Since its introduction in 2006, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 has been a completely illogical machine. Jeeps are supposed to have mountain goat-like off-road ability, often at the expense of on-road manners and performance.
The Grand SRT8, in both its original and current iterations, completely flips that paradigm on its head. It's nearly useless off-road, but shines on the pavement and at the track. Motor Trend's Carlos Lago says that's all a part of the vehicle's appeal in this episode of 'Ignition.'
Described as a 'four-wheel-drive Challenger' Lago says the Grand SRT8 it's just as much fun as that description sounds. But as much as he likes it, there are still areas for improvement.
Despite a properly-quick 4.6-second 0-60 time and 13.3 second quarter-mile, the hot-rod Grand still makes do with an aging 5-speed automatic that despite paddle shifters, lacks the smooth, quick responses of newer transmissions.
And with a 6.4-liter V-8 hauling around more than 5000 lb of SUV, fuel economy isn't the greatest. But for customers buying this model, that's probably the least of their considerations.
Watch Lago's review of the 2012 Grand Cherokee SRT8 in this episode of Ignition.