The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is back for 2027, and this return says a lot about where Jeep is taking its most well-known SUV.
The last time this generation Grand Cherokee had a Trailhawk, it was tied to the 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain. Before that, Grand Cherokee buyers could still get a HEMI V8. Now, both of those chapters are closed, and the Trailhawk is coming back with a new 2.0-liter Hurricane 4 Turbo engine.
That makes this more than just another trim returning to the lineup. It is a reset for one of Jeep’s most capable Grand Cherokee models.
Jeep says the 2027 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk will arrive later this year alongside the returning Grand Cherokee Overland. Both will be built at Stellantis’ Detroit Assembly Complex in Michigan, with pricing coming later.
Trailhawk is back, but the powertrain story has changed
The biggest news here is not just that the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is back. It is what is under the hood.
For 2027, the Trailhawk gets Jeep’s new 2.0-liter Hurricane 4 Turbo engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Output is rated at 324 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque.
That is a very different setup from the last Trailhawk in this generation, which was the Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid. That version gave Jeep a way to keep the Trailhawk badge alive while leaning into electrification, but Jeep has since moved away from the Grand Cherokee 4xe.
Before that, Grand Cherokee buyers had the option of a HEMI V8. That engine gave the SUV a more traditional big-engine feel, but Jeep appears to be done with that idea for this nameplate. As The Drive reported, Stellantis executive Tim Kuniskis said bringing the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 back to the Grand Cherokee “doesn’t make sense.”
So, this Trailhawk lands in an interesting middle ground. It is not the plug-in hybrid Trailhawk. It is not the old V8 Grand Cherokee. It is Jeep trying to prove a turbocharged four-cylinder can carry the most capable version of the Grand Cherokee lineup.
The new Hurricane 4 has to prove itself the hard way
On paper, the Hurricane 4 Turbo looks strong.
The 2.0-liter engine makes 324 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, with peak torque available at 3,000 rpm. Jeep says that should give drivers quicker response compared with previous gas-powered Grand Cherokee Trailhawk models.
Trailhawk buyers are not just looking at a spec sheet. This is the trim people expect to crawl, climb, tow, commute, haul kids, carry gear and still feel like a real Jeep.
Jeep is also making a big deal about this engine’s Turbulent Jet Ignition technology, calling it the industry’s first high-volume application of the system. The company says the engine produces 162 horsepower per liter.
That is impressive from an engineering standpoint, but the real question is simpler: Will Grand Cherokee buyers accept a turbo four in a vehicle wearing the Trailhawk badge?
For some buyers, the answer will be yes, especially if the torque delivery is strong and fuel economy improves. For others, this will be a tough sell because the Grand Cherokee has a long history with larger engines, including the HEMI V8.
Jeep did not water down the off-road hardware
The good news for Trailhawk fans is Jeep did not just bring back the name and call it a day.
The 2027 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk receives the brand’s Trail Rated badge and gets a serious list of off-road equipment, including Quadra-Trac II 4×4 with a two-speed transfer case, Selec-Terrain with Rock mode, Quadra-Lift air suspension, electronic semi-active damping and a rear electronic limited-slip differential.
It also gets 30.5-inch Goodyear Territory All-Terrain tires, six high-strength steel skid plates, an integrated TrailCam off-road camera and dynamic tire path guidance.
Jeep says the Trailhawk delivers up to 11.4 inches of ground clearance, which it calls best-in-class. Approach, breakover and departure angles are listed at 36 degrees, 24.4 degrees and 30.3 degrees, respectively.
That is the kind of hardware that makes the Trailhawk name mean something. It is not just black wheels, red stitching and a badge on the liftgate.
This trim is for drivers who may leave the pavement, whether they are heading to a muddy job site, a hunting lease, a rocky trail or a rutted two-track on the way to camp.
Towing capacity stays useful
One number that should get attention is 6,200 pounds.
Jeep says the 2027 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk maintains a best-in-class maximum towing capacity of 6,200 pounds, and the Trailer Tow Package comes standard.
Capability does not stop at ground clearance. A lot of SUV buyers still need to pull a small camper, utility trailer, side-by-side, fishing boat or weekend gear.
This is where Jeep has to balance two very different expectations. Trailhawk buyers want off-road credibility, but Grand Cherokee buyers still expect comfort, towing capability and everyday usefulness.
The 2027 Trailhawk appears to keep that balance intact. The powertrain has changed, but Jeep did not turn this into a soft-road appearance package.
Overland returns for buyers who want capability with more polish
Trailhawk is not the only Grand Cherokee trim returning for 2027. Jeep is also bringing back the Overland.
The Overland has always been the more refined off-road Grand Cherokee. For 2027, it gets a more aggressive front end, bright tow hooks, painted black lower bodywork, 21-inch machine-faced wheels and Silver Silk exterior accents.
Inside, Jeep gives it Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and unique “An-Teak” Satin Chrome trim.
The Overland still gets real off-road hardware, too. Jeep says it comes with Quadra-Trac II, a two-speed transfer case, Quadra-Lift air suspension, Hill-descent Control, Semi-Active Damping, a 360-degree surround view camera with washer and Off-Road Pages.
In plain English, Trailhawk is the more serious off-road play. Overland is the one for buyers who want capability without giving up the nicer interior and more polished look.
Bottom Line
The return of the 2027 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is a big deal because it brings the most capable Grand Cherokee trim back into the lineup after a strange gap.
But this is not the Trailhawk some buyers remember. The 4xe plug-in hybrid version is gone. The HEMI V8 is not coming back, at least based on what Jeep leadership has said publicly. Now, the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk has to make its case with Hurricane 4 Turbo power.
That could work if the engine delivers strong low-speed control, good real-world torque and better everyday efficiency. Jeep kept the important off-road hardware, including the two-speed transfer case, air suspension, skid plates, rear electronic limited-slip differential and serious ground clearance.
The question is whether Grand Cherokee buyers are ready to see a turbocharged four-cylinder as the new heart of the Trailhawk.
For Jeep, this is not just a returning trim. It is a test of whether capability can carry the conversation when the V8 and plug-in hybrid options are gone.
2027 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Photos
2027 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Photos
