Both wear the Jeep Grand Cherokee badge. Both have Brembo brakes, adaptive suspension, and performance AWD. But one makes 475 horsepower from a naturally aspirated 6.4L HEMI, and the other makes 707 horsepower from a supercharged 6.2L Hellcat engine. The question isn’t which one is faster — the Trackhawk wins that by a mile. The question is whether that extra power is worth what you give up to get it.
By the Numbers
- GC SRT engine: 6.4L naturally aspirated HEMI V8 — 475 hp, 470 lb-ft
- Trackhawk engine: 6.2L supercharged HEMI V8 — 707 hp, 645 lb-ft
- GC SRT 0-60: 4.4 seconds
- Trackhawk 0-60: 3.5 seconds
- GC SRT quarter mile: 12.9 seconds
- Trackhawk quarter mile: 11.6 seconds
- GC SRT fuel economy: 13/19 mpg
- Trackhawk fuel economy: 11/17 mpg
- GC SRT used price (2019-2021): $35,000-50,000
- Trackhawk used price (2019-2021): $65,000-90,000
Where the Trackhawk Is Clearly Better
Straight-line performance. A full second faster to 60, over a second quicker in the quarter mile. The Trackhawk is genuinely supercar-fast. It beats most sports cars off the line, including many that cost twice as much. The SRT is quick. The Trackhawk is shocking.
The experience. The supercharger whine building under full throttle, the surge of boost, the way it just keeps accelerating past where you expect it to stop — it’s a different sensation than the SRT. The 6.4L HEMI is a great engine. The supercharged 6.2L is something else entirely.
Collector value. Production ended in 2022. The Trackhawk is already appreciating. Clean low-mileage examples are going up in value, not down. The SRT is also holding value but the Trackhawk has a stronger collector following.
Where the SRT Makes More Sense
Daily driving cost. The Trackhawk’s supercharged engine drinks premium fuel at a rate that gets expensive quickly. The SRT gets meaningfully better fuel economy and is slightly less thirsty on premium. Over 15,000 miles a year the difference is $500-800 in fuel costs alone.
Maintenance costs. The supercharged engine has additional maintenance items — supercharger belt inspection, intercooler fluid checks, and it’s generally harder on consumables. The naturally aspirated 6.4L is simpler and cheaper to keep up.
Purchase price. You can buy a clean 2020 GC SRT for $40,000-45,000. A comparable Trackhawk costs $70,000-80,000. That $30,000+ gap buys a lot of things — including a tune and intake for the SRT that closes some of the performance gap.
The SRT is fast enough. 4.4 seconds to 60 in a family SUV is genuinely quick. It will embarrass sports cars at stoplights, pull away from almost any daily driver on the highway, and put a grin on your face every time you get on it. Is 3.5 seconds meaningfully better for everyday driving? Honestly, not often.
The Verdict
Buy the SRT if: Budget matters, you drive the vehicle hard daily, fuel costs are a consideration, or you plan to modify it (a tuned SRT is a tremendous value). The SRT is the smarter buy for most people.
Buy the Trackhawk if: You want the best Grand Cherokee ever built, you can stomach the running costs, and you’re buying it as a performance vehicle and potential appreciating asset. If budget isn’t the deciding factor, the Trackhawk is the more special car — and you’ll never wonder “what if.”
Related Articles
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT: The Complete Owner’s Guide — Full breakdown of the naturally aspirated SRT.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk: The Complete Owner’s Guide — Everything about owning the supercharged version.
Best Mods for the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT — How to close the gap with a few well-chosen modifications.