Some Jeep vehicles are known for being off-roaders, to begin with. But, some SUV models in the brand’s lineup give you what you need in a special trim, like the Trailhawk. The 2024 Jeep Compass Trailhawk is one of the vehicles that gets those special off-roading features. Is the Trailhawk really an off-roader, though? Let’s take a look.

Introducing the 2024 Jeep Compass Trailhawk

According to Stellantis, the Trailhawk is a trim level that Jeep added to the Compass model, but it’s also available on a few other SUV versions as well, like the Cherokee and the Grand Cherokee models. This trim comes with features that are meant to enhance the performance of an off-roading vehicle. 

Jeep strives to make most of its vehicles have a certain element of off-roading to them, ranging from light terrain to the toughest surfaces possible. While you get the Trailhawk and Trail-rated badges with this trim, the question on many people’s minds is whether this vehicle is actually an off-roader or just an SUV with a couple of off-roading features. Let’s take a look at what the Compass Trailhawk offers. 

Is it really an off-roading vehicle?

In the Trailhawk trim, Jeep is offering the same 2.0-liter Inline-four engine the rest of the Compass trims have, which produces 200 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. Paired with it is an eight-speed automatic transmission, which helps the SUV get 24 mpg on city roads and 32 mpg when traveling on the highway. You can also get a towing capacity of 2,000 lbs, which is plenty for rough terrain travel. Even payload capacity is impressive with 

Standard on this trim is 17-inch painted black aluminum wheels with all-terrain tires along with a full-size spare. As for traction, the Trailhawk offers a 4×4 performance system where power is sent to the wheel that needs it the most, which is quite helpful when crawling around rocky or rough terrain. 

When it comes to the suspension, Jeep gives you a hearty off-roading system that handles some of the toughest terrain around. Another impressive feature is the Selec-Terrain Traction Management System, which will adjust the engine, torque, and shift patterns for optimal performance while off-roading. 

According to Jeep’s website, the Trailhawk version can handle water fording with ease because of the high air intake as well as all the special water sealing the brand has placed on the SUV. It’s also easily maneuverable with articulate tires that can raise and lower whenever needed. Add in the 19 inches of ground clearance, and you have a true off-roading vehicle, not just an SUV that has a few features for light terrain work. 

What else do you get with the 2024 Jeep Compass Trailhawk?

There have been little changes to this version since the previous model year. The only new items are its front grille treatment and different all-terrain tires. Besides the features specific to off-roading adventures, there are plenty of other features that come standard with this trim. Those include power-adjusting mirrors, automatic headlights, fog lamps, rain-sensitive wipers, deep-tinted sunscreen glass, rain brake support, premium cloth seating, a 10.1-inch display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a six-speaker audio system. 

As for safety and driver assistance features, you get electronic roll mitigation, Hill-start Assist, All-speed Traction Control, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, remote start system, trailer-sway damping, tire pressure monitoring display, and rear park assist system. Some available features include traffic sign recognition, an active driving assist system, and a parallel-with-perpendicular parking assist system. 

As for packages to add to your purchase, you can include the Trailer-Tow Group, which offers a Class III receiver hitch and a four-pin wiring harness. You can also add Trailhawk-specific packages as well. The one with the most options is the Trailhawk Elite, which gives you items such as heated front seats, a power liftgate, driver-seat memory, and premium leather-trimmed bucket seats, to name a few. The price? Well, you can expect to pay around $36,395 to start. 

The Compass model is your typical Jeep vehicle, but the Trailhawk trim has plenty of features that make it perform much like an off-roading SUV. While this trim is available on a select few models, it just might show up in future models as well.