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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Nerdy
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Incidentally, the Trailhawk designation isn’t new, but it’s taken on a much larger role with this current Cherokee than in previous iterations. A year before this model arrived it appeared on the 2013 Grand Cherokee as a special trim level, complete with the same ultra-wide matte black hood stripe. Before that, the Trailhawk
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Other than its seven-slot grille and long, lean shape, that concept doesn’t have much in common with the new Cherokee Trailhawk. It was created before the concept of FCA was even a figment in Jeep or its Chrysler group parent’s imagination (we can’t say for sure how long Fiat was making plans), during a tumultuous era in the American automaker’s history when Daimler wiped its hands of the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep affair and left it to Cerberus Capital to sort out,
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The Trailhawk is designed for both, with more all-round civility than most compact crossover peers and certainly greater off-road capability than any Chevy Equinox/GMC Terrain, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The first thing anyone will notice with the Cherokee is that it’s a clear departure in design, the new model looking to the future, where the last two Jeeps are part of the brand’s DaimlerChrysler past. Of course, some of the Trailhawk’s unique styling elements are pulled up from distant memories, like the big fat hood stripe I just mentioned. For me, it conjures strong memories of the second-generation “compact”
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
As fun as the big ute was in its day and as impressively modern as the unibody XJ was for its time, the new Cherokee would make a Range Rover from the same era seem dowdy. The Trailhawk gets plenty of rugged looking yet sophisticated features such as a driving light and fog lamp infused black composite front bumper cap, thick black moldings around each wheel well, black side mirror shells with integrated LED turn signals, massive black rocker panel protectors, and a robust black rear bumper. Jeep also detailed out the Trailhawk’s front and rear fascias
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
All of the bulky black body ware is designed to make the Trailhawk look tough, and while this method is commonly used in the segment, even by Honda’s CR-V and Toyota’s RAV4, the Cherokee actually is a roughneck, capable of keeping up with the big boys off the beaten path. True 4×4 aficionados will want to stick with their
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Fortunately it also drives wonderfully on pavement. My tester came with the Trailhawk’s optional 24-valve, DOHC 3.2-litre Pentastar V6 with variable valve timing, an engine that sounds like it should be under the hood of a sports car while delivering performance that’s strong for the size and weight of this vehicle thanks to 271 horsepower and 239 lb-ft of torque. It comes mated to a state-of-the-art nine-speed automatic that worked well other than an overly slow shifting process into reverse, making it seem more like a double-clutch automated gearbox at such moments. Handling was nevertheless crisp and car-like despite its one-inch raised 4×4-ready suspension and big meaty off-road tires, while the ride
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The Trailhawk gets Jeep’s Active Drive Lock 4WD system complete with a two-speed power transfer unit and rear axle locker, while dialing between drive modes comes via a rotating Selec-Terrain controller with Auto, Snow, Sport, Sand/Mud and Rock settings. As noted, an off-road suspension raises this model up a notch while skid plates under the front suspension, transmission and underbody, fuel tank, and on the lower rear fascia make sure all its bits and pieces
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
You’d think that a powerful V6 in an off-road-capable SUV would be a gas guzzler, but the nine-speed certainly allows for efficient motoring as long as enthusiastic throttle input is kept at bay, while the Cherokee’s standard start/stop technology shuts the engine down when it would otherwise be idling, therefore reducing consumption, pollutants and making things EV-quiet at standstill. Lift the foot from
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
It all combines for 12.2 L/100km in the city and 9.0 on the highway as-tested, although if you like the Trailhawk’s look and want to eke even more from the fuel tank while saving $1,595 at time of purchase you can opt for the base 16-valve, DOHC 2.4-litre Tigershark MultiAir four-cylinder that puts out a decent 184 horsepower and 171 lb-ft of torque while achieving a claimed fuel economy rating that isn’t much better than the six at 12.1 L/100km city and 9.4 on the highway. I should mention here that other Cherokee trims enjoy better economy, FWD base models being ultra-thrifty at 10.9 city and 7.7 highway and FWD V6 trims pretty good
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The $32,545 Trailhawk is top of the line as far as Cherokees go, although its interior décor is more sport than all-out luxury. I experienced the latter in a Limited model last year and loved it, while this time around the interior design is heavily influenced by the SUV’s edgy outward appearance. Don’t worry, Jeep didn’t get too radical inside, but instead of last year’s caramel brown on blues my Trailhawk’s perforated leather was highlighted with bright red thread, as was the bold “TRAILHAWK” embroidered nameplate on the front seats’ shoulder area. Jeep continued the red stitching theme on the centre armrest and then over to the door armrests,
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
It all looked rich enough for my tastes, equaling many premium brands for style and quality, soft-touch synthetics covering the entire dash top right down to the mid-portion of the instrument panel, plus the front and rear door panels to the same halfway point, a curving line replacing the pliable plastic with nicely padded leatherette inserts that matched those aforementioned leatherette armrests nicely.
Special
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
All the buttons and controls surrounding it, as well as those on the HVAC interface just below, not to mention the rotating dial for selecting the four-wheel drive system’s various modes mentioned earlier, are extremely well made with good damping, perfectly tight spacing and zero side-to-side
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
On that note a bright and clear two-dial primary gauge package houses a massive seven-inch full-colour customizable TFT multi-information display at centre, all of its features easily accessible via buttons on the steering wheel spokes, these large enough to use while wearing gloves. Likewise for all the knobs on the HVAC system and most everywhere else. I also love the electronic parking brake, it holds well while adding a sophisticated touch. There’s really nothing to dislike about new Cherokee’s interior. It’s one of the best in the industry.
Those
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
I could go on and on about standard and optional features, from my tester’s proximity sensing access and pushbutton ignition to illuminated front cupholders and a handy sunglasses holder overhead, not to mention a sizable safety suite including Selec-Speed control with hill ascent and hill descent control, hill start assist,
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Then again I need to let you know the gorgeous wheels on my tester aren’t standard Trailhawk kit, and neither is the black hood stripe that I made such a fuss about earlier, although its impressive stowage systems are. There’s a useful bin atop the dash for stowing your wallet or some other small item, an in-seat storage compartment under the passenger’s lower cushion, while that seat’s reclining backside can be completely lowered for a flat loading surface just in case the 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks don’t open up enough space for longer items.
There’s
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
While I poked a little fun at the Trailhawk name when starting this review, the Cherokee is no laughing matter in any of its trim levels. It’s a serious player that proves off-road capable SUVs are still important on today’s crossover SUV market, as long as they also deliver good driving dynamics on the road. That Jeep has gone over the top with premium-level furnishings and features, plus very thoughtful conveniences makes the Cherokee stand out even further from its more commonplace peers. It’s clearly a winner that’s earning its new FCA owner strong sales, and certainly worthy of a closer look if you’re in the compact CUV or SUV market.
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