Jeep just made a lot of off-road enthusiasts very happy. On April 10, 2026, the automaker officially confirmed that the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is returning — releasing a teaser image and a brief but definitive statement: the Trail Rated off-road trim is coming back later this year as a 2027 model year vehicle. After being quietly dropped when Jeep canceled its 4xe plug-in hybrid lineup, the Trailhawk’s absence from the Grand Cherokee was one of the loudest complaints from Jeep loyalists. That absence is almost over.
Here’s everything confirmed, expected, and speculated about the 2027 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk.
Why Did the Trailhawk Disappear in the First Place?
To understand why the Trailhawk’s return matters, it helps to understand why it vanished. For the 2025 model year, Jeep made the bold decision to tie the Trailhawk exclusively to the Grand Cherokee 4xe — the brand’s plug-in hybrid variant. That 4xe system delivered 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, making it the most powerful Grand Cherokee available. It also came fully loaded with Quadra-Lift air suspension, offering up to 11.3 inches of ground clearance — genuinely impressive off-road credentials wrapped in a practical family SUV package.
Then, as 2026 approached, Stellantis — Jeep’s parent company — made a sweeping decision to pull back from its North American plug-in hybrid lineup entirely. The 4xe Grand Cherokee was canceled for 2026. And with it, the Trailhawk went dark. The 2026 Grand Cherokee launched without any off-road-focused trim, leaving a glaring gap in the lineup.
Dealers noticed immediately. According to reports, Jeep dealerships actively pushed the brand to bring back the Trailhawk, citing strong sales history and higher transaction prices compared to standard trims. The trail-rated trim is simply a proven seller in the midsize SUV market.
The Official Teaser: What We Can See 
Jeep’s teaser image doesn’t reveal much — the company showed a dramatically shadowed, close-cropped photo of the front end. But off-road fans know how to read a Trailhawk teaser. Several details are clearly visible:
Bright red front tow hooks — the Trailhawk’s most iconic visual signature, always finished in red and positioned for genuine recovery use.
Red hood accent decals — the classic matte black hood with red graphics meant to reduce sun glare while four-wheeling, a Trailhawk tradition.
Blacked-out seven-slot grille — darker, more aggressive trim treatment than the standard Grand Cherokee’s chrome-accented grille.
Amber daytime running lights — a subtle but distinctive departure from the standard white DRLs.
The overall message from that teaser is unmistakable: this is a trail-ready, purpose-built off-roader, not just a cosmetic off-road package.
What Powertrain Will It Get?
Here is where things get genuinely interesting — and where Jeep has stayed deliberately quiet.
The standard 2026 Grand Cherokee is offered with two engine options: the carry-over 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 producing around 293 horsepower, and the new Hurricane 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 324 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. The Hurricane is actually America’s first-ever four-cylinder Grand Cherokee, and early reviews have been mostly positive — smooth power delivery, adequate grunt, and reasonable fuel economy.
For the Trailhawk, the Hurricane four-cylinder is the most likely powertrain choice given its relative newness and Jeep’s interest in showcasing it across the lineup. With 324 horsepower, it’s more than capable of handling trail work. The somewhat deliberate throttle response that some highway reviewers found underwhelming could actually be an advantage off-road, where precise power delivery over rocks and obstacles matters more than snap response.
But there’s a louder theory circulating among Jeep enthusiasts: could the Trailhawk be the vehicle that brings back the Hemi V8? The logic isn’t crazy. Ram just brought the 5.7-liter Hemi back to its 1500 lineup after a period of relying on a mild-hybrid eTorque setup. Jeep’s Wrangler Rubicon 392 already packs the 6.4-liter Hemi. With the 4xe gone and the Trailhawk needing a powerful identity statement, slotting a V8 back into the Grand Cherokee would generate enormous buzz. Whether Stellantis has the appetite to do it is the open question.
The powertrain revelation will likely come at a major auto show or dedicated Jeep event before the vehicle hits dealer lots.
What Off-Road Hardware to Expect
Regardless of engine choice, the off-road hardware package on the 2027 Trailhawk is fairly predictable based on the model’s long history. Expect:
Quadra-Drive II or Quadra-Trac 4WD system with low-range gearing for serious rock crawling and steep descent. The previous Trailhawk used Quadra-Drive II with an electronic limited-slip rear differential — highly capable for a street-oriented SUV.
Quadra-Lift air suspension — adjustable ride height, potentially offering up to 10+ inches of ground clearance in off-road mode. This system is almost certainly returning given how central it is to the Trailhawk’s capability identity.
All-terrain tires on off-road-rated wheels, likely 18-inch units sized for an optimal combination of sidewall flex and diameter.
Underbody skid plates protecting the engine, transfer case, and fuel tank on the most vulnerable trail surfaces.
Trail Rated badging — Jeep’s certification that the vehicle has been tested and proven capable in five categories: traction, ground clearance, maneuverability, approach and departure angles, and water fording.
Additional off-road drive modes beyond the standard Rock, Mud/Sand, and Snow settings of the regular Grand Cherokee are also likely, potentially including a Baja-style mode for high-speed dirt running.
When Can You Buy One?
Jeep confirmed the Trailhawk is coming “later this year” — which most industry analysts interpret as a fall 2026 reveal with 2027 model year sales beginning around the same time or in early 2027.
Given the strong dealer demand and the enthusiast community’s excitement about the return, expect early inventory to sell quickly. If you’re a Grand Cherokee Trailhawk fan, it would be worth getting on your local Jeep dealer’s interest list sooner rather than later.
For anyone in the market for a serious off-road midsize SUV right now, the competition includes the Ford Bronco, Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro (up 294% in Q1 2026 sales), Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, and Land Rover Defender. The Trailhawk has traditionally appealed to buyers who want genuine trail capability without sacrificing daily driver comfort — a middle ground that none of its rivals perfectly occupies.
That niche is wide open and waiting. The Trailhawk is coming to fill it.
Planning to finance your next off-road SUV? Use our Car Loan EMI Calculator to estimate monthly payments before you visit the Jeep dealer. And if you’re comparing the Trailhawk to a hybrid or electric off-roader, our EV vs Gas Cost Calculator can help you run the total ownership numbers side by side.
