Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
There’s nothing that even comes close to the Grand Cherokee SRT’s performance below its price point or for that matter between its mid-$60s MSRP and the Range Rover Sport Supercharged’s stratospheric $90-plus range. So can the homegrown GC SRT actually run with these six-figure Europeans? Despite being the only one of
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
If you’ve ever planted your foot on the throttle to see what your ride can do you’ll appreciate that 0.1 seconds can’t possibly be perceived without the necessary digital hardware, although half a second is sizable enough to be noticeable. From my seat of the pants expertise it’s a moot point because I almost never drive like this
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
To begin, the SRT’s hardware includes some impressive kit. At the heart of the matter is Chrysler group’s fabulous 470 horsepower 6.4-litre Hemi V8: an old-school two overhead valve per cylinder pushrod mill that might seem anachronistic to some yet still gets the job done brilliantly while sounding absolutely fabulous doing so. The engine isn’t without new technology within, mind you. It boasts an active intake manifold and high-lift camshaft with cam phasing
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
One GC SRT component that held back previous iterations was its old five-speed automatic, but that’s now history, replaced by a sophisticated new paddle-shift actuated eight-speed gearbox that might still boast classic TorqueFlite branding but in reality comes from the same Friedrichshafen, Germany ZF factory that builds transmissions for two of the three aforementioned premium SUVs – fine company indeed. The new set of cogs is responsible for a few tenths off the zero to 100 km/h sprint as well as fuel economy improvements, although its 16.6 L/100km
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
As tempting as taking an SRT and a camp trailer for a little R&R sounds, my guess is that you’ll be hauling something very different in this flagship Jeep. Aiding your quest to shave milliseconds from your stoplight response times is Launch Control, while rev-matched downshifts will make sure you ideally set up the entrance of every corner to maximize exit speed. You’ll want to set the SRT to Sport mode ahead of time, just one of five driver-selectable modes that also include Auto, Tow, Track and Snow. Yes, as you may have already noticed the Sport, Tow and Track
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
The Quadra-Trac SRT active-on-demand transfer case will make sure you won’t attract unwanted attention from the constabulary with screeching tires. It not only puts all four tires into action at takeoff for relentless grip and (almost) zero burnout potential, but also acts as a torque vectoring system by apportioning twist between the front and rear axles so as to mete out more neutral high-speed maneuverability. The GC SRT doesn’t shortchange on electronic driving aids either,
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
As important as the SRT’s go factor is its woe factor, Brembo brakes balancing out the
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
It is during such moments that a person really needs to ask deep within oneself whether a premium badge is all its cracked up to be, because this Grand Cherokee SRT is about as much fun through the corners as anything from any of the first world old countries. Its previously unfathomably fat (for a stock SUV) 295/45ZR20 all-season
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
Its always appreciated when a vehicle goes as nicely as it shows, the Grand Cherokee SRT shining up beautifully thanks to a blacked out grille plus blackened headlamps and taillights, a revised front bumper that now extends upward towards each corner, plus cool new headlamp panels that give the Jeep’s eyes a uniquely menacing slant. The iconic brand added a new set of LED taillights and reshaped tailgate for 2014 too, while ultra-aggressive front and rear fascias, blackened
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
And while some will be turning their noses up at what they unknowingly consider lower-level luxury, take comfort in the SRT’s supportive Nappa leather and suede upholstered sport seats while gazing upon the gorgeous real carbon fibre trimmed dash, centre stack and door panels, some of the largest and best full-colour touchscreen
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
Additional standard features include proximity sensing access with pushbutton ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, bright metal foot pedals, a powered liftgate, front and rear parking sonar, a reverse camera, adaptive cruise control, rain-sensitive wipers, LED daytime running lights, adaptive bi-Xenon HID headlamps,
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
So it’s up to you. You can spend upwards of six figures on a pricey European super-SUV and enjoy the cachet of a fancy badge and, let’s be reasonable, a very impressive performance machine, or you can save $30-$55k while getting all of the straight-line speed and outrageously capable handling plus most of the luxury with a made-in-Detroit Jeep, a name endowed with significant heritage of its own. I don’t know about you, but I can think of a lot of things to do with $50k, and in the Grand Cherokee SRT I can get them all done a lot faster.
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