehicles are a perfect example of how off-road enthusiasts can use Jeep Performance Parts to personalize and enhance the already outstanding Jeep capability, allowing them to face the toughest trails in the world.”
Jeep is returning to the 86th Geneva Motor Show with a stand "packed" with history and excitement, where the models of yesterday will meet those of today to celebrate the brand's 75th Anniversary. More than just an important achievement, this is also a milestone on the brand's ambitious future faced with the same determination that made 2015 the third consecutive year of sales success for the brand in the EMEA region and the fourth consecutive globally.
The history of Jeep is strewn with remarkable records and legendary models, starting from the unstoppable 1941 Willys-Overland MB and the famous 1945 CJ-2A (Civilian Jeep), which created the modern mass production off-road vehicle. Jeep also pioneered the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) segment in 1946, with the launch of the Willys Wagon, featuring versatility and room for seven people. In addition, Jeep brand pioneered, as early as 1963, the Premium Large SUV class with the Jeep Wagoneer, and then again revolutionized the SUV segment with the introduction in 1984 of the Jeep Cherokee, the first SUV ever with a unibody frame design.
Depending on the size of your family and what you need from a vehicle, there are a lot of options to consider in the SUV/crossover marketplace.
A couple of vehicles that have been around for a while and are aimed at the family crowd, but each with their own style, are the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the 2015 Mazda CX-9.
I recently drove both of them and I’m back with a full report on who might gravitate to the Mazda and who will be thinking Jeep when given the option of these two vehicles.
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