Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk

If you can twist your bank manager's arm a little tighter, and can come up with an extra 15 to17k or so, over the base model Jeep Cherokee Sport in the previous post, you'll soon be congratulating yourself on your discerning decision to purchase a Cherokee Trailhawk.
In terms of comfort, off road ability and equipment the Trailhawk is a quantum leap over the Sport, and one of the best, if not the best in the mid sized SUV segment. The body style is the same for all new Cherokees, but the extra features that relatively modest 17k will buy are very impressive.

The list is long and comprehensive and includes multiple 4WD  transaxle settings from snow to rock and an auto mode to adjust for the terrain you're driving over, hill descent, one of the largest information touch screens available on any vehicle, (you can also scroll through any number of information and settings on another display between the speedo and tacho,) bright xenon headlights with auto high beam function,( those lights far superior to those on the Sport, which should also have them) active cruise control with collision warning and auto braking, and a lane keeping sensor that keeps the Trailhawk from wandering off track if your attention wanders.( similar to that in the Mercedes E class cars tested here earlier.) 

Further goodies include a power tailgate, blind spot warnings in the folding and heated wing mirrors, a reversing camera with images displayed on that huge central screen( the biggest on any car I've tested,) steering wheel mounted remote buttons for selecting audio options, and a self parking feature. Ten speakers deliver excellent sound quality and there's also "surround sound" too if you feel like it.You also get a secret storage hideaway beneath the front passenger seat.
The Cherokee Trailhawk's ride is one of the best in the segment... smooth and comfortable on almost any road surface. Again,very impressive.

The large leather clad multi adjustable power heated front seats add to the comfort quotient, making the Trailhawk a delight to travel any distance. Red trim stitching helps make an already classy, and modern interior even moreso.
Room inside the cabin is identical to the Sport model, and there will be no complaints from passengers about head and legroom. However forking out the extra shekels to buy the top of the range model, still doesn't get you a drivers "dead" pedal. As in the cheaper Sport, there's no relaxing place to park your left foot. It's an omission that could irritate some potential buyers. 

The Trailhawk has a 3.2 litre petrol V6 engine with 200 kw and 316 nm.
Floor it and the Jeep will surprise you with it's refined performance. Zero to 100 kph is achieved in about 7 seconds.
I averaged about 12 litres per 100 kilometres in the week I had the car, in mostly urban driving, giving a rather modest range of just over 300 kilometres. That's a good deal less than some of its rivals.
The Trailhawk is mainly driven through the front wheels, except when extra traction is needed, then all four wheels do the work. The Trailhawk shares the same 9 speed transmission as the rest of the four model Cherokee range. The test car did not have keyless entry and start. You need to buy an extra technical pack for that to be included. Starting the car with the key is a tad awkward unless you're left handed. The key slot is hidden by the steering wheel on the left of the column. But I guess you'd adapt to it after a while.

How well the Trailhawk handles off road conditions has been well chronicled in other publications, so needless to say, with a four wheel drive lineage going back to 1941,you know it's more than up to the challenge of tackling whatever terrain you choose to navigate. There's even a small plaque on the front fender wings that attests to those off road skills, proclaiming it as "Trail Rated."

On road, at both urban and highway speeds, the silence in the Trailhawk cabin is commendable...no rush of wind or tyre roar disturbs the peaceful ambience.  Steering feel is good and well weighted and although the Jeep is relatively heavy, you can still have fun with enthusiastic, confident cornering.

The Trailhawk's on, and off road prowess and equipment levels put many of its competitors in the shade. Spending that extra 17K has numerous rewards as mentioned above, including great value for money. 

If you can stretch the budget by that much, I'm pretty sure you won't regret it.

Peter Sellen