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 BMW X2 has agile handling to match its sleek looks, and while it gives up some interior space for the low roofline, it still retains some crossover utility.
Pros Sprightly acceleration Agile handling Stylish design Efficient for a crossover Good backseat space
Cons Interior space is compromised A front-drive BMW? Pricing creeps up quickly Most safety features are optional and pricey
Boldly styled on the outside, the X2 shares its underpinnings with the already excellent X1. A 228-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four mates to an eight-speed automatic transmission with front- or all-wheel drive. The fun-to-drive X2 went from 0–60 in 6.4 seconds in our testing. Connectivity options include a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and Apple CarPlay. Available safety tech includes lane-departure warning, automatic high-beams, forward-collision warning, and low-speed automated emergency braking.
Pros Attractive inside and out, nails the fun-to-drive quotient.
Cons Stiff ride, road and suspension noise, high as-tested price.
One of the nicest-looking BMWs of late also happens to be one of the most affordable, but despite its gorgeous design, it's far from perfect.
Pros Exterior design Driving dynamics Interior fit and finish Spacious for its size Very competent powertrain Great ride comfort (Adaptive Suspension), infotainment system
Cons Misses out on full autonomous emergency braking Apple CarPlay optional and an ongoing cost Interior carry-over from X1 showing its age
