What happens when you take a 707-horsepower supercharged Hellcat V8 and stuff it into a sensible family SUV? You get the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, a machine that redefines the phrase “soccer mom special.” This is automotive lunacy at its finest: a vehicle that can tow your boat, haul your groceries, and embarrass supercars at red lights, all while the kids argue in the back seat.
Hellcat Heart, Cherokee Soul
The Trackhawk’s party piece is obvious: that glorious 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8 borrowed directly from the Dodge Challenger and Charger Hellcats. But transplanting 707 horses into an SUV required significant re-engineering. Jeep strengthened the chassis, upgraded the cooling system, and fitted a beefier ZF eight-speed automatic transmission to handle the massive torque output.
The result is acceleration that defies physics and common sense. The Trackhawk will launch from 0-60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, making it quicker than many dedicated sports cars. The quarter-mile disappears in 11.6 seconds at 116 mph. These are hypercar numbers from a vehicle with five doors and a trailer hitch.
Taming the Beast
Managing 707 horsepower requires serious hardware. The Trackhawk’s sophisticated all-wheel-drive system can send up to 70% of torque to the rear wheels when conditions allow. An adaptive suspension with Bilstein dampers provides multiple drive modes, from comfort-oriented Snow mode to the track-focused Track mode that unleashes the full fury of the supercharged V8.
Brembo brakes with massive 15.75-inch front rotors provide the stopping power to match the acceleration. The Pirelli Scorpion Verde all-season tires stretch 295mm wide at all four corners, providing the contact patch necessary to put all that power down without immediately spinning into a hedge.
The Daily Driver Dilemma
Despite its outrageous performance credentials, the Trackhawk remains surprisingly livable. In Eco mode, the supercharger whine settles to a whisper, and the SUV transforms into a comfortable cruiser. The interior maintains the Grand Cherokee’s practical layout, with genuine leather appointments and a user-friendly infotainment system.
Rear-seat space remains generous, and the cargo area can still swallow a week’s worth of luggage. Ground clearance and approach angles allow for light off-roading, though you’d be mad to take this expensive missile anywhere near serious dirt.
Sound and Fury
Fire up the Trackhawk, and the supercharger’s distinctive whine mingles with the HEMI’s muscular rumble. Under full acceleration, the exhaust note builds to a crescendo that would make a Hellcat owner weep with joy. It’s theatrical, antisocial, and absolutely addictive.
The steering wheel-mounted drive mode selector transforms the character completely. Comfort mode makes it a pleasant family hauler, while Track mode turns it into a barely restrained missile that consumes premium fuel at an alarming rate.
Market Position and Competition
When the Trackhawk debuted, it stood virtually alone in the ultra-high-performance SUV segment. The closest competitors were the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S and Range Rover Sport SVR, but neither matched the raw power or straight-line performance of the supercharged Jeep.
At $86,000, the Trackhawk represented shocking value for the performance on offer. You simply couldn’t buy anything else with 707 horsepower and five doors for anywhere near that price.
The Trackhawk represents American automotive excess at its absolute peak: a machine that makes no rational sense but delivers so much drama and excitement that logic becomes irrelevant. It’s too thirsty, too loud, and definitely too powerful for school pickup duty, but that’s exactly what makes it brilliant. For those brief moments when you unleash all 707 horses, this supercharged family hauler transforms into something truly special.
