Which Supercharged Beast is Faster: the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk or the Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye?

The first supercharged engine developed by FCA’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team was the Hellcat. In 2015, the team introduced versions of the Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger equipped with this 6.2-liter V8 engine. Since then, SRT has successfully integrated the Hellcat engine into various drivetrains across FCA’s American lineup. Notably, the engine powers the Ram 1500 TRX, an off-road racing truck. In 2021, SRT even offered a Hellcat-powered Durango. However, one of the most remarkable vehicles featuring the Hellcat engine is the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. Surprisingly, this all-wheel-drive SUV is faster than the latest Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody in almost every performance aspect tested.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk has been equipped by SRT with a powerful 707 horsepower Hellcat engine.

After the excitement surrounding the introduction of the Charger and Challenger Hellcats in 2015 died down, fans of MOPAR were curious about what SRT’s next endeavor would be. In April 2017, SRT revealed their latest creation: a Jeep Grand Cherokee powered by a Hellcat engine, known as the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. Boasting an impressive 707 horsepower, it was set to become Chrysler’s most potent SUV ever produced.

Initially, SRT acquired a Jeep Grand Cherokee weighing 5,448 pounds. Subsequently, the team proceeded to install the renowned Hellcat supercharged V8 engine. To complement the engine, they paired it with an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The outcome was an SUV capable of accommodating five passengers in various conditions, ranging from dirt roads to race tracks.

Certain critics held reservations about the new Jeep Trackhawk, anticipating it to be somewhat of a mockery. However, MotorTrend obtained their first test vehicle and took it to the racetrack. Surpassing expectations, the Trackhawk delivered exceptional performance times, outperforming numerous other vehicles on the road, including the highly regarded SRT models such as the Charger Hellcat Redeye and many Dodge SRT Challengers.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk outperforms the Charger Hellcat Redeye in acceleration, reaching 60 mph and completing the 1/4-mile distance.

MotorTrend carries out controlled acceleration tests for every vehicle it evaluates. In fact, on days with windy conditions, the publication goes a step further and conducts tests in two different directions, subsequently calculating an average of the results. Initially, Jeep boasted that the 2018 Grand Cherokee Trackhawk could reach 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. However, MotorTrend’s tests revealed that it exceeded these expectations by proving to be even quicker.

During MotorTrend’s evaluation of the Trackhawk, the SUV impressed with its remarkable 0-60 time of 3.3 seconds, surpassing every other Hellcat product previously tested by at least 0.4 seconds. The only SUV to achieve a faster acceleration in MotorTrend’s tests was the Tesla Model X.

Not only did the Trackhawk excel in terms of speed, but it also displayed its prowess in the 1/4-mile run, completing it in just 11.7 seconds with a finish line speed of 116.2 mph. Additionally, the Hellcat-powered Jeep demonstrated its agility by navigating MotorTrend’s figure-eight course in a swift 24.7 seconds.

Despite the fact that 70% of the Trackhawk’s impressive 707 horsepower is directed to its rear wheels, its all-wheel drive system proves to be a significant advantage for this Hellcat vehicle.

“The Charger Hellcat Redeye feels like it pulls harder from 90 mph than most sports cars do from 40 mph.”

DUNCAN BRADY, MOTORTREND

The Charger Hellcat does not excel in accelerating from 0-60.

While Dodge may be discontinuing the Charger Hellcat, this iconic muscle car is not going down without a fight. Introducing the 2021 Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye, one of the last iterations of this formidable beast. With its engine cranked up to a staggering 797 horsepower, it’s a force to be reckoned with. What’s more, every 2021 Charger Redeye comes equipped with SRT’s factory wide-body kit, allowing for the installation of 11-inch tires, a significant upgrade from the previous 9-inch ones.

Even with its larger contact patches and ample power, the 2021 Charger Hellcat Redeye took a total of 4.0 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph, according to MotorTrend. This sedan, which holds the title of the world’s most powerful production sedan, completed the quarter-mile in 11.9 seconds at a speed of 126.6 MPH. One might expect the Charger Hellcat Redeye to be synonymous with speed, so what’s the reason behind these numbers?

In contrast to the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, V8 Chargers are only available with rear-wheel drive (RWD). As a result, each rear wheel has to manage 398 horsepower on the road. Even when cruising at 70 MPH, stepping on the gas will cause the tires to lose traction. It is not until the Charger Hellcat Redeye surpasses speed limits that it can fully utilize its immense power.

Once the Charger reaches higher speeds, it finally gains traction. Duncan Brady, a writer for MotorTrend, described the experience as follows: “The Charger Hellcat Redeye feels like it accelerates more forcefully at 90 mph than most sports cars do at 40 mph.”

While the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk may appear faster than the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye on paper when it comes to measuring 0-60 mph and the 1/4-mile, those who have a penchant for high-speed thrills might find it worthwhile to take a closer look at the Charger.