Auto Car | 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 | The Grand Cherokee SRT8 is the fastest vehicle in the Jeep lineup: a different kind of animal than what the brand is known for. Chrysler’s street racing engineers utilized four-wheel drive to enhance power as opposed to off-road handling, delivering a zero-to-sixty time under five seconds.
Special ground effects limit the SRT8 model to paved roads. I had difficulty backing out of my driveway without hitting the front fascia, designed to enhance airflow, on the apron. Twenty-inch forged aluminum wheels come with run-flat tires can run up to fifty miles with no air pressure on the highway. The tires eliminate weight from a spare, but are completely impractical off-road.
Having said that, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 fits most of the other squares active buyers need to fill. It can hold up to five passengers, has a large enough cargo area to hold a bicycle, and tows up to 3500 pounds, meeting our minimum ALV standards.
Best of all, the hot rod Grand Cherokee is a hoot to drive. While Jeep enthusiasts will immediately see differences in appearance between the stock Grand Cherokee and its SRT cousin, most drivers cannot. There’s nothing more fun than pulling up next to a pony car at a stoplight, and blowing it away off the line. I found the stunt so entertaining that I had to repeat it half a dozen times during my test drive.
Base price on the Grand Cherokee SRT8 is $43,325, not including a $780 destination charge.
At the heart of the Grand Cherokee SRT8 is a 420-horsepower hemi engine. The engine produces peak torque of 420 foot pounds at 4800 rpm, giving it excellent acceleration off the line. A five-speed automatic transmission includes manual gear selection to add some fun on twisting roads.
A cat-back exhaust system that includes two, four-inch exhaust pipes helps to push air through the engine. The exhaust lets out a pleasing belch during hard acceleration: the car’s way of saying “thank you” for the 91-octane gasoline it requires.
Since the Grand Cherokee is engineered strictly for on-road use, the four-wheel drive system utilizes a single-speed transfer case. Four-wheel drive enhances vehicle performance on slippery roads by automatically sending engine power to the wheels with the best traction. The twenty-inch wheels and low-profile tires give the Grand Cherokee an exceptionally large, stable footprint.
The suspension is surprisingly refined, considering that the Grand Cherokee’s live rear axle. Monotube shock absorbers and large stabilizer bars on both axles keep the chassis flat in the corners. I took some decreasing radius turns at highway speeds, as well as on a two-lane road outside of town, and was impressed by how well the Grand Cherokee responded.
Steering feedback from the rack-and-pinion system is excellent. The Grand Cherokee SRT8 maintains positive on-center response at speed, while providing plenty of low-speed assist for maneuvering around parking lots. Its 37.1-foot turning radius is pretty good, considering the car’s long wheelbase.
Visibility is quite good to the front and sides. Over-the-shoulder visibility, in particular, is excellent. A rearview camera eliminates blind spots to the back of the vehicle, making it easier to parallel park. The rearview camera is part of an option package that also adds navigation, remote start, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a special instrument cluster with performance pages and adjustable pedals ($2045).
The Grand Cherokee can hold up to five passengers, though legroom in the second-row center position is limited due to the center console. The SRT team installed heavily bolstered seats up front to keep the driver and passenger in place. Unfortunately, the seats have terrible lower lumbar support. I found it uncomfortable to sit in the car for more than an hour.
Adjustable pedals and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel allow smaller drivers to maintain a safe distance from the front airbag and a clear forward view. Two-position seat memory makes it easier for multiple drivers to share the car. The driver can access performance pages using steering wheel controls. They include quarter mile time, zero-to-sixty acceleration, and average fuel economy. I averaged 13.7 miles-per-gallon on the test drive: slightly higher than the EPA estimate.
Overhead reading lamps for both rows of passengers and a dome light in the cargo area illuminate the interior at night. All passengers have ample access to map pockets and cupholders. There are two, 12-volt power points in the center stack, and one in the cargo area. A 115-volt outlet behind the center console allows rear passengers to plug in games or a computer.
Second-row seats have enough head, leg and hip room for smaller adults, though legroom in the middle position is fairly limited. Passengers with limited mobility may have a hard time climbing in back, since the rear wheel arches impinge on the door opening.
An option on the test car adds an audio upgrade with a large subwoofer in the cargo area. The sound is great, but the component makes it harder to load in large cargo, especially bicycles.
Without the upgrade, the cargo area functions well for active lifestyles. The driver can open the rear glass separately for loading in smaller items. Lift-over height is pretty good for a SUV, making easier to load in large cargo. A small storage area under the cargo floor keeps valuables hidden from sight.
Quick facts:
Make: Jeep
Model: Grand Cherokee SRT8
Year: 2010
Base price: $43,325
As tested: $49,295
Horsepower: 420 Hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque: 420 lbs.-ft. @ 4800 rpm
Zero-to-sixty: Under 5 seconds
Antilock brakes: Standard
Side curtain airbags: Standard
First aid kit: N/A
Bicycle friendly: Yes
Towing: Yes
Off-road: No
Fuel economy: 12/16 mpg city/highway
Source: carspondent.com
Special ground effects limit the SRT8 model to paved roads. I had difficulty backing out of my driveway without hitting the front fascia, designed to enhance airflow, on the apron. Twenty-inch forged aluminum wheels come with run-flat tires can run up to fifty miles with no air pressure on the highway. The tires eliminate weight from a spare, but are completely impractical off-road.
Having said that, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 fits most of the other squares active buyers need to fill. It can hold up to five passengers, has a large enough cargo area to hold a bicycle, and tows up to 3500 pounds, meeting our minimum ALV standards.
Best of all, the hot rod Grand Cherokee is a hoot to drive. While Jeep enthusiasts will immediately see differences in appearance between the stock Grand Cherokee and its SRT cousin, most drivers cannot. There’s nothing more fun than pulling up next to a pony car at a stoplight, and blowing it away off the line. I found the stunt so entertaining that I had to repeat it half a dozen times during my test drive.
Base price on the Grand Cherokee SRT8 is $43,325, not including a $780 destination charge.
At the heart of the Grand Cherokee SRT8 is a 420-horsepower hemi engine. The engine produces peak torque of 420 foot pounds at 4800 rpm, giving it excellent acceleration off the line. A five-speed automatic transmission includes manual gear selection to add some fun on twisting roads.
A cat-back exhaust system that includes two, four-inch exhaust pipes helps to push air through the engine. The exhaust lets out a pleasing belch during hard acceleration: the car’s way of saying “thank you” for the 91-octane gasoline it requires.
Since the Grand Cherokee is engineered strictly for on-road use, the four-wheel drive system utilizes a single-speed transfer case. Four-wheel drive enhances vehicle performance on slippery roads by automatically sending engine power to the wheels with the best traction. The twenty-inch wheels and low-profile tires give the Grand Cherokee an exceptionally large, stable footprint.
The suspension is surprisingly refined, considering that the Grand Cherokee’s live rear axle. Monotube shock absorbers and large stabilizer bars on both axles keep the chassis flat in the corners. I took some decreasing radius turns at highway speeds, as well as on a two-lane road outside of town, and was impressed by how well the Grand Cherokee responded.
Steering feedback from the rack-and-pinion system is excellent. The Grand Cherokee SRT8 maintains positive on-center response at speed, while providing plenty of low-speed assist for maneuvering around parking lots. Its 37.1-foot turning radius is pretty good, considering the car’s long wheelbase.
Visibility is quite good to the front and sides. Over-the-shoulder visibility, in particular, is excellent. A rearview camera eliminates blind spots to the back of the vehicle, making it easier to parallel park. The rearview camera is part of an option package that also adds navigation, remote start, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a special instrument cluster with performance pages and adjustable pedals ($2045).
The Grand Cherokee can hold up to five passengers, though legroom in the second-row center position is limited due to the center console. The SRT team installed heavily bolstered seats up front to keep the driver and passenger in place. Unfortunately, the seats have terrible lower lumbar support. I found it uncomfortable to sit in the car for more than an hour.
Adjustable pedals and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel allow smaller drivers to maintain a safe distance from the front airbag and a clear forward view. Two-position seat memory makes it easier for multiple drivers to share the car. The driver can access performance pages using steering wheel controls. They include quarter mile time, zero-to-sixty acceleration, and average fuel economy. I averaged 13.7 miles-per-gallon on the test drive: slightly higher than the EPA estimate.
Overhead reading lamps for both rows of passengers and a dome light in the cargo area illuminate the interior at night. All passengers have ample access to map pockets and cupholders. There are two, 12-volt power points in the center stack, and one in the cargo area. A 115-volt outlet behind the center console allows rear passengers to plug in games or a computer.
Second-row seats have enough head, leg and hip room for smaller adults, though legroom in the middle position is fairly limited. Passengers with limited mobility may have a hard time climbing in back, since the rear wheel arches impinge on the door opening.
An option on the test car adds an audio upgrade with a large subwoofer in the cargo area. The sound is great, but the component makes it harder to load in large cargo, especially bicycles.
Without the upgrade, the cargo area functions well for active lifestyles. The driver can open the rear glass separately for loading in smaller items. Lift-over height is pretty good for a SUV, making easier to load in large cargo. A small storage area under the cargo floor keeps valuables hidden from sight.
Quick facts:
Make: Jeep
Model: Grand Cherokee SRT8
Year: 2010
Base price: $43,325
As tested: $49,295
Horsepower: 420 Hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque: 420 lbs.-ft. @ 4800 rpm
Zero-to-sixty: Under 5 seconds
Antilock brakes: Standard
Side curtain airbags: Standard
First aid kit: N/A
Bicycle friendly: Yes
Towing: Yes
Off-road: No
Fuel economy: 12/16 mpg city/highway
Source: carspondent.com
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