The most badass Jeep on the planet has landed and packs more power than a 911 GT2 RS
For some reason, whenever I think of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, ‘Mike Tyson comes to mind. Maybe because the Trackhawk, like ‘Iron Mike’, is a little rough around the edges, but holy hell it packs an unrivalled punch. Just like ‘Iron Mike’, the Trackhawk isn’t about finesse, it’s about handing out beatings more brutal than anything else out there.
And like Mike Tyson’s boxing career, the Trackhawk is all about statistics. The brawny SUV boasts some truly incredible outputs – 522kw and a staggering 875nm. As a result, the ‘King of SUVs’ runs the benchmark 0-100kph sprint in just 3.5 seconds, dusts the quarter mile in 11.6 seconds, and tops out at 290kph.
Whereas the regular Grand Cherokee SRT uses a naturally-aspirated 6.4-litre V8 to produce 344kw and 624nm, the Trackhawk dwarf’s its sibling with its stupendous amount of power. In fact, the only performance SUVs that comes close in terms of performance is the R3.5million Lamborghini Urus which produces 478kw and the R4million Bentley Bentayga whose 6.0-litre W12 powerplant produces 447kw.
To put things into perspective, the Trackhawk is more powerful than most exotic supercars. After all, Dodge transplanted the supercharged 6.2-litre V8 from the Dodge Challenger Hellcat into the Grand Cherokee. But unlike the Hellcat, the Trackhawk sends power to all four wheels, via an upgraded TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic transmission. Handling is enhanced by the fitment of Bilstein adaptive damping suspension, with the Selec-Trac system offering five drive modes.
As you would expect, the entire driveline has been strengthened to cope with the insane power, while traction is aided by the fitment of an electronic limited-slip rear differential as well as a single-speed active transfer case. The Trackhawk is also equipped with the Jeep Quadra-Trac on-demand four-wheel-drive system, which includes an electronic limited-slip rear differential and a single-speed active transfer case.
This muscular Yank is anything but stealthy. Like its SRT sibling, it screams out aggression from the top of the hills. While it doesn’t look too different from the SRT, the Trackhawk is distinguished by body-coloured wheel flares and side sill cladding, a sculpted hood with dual heat extractors, and 20-inch (10J wide) Titanium-finish wheels that contrast with massive yellow Brembo calipers. 6-pot calipers up front paired with 400mm rotors, and 4-pots coupled with 350mm rotors at the rear haul the big SUV to standstill from 100kph in just 35m.
Standard Trackhawk safety and security features include Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop; Advanced Brake Assist; Blind-spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Path Detection; Full-speed Forward Collision Warning with Crash Mitigation; Front and Rear Park Assist; Lane Departure Warning-Plus; Ready Alert Braking and SiriusXM Guardian and Roadside Assistance buttons. It’s even capable of towing just under 3 tons!
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is available in nine exterior colours: Billet Silver, Granite Crystal, Diamond Black, Ivory Tri-coat, Bright White, Velvet Red and True Blue. The SUV comes standard with every ‘possible option’ fitted as standard, with the only optional extras being a choice of exclusive colours – Rhino and Redline 2.
Relative to its core rivals, the Trackhawk is actually priced very fairly. A fully-loaded Trackhawk will set you back a cool R2.2 million. When you consider that the BMW X6 M is priced at R2 054 457, the Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S Coupe at R2 267 127, and the Range Rover Sport SVR at R2 281 335 – all before any options are added – the Trackhawk, which aside from being significantly more powerful and a far rarer sight, makes a knockout case for itself.
Also worth a look: the 2025 Jeep Wrangler: Iconic Capability Meets Modern Refineme and the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
FAQ
Q: What does the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk cost in South Africa?
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk carries a price tag of around R2.2 million in South Africa, making it significantly cheaper than rivals like the R3.5 million Lamborghini Urus or R4 million Bentley Bentayga while delivering more power than both.
Q: How fast is the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk?
The Trackhawk rockets from 0-100kph in just 3.5 seconds, completes the quarter mile in 11.6 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 290kph, making it quicker than most supercars despite being a family SUV.
Q: What engine does the Trackhawk use?
The Trackhawk uses the same supercharged 6.2-litre V8 from the Dodge Challenger Hellcat, producing an absolutely mental 522kW and 875Nm of torque, which is more power than a Porsche 911 GT2 RS.
Q: Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk worth buying?
If you want the most powerful SUV for your money in South Africa, the Trackhawk delivers supercar performance at half the price of European rivals, though fuel consumption will make your wallet weep at the petrol station.
Q: How does the Trackhawk compare to the regular Grand Cherokee SRT?
The Trackhawk absolutely destroys the regular SRT with 522kW versus 344kW and 875Nm versus 624Nm, making the SRT look like a shopping trolley in comparison despite sharing the same basic platform.
Should You Buy It?
The best performance SUV under R2.5 million in South Africa is absolutely the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk at R2.2 million. This thing delivers more power than supercars costing twice as much, and while it might drink fuel like a rugby team drinks beer after winning the World Cup, you'll struggle to find anything that combines family practicality with this level of tyre-shredding madness. If you've got the cash and don't mind explaining to your spouse why the fuel bill resembles a small mortgage payment, buy it immediately before Jeep comes to their senses and stops making these beautifully unhinged machines.
