Jeep invited us up to Portland, Maine to test the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, both on the track and on road. While driving impressions are under embargo until August 30th, we can give you details – including why this vehicle is the most expensive Jeep ever. How expensive? The base price is $85,900, but our tester came with a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, Blu-ray entertainment system, signature leather-wrapped interior package, high performance audio group and the trailer towing package. This brings up the grand total (as equipped) to $99,965.
Granted: that price includes destination cost, but it does not include local and state taxes which will bring the total to well over $100,000. There’s a good chance that many expect dealerships to add a markup as well. Even with the mark-up, the overall price makes it not only the most expensive Jeep, it’s one of the most expensive FCA vehicles currently sold in the United States.
What’s up with this steep price?
Consider this: The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk has a supercharged 707 horsepower engine that produces 645 lb-ft of torque. It has a fortified all-wheel drive (AWD) system hooked up to an augmented eight-speed automatic transmission. According to FCA, this makes the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk capable of 0 to 60 mph runs in 3.5-seconds and a quarter-mile time of 11.6 seconds. It also has large Brembo brakes that are capable of hauling the over 5,500-lbs Jeep down from 60 to 0 mph in 114-feet.  In addition, it has a tow rating of 7,200 lbs.
Some would think that those performance numbers are enough of an incentive to spend the extra money to buy one. Â Others might consider getting the regular Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and saving themselves the extra cash needed to buy a Trackhawk. Jeep will continue building the SRT and, now, Dodge is building an SRT Durango that comes out shortly.
Correction: The original post claimed that a gas-guzzler tax will push the price of the Trackhawk we tested over $100K. There is in fact no gas-guzzler tax on the Trackhawk. We make the same mistake in the video below. We regret the error.Â
Check out this video and remember: there are many videos coming soon!
