2027 Jeep Cherokee Adds $45K Trailhawk Off-Road Trim

Jeep's compact Cherokee Trailhawk boasts 9 inches of ground clearance

written by Steven Ewing
edited by Kathleen Clonts
10/1/2026
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What's new: The compact Jeep Cherokee adds a Trailhawk variant for 2027, giving this small SUV better off-road cred.
Why it matters: Jeeps are known for their go-anywhere prowess; this gives the Cherokee a proper rival for the Ford Bronco Sport Sasquatch and Subaru Forester Wilderness.
Edmunds says: Starting just under $45,000, the Cherokee Trailhawk isn't cheap. We look forward to putting it through its paces.

The compact Jeep Cherokee has finally earned its Trail Rated badge; a new Cherokee Trailhawk joins the lineup for 2027. Priced from $44,625 including destination, the Cherokee Trailhawk is slightly more keen to go off-roading thanks to beefed-up suspension hardware and additional drive modes. Jeeps and off-roading are synonymous. We look forward to seeing how the Cherokee Trailhawk stacks up against the new Ford Bronco Sport Sasquatch and Subaru Forester Wilderness.

The Trailhawk's suspension gets a 1-inch lift over standard Cherokee models, for 9 inches of ground clearance in total. This improves the small SUV's off-road geometry; approach, departure and breakover angles have been increased to 28.8 degrees, 31.8 degrees and 21.9 degrees, respectively. This means the Cherokee can more easily approach and depart steep inclines, and it won't high-center on rocks as easily as non-Trailhawk models.

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On the electronics front, the Trailhawk has Jeep's Active Drive II four-wheel-drive system, which controls power delivery between all four wheels for ultimate traction. Standard steel skid plates are also included to protect the Cherokee's most vulnerable bits, like the front axle, wiring, fuel tank and hybrid battery pack.

Speaking of hybrid, the Trailhawk uses the same 1.6-liter turbo engine and hybrid drivetrain as other Cherokees, with 210 horsepower. It also comes standard with things you'll find on the Overland trim, including LED headlights and taillights, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a power liftgate and more.

Want one? You'll need at least $44,625 to get in the door, including a $1,995 destination fee. Production of the 2027 Cherokee Trailhawk starts later this year.

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by Steven Ewing

Steven Ewing is Edmunds' director of editorial content. An automotive journalist for more than half of his life, Ewing's been on staff at Winding Road magazine, Autoblog, Motor1.com, CNET, and he was the U.S. correspondent for Top Gear magazine. He's also contributed to publications like Automobile magazine, Car and Driver, The Drive, Jalopnik, Porsche Panorama, and more. Ewing has worked in the automotive industry since 2003. From testing prototype cars in the Arctic Circle to spilling a beer on a Formula 1 driver at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (oops), he's always got an interesting story to tell.

edited by Kathleen Clonts

Kathleen Clonts has worked in the automotive industry since 2014 and has copy-edited thousands of vehicle reviews and stories about cars and the auto industry in that time. Kathleen is the Edmunds editorial team's copy chief and previously worked as the senior copy editor for Automobile magazine.

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