Freedom is knowing you can go where you want to when you want to. An off-roading vehicle can satisfy a taste for freedom by taking you into the unknown. If you’re looking for an all terrain vehicle with a wild side and a need for speed, consider the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.

It is built for 4×4 performance that will take you deep into the trails, but rivals other expensive luxury vehicles with its power and performance. Though it navigates difficult terrain with a sense of ease, it’s tempting to stick to the highway so you can open up all that power hiding under its sleek Cherokee hood. Make sure you know how close the next fueling station lies, though, because the Trackhawk edition Jeep Grand Cherokee has some of the worst fuel economy around.

What is a Grand Cherokee Trackhawk?

The 2020 Grand Cherokee Trackhawk boasts a 707 horsepower supercharged Hellcat V-8 engine with an insane amount of acceleration. It’s impossible to get bored in one of these Jeeps.

It rivals upper level performance SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo –– which has a six-figure starting price –– but for significantly less cash. Still, don’t get it twisted. This is among the most expensive Jeeps offered.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk actually brings a lot to the table, even with pricing in the upper 80s. The 6.2 liter Hellcat V-8 gives the Trackhawk quite a bit of bang for the buck. With an agile 4×4 drivetrain and a max towing capacity of up to 7,200 pounds, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk doesn’t play around. Except when it comes to gas mileage.

How bad is it?

The highest trim level of the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the Trackhawk. It is one of the coolest Jeeps available on the market today. A new Trackhawk can be yours for a starting price that comes in at $86,900.

Sure, if you have that kind of cash to put on the line for a 4×4 cheetah like the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, you probably don’t mind paying for the extra fuel cost. The Trackhawk’s 24.6 gallon fuel tank ranges about 320 miles, so be prepared to fuel up often. Compare that to the Toyota Highlander with its tamer engine. A 17.1 gallon tank in an AWD 2020 Toyota Highlander has a range of almost 600 miles.

The robust Hellcat featured in the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk makes no excuses for its poor fuel economy. Especially if you plan to push the Trackhawk to its limits, and let’s be real who wouldn’t?

Be prepared to spend time at the pump fueling up with recommended premium unleaded gasoline. The Trackhawk is strong and swift, but it sacrifices fuel economy big time. Expect 11 mpg city and 17 mpg highway from a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. A combined mileage of around 13 mpg accentuates just how bad this SUV’s fuel economy is.

Is it worth the sacrifice in efficiency?

As much as this Jeep model has to give, the lost fuel economy is probably worth it. The Jeep Grand Cherokee may be a gas guzzler, but it’s not trying to be practical.

If you are looking for pure performance with a competitive price among other luxurious high-performing SUVs, the Jeep Trackhawk could be exactly what you’re looking for. Just bear in mind that poor fuel economy is its biggest flaw.