First Mud: 2019 Jeep Cherokee 2.0-Liter Turbo Off-Road Test [Video]

How does the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine cope in the new Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk?

Jeep has a renowned off-roading reputation that permeates every model throughout the brand. From the iconic Wrangler all the way down to the subcompact Renegade, each car in the lineup does provide some inclination to tackle obstacles off the beaten track. Now, as you would expect, some are more capable than others. While the new Wrangler JL – particularly in Rubicon trim – is trail-ready right out of the box, other models in Jeep’s arsenal also have some helpful tools in their off-road kit. That comes in the form of the Trailhawk trim on the Renegade, Compass, Cherokee and Grand Cherokee.

In the case of the revised 2019 Jeep Cherokee, what does the Trailhawk trim get you? From $33,320 and up, you get an inch more ground clearance – up to 8.7 inches. There’s an actual low range option, rather than other models like the Renegade that simply lock the transmission in first gear. You also get new wheels and meatier tires, as well as a locking rear differential. But, perhaps most importantly, there’s a new engine in the stable.

We’ve talked about it to great extent in the new Wrangler. However, this is the first chance TFL has had to test the range-topping 2.0-liter turbo engine in the new Cherokee. Making 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, the new engine offers a torquier option to the standard 3.2-liter Pentastar V6. Like the Pentastar, the 2019 Jeep Cherokee’s 2.0-liter engine is also mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Find out how the 2.0-liter turbo Cherokee performs off road in the video above! Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for more Cherokee videos, and subscribe to TFLcar and TFLnow for more news, views and real-world Jeep reviews.

CORRECTION: The article previously stated the Cherokee’s standard engine as a 3.6-liter V6. The standard engine in a Cherokee is a 3.2-liter V6.