Jeep Cherokee Trailhawks might become a more popular sight in Japan. That’s thanks to the SUV’->ke145s qualifying for Japan’s Eco-Car tax incentive. The 3.2-liter Pentastar V-6-powered Cherokee Trailhawk->ke936 meets the fuel-efficiency and emissions-level requirements needed to secure a ¥58,000 consumer tax break.
What’s more, the 2016 Cherokee Trailhawk is the first gasoline-powered, American-made, American-brand passenger vehicle to quality for the tax incentive.
“At Jeep, we don’t sacrifice operating efficiency for capability,” says Mike Manley, Head of Jeep->ke40 Brand and Global Lead Executive for International Operations – FCA.->ke5312 “This achievement vindicates our efforts to deliver products that resonate in a highly complex industry climate.”
The 3.2-liter Pentastar V-6 makes 272 horsepower and 239 pound-feet of torque in the Cherokee, while achieving 10.3-km/L, or 24.2 mpg, despite its off-road chops. Helping it achieve better efficiency is its standard start/stop system, nine-speed automatic transmission, and automatically adaptive performance settings that match driving conditions.
Atop the tax incentive, the Jeep Cherokee was awarded among the 10-best cars in the 2014-2015 Japan Car of the Year Award – also becoming the first American vehicle to be selected. With this one-two punch, the Cherokee Trailhawk will likely be a popular choice for crossover->ke288 shoppers in the Land of the Rising Sun.
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Why it matters
Emissions and fuel economy are big deals in Japan, and to have an American crossover qualify for tax incentives, along with the previous 10-best award, is a huge accomplishment for Jeep. It’ll be interesting to see how well the Cherokee Trailhawk does sales-wise.
Beyond that, it’s fantastic to see an American-made product being exported with great success – not only for the automaker’s business, but also for the American workers and pride that comes from awards and recognition.
Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
Read our full review on the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk here.