The Numbers, Nooks and Crannies of the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk

Autobytel breaks down the features of the most capable Jeep Grand Cherokee ever.

The folks at Autobytel recently got their hands on the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk. Fortunately, they also got their review vehicle a little dirty.

The host of the following video, Dan Gray, performs an in-depth review of the most aggressive off-road version of the Grand Cherokee. He gives an overview of the engine lineup, which includes a 5.7-liter HEMI V8, a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6, and the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 that his test vehicle has. Gray thinks the six offers its 295 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque smoothly through an 8-speed automatic.

In the back seat, the 5’10” Gray finds second-row headroom to be adequate, but legroom to be a little lacking. Fortunately, he’s able to recline his seatback to a comfortable angle. Even better, the seats have two levels of heating.

Autobytel‘s media loaner is equipped with a variety of features, ranging from the luxurious to the safety-focused. Fortunately, the Trailhawk’s Quadra-Lift air suspension and Quadra-Drive II four-wheel drive system come standard. They also get put to use in Autobytel‘s evaluation. Gray takes the Trailhawk over big lumps of rock and through muddy water, using the rig’s 10.8 inches of ground clearance and some of the degrees in its (minimum) approach and departure angles of 29.8 and 27.1 degrees, respectively.

ALSO SEE: What Forum Members Are Saying About the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk

It seems Gray and his colleagues don’t find a great deal wrong with the Trailhawk. We’re inclined to agree. We first drove it (briefly) at FCA’s proving grounds in Michigan last year, then for a week a few months later. In both instances, the Trailhawk proved itself to be not only well equipped, adequately powered (in V6 form), and comfortable on the road, but impressively capable off of it. All of its trail gizmos were convenient, and quick and easy to use. It may not have had the outright grunt and ground clearance of the Power Wagon that joined us on our trip through an OHV park, but that didn’t matter to us. It still looked just as good as the Ram when it had mud in its tire treads and on its rocker panels.

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Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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