Used 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk SUV Review
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk SUV.
Most helpful consumer reviews
Getting Jiggy with it.
ALEX K, Simi Valley, CA, 03/18/2018
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)
A wide variety of models. I chose the Trailhawk with the driver assist radar technology, it had all the options of a Mercedes GLE, but nearly 40% less cost. I drive about 25k miles a year so leasing was not an option. the car is top notch. I especially find the Trailhawk's signature racing stripes on a White JGC with dark gray matt finish wheels, my pick of the litter. I will say … however, after owning it for 3 months, i have experienced MPG is 15.5 STREET and 20 HWY. Also, there seems to be a glitch with the radio. It keeps displaying my local weather and surf report every 1/2 hour or so. It's annoying but more so distracting. forcing me to close the popup window on the screen each time. The dealer keeps telling me they are aware of the problem and a software update is forthcoming. Overall, with the rebates and incentives, you get your bang for the buck even if it's going cost you a little extra at the pump.
5.7 4x4 trailhawk 41,000 miles
First and last jeep, Orlando, FL, 05/26/2018
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)
I bought this brand new and with 3800 miles it’s in the shop. Back up camera won’t work and can not turn off the radio. I think it’s a bad mother board. My new delight is when it starts up and I shift in to reverse or drive the trans clunks in to the gear. This trans will not go 100,000 miles before it’s dead. I have ALL the options except the dvd/cd player. It’s a stiff ride and not … made for long hauls. The sales rep said it’s 87 octane, but the owners manual says for the 5.7 it needs 89 octane. If you tow, like I do, not a good choice. The trans will shutter and the Jeep will grind and stop. High cost to owner and its junk.
So, now that I have 41,000 on this thing I have more of a solid take on this thing. First off, this is not your old Jeep. The old Jeeps were made much differently. It’s way over priced like all cars, but the value still is not there. It’s in the dealership often for sound banging sound or the console is acting up and needs rebooting. If you haul anything the brake system will make it a task if you try to back up. I would never buy this brand again. It’s very expensive to maintain.
Wanted a Wrangler or Grand Cherokee. Easy choice.
Doug B, Providence, RI, 11/04/2018
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)
Hi folks. I was driving a 2015 Lexus GS350 AWD and was bored to death. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t suffering in any way; it’s a fast, comfortable car. If that’s what you want you can get a loaded Honda Accord 2 liter turbo with 252 HP for $25,000 less, though it won’t be all-wheel drive or have the Lexus name, which I don’t care about. So after about 6 months I was missing having an SUV … wishing I’d bought won.
Fast forward to 2018. The new Wrangler JK was out, and I watched all the videos. Same engine but more civilized interior and compliant ride. I saw it at the NY automobile show and was salivating. People couldn’t wait to get into it, especially kids.
At the same time, I was intrigued by the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, which debuted in 2017. This is the most rugged of the Grand Cherokee models. Now I should point that I don’t go off road, though I did run over someone’s flowerbed once. But I still wanted a highly capable SUV for northeaster winters and skiing. My favorite features are:
• Kevlar-reinforced tires! I know I won’t be in a shootout anytime soon but that sounded pretty cool
• Huge panoramic sunroof
• Highly bolstered leather seats from the SRT—the limited does not have these
• Steering-wheel mounted controls to make calls or send texts without sacrificing safety
• Plenty of power
• Absolutely outstanding comfort and ride (more on this in a moment)
• Standout black hood decal
• Beautiful color scheme with no chrome—very bold and eye catching
• Great standard sound system
• Heated steering wheel, and seats front and rear
• Reclining rear seats
• Tons of cup holders and USB ports front and rear
• Blind spot monitor (not available in all Grand Cherokee models)
• Roof rails
As I said, I had wanted a new Wrangler JL and I drove it. It’s a very unique vehicle, but it’s not in the same category as the Grand Cherokee. Not a bad thing! But if you’re deciding on the 2, as I was, you need to drive them both. The Wrangler has the vaguest steering I’ve ever experienced. You have to drive it to understand. Over about 60 miles an hour it sort of sways from one side of the lane to the other, and you have to constantly course correct. It makes sense not to have tight steering when you are driving on rock trails, but that’s not what I do. Also, there’s quite a bit of wind noise.
The Wrangler is an incredible vehicle and owners absolutely love them. Resale value is among the highest of any vehicle, and it looks awesome. I had a choice to make.
That choice escaped when I drove the Trailhawk. We drive 4 hours to see our son in school and I honestly could not see driving it in the Wrangler. Too much work. The Trailhawk drives just beautifully, and you ride in great comfort and security. For me it was an easy choice and I could not be happier. If I had the money would I buy both? Quite possibly!
Now, it is a Jeep so it’s not free from problems. The first recall, on the cruise control, was after a month. Also, the key fob is not very sensitive. Meaning when it’s in your pocket and you go to lock the doors it might not work. I often have to take it out and hold it by the door. By way of contrast, my wife never takes her Honda key out of her purse and her 2017 CRV always unlocks and operates flawlessly. Also, the pop-up weather alerts are annoying and you cannot stop them. Distracting. I believe this is a Sirius feature.
I did splurge and buy the $3,000 lifetime warranty. I know, I know, it’s a ton of money. But again, it’s a Jeep. The peace of mind knowing that all engine, transmission, and electronic parts are covered forever is worth it to me. I may get other vehicles down the road but I’ll always have this beauty.
It’s a keeper.
If you have any questions, please let me know!
Spent a lot of time on research-not dissapointed
Raven Trailhawk, Washington, DC, 05/10/2021
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)
We spent a lot of time reviewing the options for a late-model, true 4WD vehicle that we wouldn't be afraid to take off-road that would also be a great long-distance driver. We also preferred to have more power and, since we were going to have to do cross-country drives we wanted to have adaptive cruise control. I test drove several different vehicles including the 2018 Toyota 4Runner … TRD-Pro. The 5.7L V-8 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk was the obvious choice as soon as we test drove it. After 8 months of ownership and 3 round trips from the East Coast to the West Coast, and numerous shorter trips in between, we are more convinced than ever that the Jeep was the best choice.
Edmunds Summary Review of the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk SUV
What’s new
- A new high-performance Trackhawk model joins the lineup
- Standard equipment now includes 7-inch entertainment touchscreen
- Part of the fourth Grand Cherokee generation introduced for 2011
Pros & Cons
- Pro:Plush interior with plentiful luxury and technology
- Pro:Enough off-road ability to conquer practically any trail
- Pro:Available V8 engines offer substantial power
- Pro:Impressive tow ratings for the class
- Con:Firm ride quality may disappoint, even with air suspension
- Con:Limited cargo capacity compared to top rivals
Which Grand Cherokee does Edmunds recommend?
There's no bad Grand Cherokee in the lineup, and picking one is largely about getting the capabilities you want or need. But if we had to choose just one, we'd go with the Trailhawk trim level. With special features such as off-road skid plates and low range gearing, it's prepared for any trail you might want to tackle. It's still useful for your daily commute, too, and can be fitted with pretty much all of Jeep's luxury-oriented features.
Full Edmunds Review: 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV
Driving
With many available engines and trim levels, there's a lot to choose from on the Grand Cherokee, but no matter which model you go with, off-road performance is rather good, even if handling isn't top-notch. The top-level Summit model we tested is the only Grand Cherokee that's not Trail Rated.
Comfort
The Grand Cherokee has excellent sound deadening, plus supportive seats and plenty of room to stretch out. Although we expected good things from the air suspension, it suffers in the city, struggling to soak up smaller bumps.
Interior
Jeep's most recent improvements certainly make the Grand Cherokee's cabin a nice place to be. The Uconnect infotainment system, materials and controls are at the top of the class, though the touchscreen forces too many steps for certain functions.
Utility
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a capable tow rig and has decent cargo space. But three-row SUVs offer even more interior space.
Technology
Though the Uconnect system in the Jeep Grand Cherokee is one of the most user-friendly on the market, our test vehicle had several issues with reliability during operation. Knobs often failed to respond to inputs, and the satellite radio cut out so many times that we lost track.
Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee in Ohio is:
not availableLegal