Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8: One Fast Box

By Mike Musto

RideLust.com

Through the years, I’ve driven all manner of Jeep. From the old 80′s Cherokee Chiefs and Wagoneers to the 90′s Sports and Wranglers to the new generation of Liberties and Patriots–I’ve put down a lot of miles in these things, and why not? They’re great vehicles. Hell, my brother has a 1999 Wrangler 5-speed with 152k on the clock and the thing has never missed a beat.

As you know, in the past few weeks I’ve sampled a few of Chrysler’s new hot rods like the Challenger R/T and SRT-8. So when they asked me if I would like to give the new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 a try, there was no argument on my end. It rolled up to my driveway just as you see here–a big silver box with chrome wheels and a body kit. Hmmm, not really my cup of tea, but what the hell, it’s my job, so I grabbed the little key fob thingy and hit the road.

Have you ever heard the old saying: “It’s like driving a barn door into the wind”? You have? Well good, because ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce you to the world’s fastest barn door, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8. Man, does this thing boogie! It’s quite hilarious when you get right down to it because for all intents and purposes it’s still a Jeep, which means it should do Jeep-like things like climb mountains, go through mud-holes and cross river–this is what Jeeps are all about right? Well apparently, not all of them.

This Grand Cherokee SRT-8 is what happens when Chrysler engineers, designers, and alcohol get together after work. At first it’s all very innocent: they talk about family, friends and hybrid cars. Then after a few more rounds, talk turns to more serious things like the economy and job stability–and this is all fine and good until of course, it happens. Mr. Tequila shows up and throws a wrench into the whole damn evening–and suddenly these once mild-mannered engineers are wondering “how the hell can we shoehorn a 6.1L HEMI into a Jeep?”

The SRT-8 is the family truckster for the guy who grew up with muscle cars. It has all the practicality of the regular Grand Cherokee, with all-wheel drive, room for four and ample cargo space, but then it also provides you with all the fun of a new sports car. Climb into the cabin and the interior layout is still standard Jeep Grand Cherokee, albeit being spruced up a bit for the SRT package. Controls and gauges are easy to read and well laid out, with everything in arm’s reach. Seating-wise, though, the Grand Cherokee is surprisingly cramped. Individuals over 6’2″, like myself, might find themselves searching for places to put their legs and shoulders. I found myself continually adjusting my right leg because it was wedged up against the center console. Combine that with the need to shove the seat way back, and the result is almost zero legroom for anyone who wants to get in behind me. If you are considering a Grand Cherokee and you’re tall, this is something you may want to keep in mind.

Leather seats with suede inserts fill the cabin but are smaller than the uber-comfortable SRT-8 seats you get in the Challenger. Rear seating is similarly cramped–children will be fine but I think most adults would be begging for more legroom on longer trips. Rear cargo space is ample enough to fit luggage for four and even has this cool reversible cargo tray that can isolate items that may be dirty–a nice little touch.

On the outside, the Jeep is anything but subtle. 20 inch chrome wheels shod with massive Goodyear Eagle RS-A’s, 255/45R20 front and 285/40R20 rear, help with handling and performance but make for one very stiff ride. The ride in fact is so stiff that I found myself constantly scanning for imperfections on the road so I could steer around them. Keep in mind that there’s also a solid live axle out back, which just adds to the problem. Body panels on the SRT are muscular but not overbearing and definitely give the Jeep a nice aggressive look. Combine that with the twin bazooka-tube rear exhaust jutting through rear bumper and even an untrained eye will get the sense that something serious is in front of them.

From a performance standpoint, this thing is an absolute riot. The 6.1L HEMI pumps out 420hp/420tq. and is mated to a beefed-up version of Chrysler’s 5-speed automatic transmission. Dead-stop launches are simply explosive, with no wheel slip whatsoever, and will catapult you to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds. I have driven a lot of high-performance cars, but this thing feels like it has drag slicks on it when you put your foot down. First and second gear will reward you with very firm shifts and cool exhaust burble, while third gear runout time is a bit long (not that it matters). An item I did not expect on this Jeep was torque steer–man, does this thing have it in spades. When you put your foot down you better have a firm grip on that wheel because it’s going to want to move from side to side. This is a truck that you really need to be awake to drive as it is a bit twitchy when you really get on it.

Fuel economy sucks–there is really no other way to say it. I was getting 11 mpg around town and could only manage 15.8 mpg on the highway at 70 mph–this Jeep needs a sixth gear desperately. The Challenger SRT-8, for example, was averaging between 23-25 mpg at 70-75 mph, a huge difference. Brembo brakes with 14″ rotors front and 13″ rear provide all the stopping power you’ll need to haul this thing to a stop very quickly. Handling comes by way of gas-charged Bilstein shocks and road feel is actually better than that of both Challengers I tested.

When all is said and done, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 is a great vehicle for those looking for a fast family truckster. Combine the performance, cargo capabilities and a relatively low base price of $44k and you’re talking about a lot of bang for your buck. Alternatives like the Porsche Cayenne and Range Rover Sport start at $45k and $59k respectively. Just like all of Chrysler’s SRT-8 vehicles, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 is a niche machine. It’s fast, fun, and makes one hell of an impression to all those around it. Good job, Chrysler!