What Is a Jeep Trailhawk?

Jeep's off-road sub-brand is more than just knobby tires and red tow hooks.

Chris O'Neill | 

Feb 5, 2024 | 3 min read

Jeep

If you're in the market for a new or gently used Jeep, you've likely come across the Trailhawk trim level. Aside from red tow hooks and brawnier tires, there are other features that come with Jeep's rugged off-road sub-brand.

Jeep

Not All Jeeps Are Ready to Go Off-Road

You might assume that anything wearing a Jeep badge offers great off-road capability. In the 1980s and 1990s, this was mostly the case. Fast-forward a few decades, with changing economic conditions and ever-tightening fuel economy standards and Jeep's desire to offer products that appeal to a greater number of buyers, and the Jeep brand has become more mainstream.

While the Wrangler and Gladiator have strong capabilities, the majority of Jeep Renegade, Compass, Cherokee, and Grand Cherokee models rolling off the assembly line are optioned to compete with economical crossovers from Nissan, Kia, Ford, Chevrolet, and the like. To achieve mass appeal in a world of crossovers, Jeep's lineup has become a lot more carlike in the new millennium.

Shoppers may have to pay extra for things such as four-wheel drive, protective skid plates, and recovery hooks. However, there's still a portion of Jeep buyers with a desire for a vehicle that's both comfortable on the road and capable off it. Enter the Trailhawk trim level.

Jeep

Jeep Trailhawk Boasts Off-Roading Features

In addition to unique badging and color schemes inside and out, Jeep Trailhawk models gain a number of off-road features not available on other trims. For starters, all Jeep Trailhawk models come with some form of low-range off-road gearing along with a driver-selectable locking rear differential. Those combine to allow for greater control over loose, uneven terrain.

Less obtrusive bumpers front and rear improve approach and departure angles, while red recovery points are easier to spot, making it easier to dislodge the vehicle should it become stuck. Different terrain modes and hill-descent control enhance composure on varied road surfaces, while wheels wrapped in mild all-terrain tires provide added traction and greater puncture resistance on dirt.

Most models get a slight increase in ride height. Skid plates add underbody protection for sensitive bits that may be vulnerable off the pavement.

All of these elements combine to make for a vehicle that splits the difference between the comfort and efficiency offered by a mainstream crossover and the rugged go-anywhere capability of the Wrangler.

Jeep

Which Jeeps Offer a Trailhawk Version?

Jeep's Trailhawk trim level has become a key part of the lineup, offered currently on the Renegade, Compass, and Cherokee.

Excluded from the Trailhawk line are the Wrangler, Gladiator, and now the Grand Cherokee for 2024 models. The Wrangler and Gladiator offer their own unique Rubicon trim level for going off-road. The full-size Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs are also excluded from Trailhawk trim options and currently lean more toward comfort than off-road capability.

Pricing for the subcompact 2024 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk represents the most affordable model at around $34,000. The Jeep Compass Trailhawk comes in at around $35,000, and the Cherokee Trailhawk is about $43,000.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

Chris O'Neill

I am an auto-industry veteran and a current MBA candidate at the University of Utah. After moving to Utah in October 2015 and being fascinated by the unique car culture of the region, I started an Instagram project highlighting the rare and distinctive vehicles I see in the Mountain West region. I enjoy sharing with others my unique perspective and passion for all things automotive. In my free time, when I’m not thinking and writing about cars, I enjoy photography, toying with my 2011 Volkswagen GTI and 1999 Toyota Land Cruiser, and exploring Utah with my girlfriend and two dogs.