The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is the third Fiat Chrysler vehicle to have the unhinged supercharged V-8 stuffed under its hood, and it’s the quiet Hellcat next door. Not literally, of course—have you heard a blown Hemi V-8 at full whack?—but with standard all-wheel drive mitigating the engine’s tire-spinning proclivities, plus its under-the-radar looks, the Trackhawk can at least pass for an upstanding citizen. With more traction than any Hellcat yet, the Trackhawk has quite a lot of poke despite its pork—the engine adds 259 pounds over the already heavy 475-hp Grand Cherokee SRT. Nonetheless, Jeep claims it can reach 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. That time is on par with the nearly 1000-pounds-lighter, automatic-equipped Dodge Hellcats we’ve tested. (The quickest was the Charger, which reached 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.) Per Jeep, the quarter-mile is expected to fly by in 11.6 seconds (at 116 mph!), and, with no electronic governor, the Trackhawk is said to surrender to atmospheric resistance at 180 mph.
The 2018 Toyota 4Runner has a few different options packages, but otherwise carries over from last year unchanged.Because the value of the 4Runner lies predominantly in its off-road capabilities, we recommend the TRD Off-Road Premium. This trim gives access to important hardware including the locking rear differential and KDSS, the latter of which improves all areas of the 4Runner's skill set.
PROS Serious off-road capability few other competitors can match Variety of configurations to suit many buyers and price points Versatile cargo area, especially with optional slide out
CONS Tall step-in height makes for ungraceful entry and exit Lacks many of the latest driver safety aids Standard V6 is not particularly fuel-efficient Choppy ride quality compared to more modern crossovers
The 2018 Toyota 4Runner ranked #18 in Midsize SUVs. Currently the Toyota 4Runner has a score of 7.4 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 54 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Top-notch off-road chops Ample cargo space
Cons Poor gas mileage Very few advanced safety features available
Pros Customizable Entune system Gauge cluster offers scrolling info screen Off-road capability
Cons Tall step-in height Single powertrain Heavy Clumsy on-road driving manners
