Driving Impressions
The 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 is better on the street than the track, but the fact that it can lap a road course with ease is clear testament to this SUV’s handling credentials.
With all those horses under the hood, you’d figure that the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 would be able to lay parallel black stripes across the pavement from here to Cleveland. Trouble is the truck’s all-wheel drive system works so effectively it’s difficult to coax much more than a brief chirp from the tires from a standing stop.
Which isn’t to say the big Hemi V8 doesn’t provide serious acceleration. Our experience behind the wheel leads us to believe the SRT folks’ claim that this Grand Cherokee will do 0-60 in less than five seconds – which would make it quicker than both the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and the BMW X5 4.8is – isn’t far off. While such impressive straight-line performance from a vehicle with this much motor didn’t come as much of a surprise, its capability on the racetrack did. At nearly 4,800 pounds and more than five-and-a-half feet tall, the big SUV felt a little top-heavy in Willow Springs’ fast corners but otherwise performed commendably.
Where this SRT creation really shines, however, is on the street, especially the long stretches of winding two-lane blacktop we covered on the way to the track. Here the Grand Cherokee SRT-8 handled everything the road could throw at it including slick spots where heavy overnight rains had washed dirt and gravel onto the road surface. Where the mainstream model is good, this version is great.
Best of all the Grand Cherokee SRT-8 manages to deliver this superb handling without the harsh ride quality you’d expect from a vehicle with a firm suspension, huge wheels, and low-profile tires. While the ride is undeniably taut, we think anyone who truly enjoys a good spirited drive will find it very livable in day-to-day motoring.
In one particular series of fast S-curves, we found the steering felt noticeably more responsive albeit with just a bit of vagueness on-center. The larger brakes and their Brembo calipers provide impressive stopping ability, bringing the big SUV to a halt from 60 mph in just 125 feet according to Jeep, a figure which feels about right based on our track experience.
In the end we came away quite impressed with the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8. We think most driving enthusiasts will like it too – even if their clothing tastes don’t run toward masks, tights, and capes.
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