Jeep doesn't do things by halves. After years of making 4x4s that are more off-road than on, it has finally decided to produce one better suited for tarmac use, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.
Beneath the bonnet there's a 6.1-litre V8 boosted to 420bhp and it's had a muscular bodywork makeover with a new front end, wider side-skirts and lowered ride height. New dampers, spring rates and suspension bushings have also been incorporated, along with recalibrated ESP.
The modifications by Chrysler's tuner, Sports and Racing Technology (SRT), have transformed the Grand Cherokee into the kind of machine it should have been all along. The suspension can't match the adaptability of the air systems used by rivals and there's a lot of dive under braking and too much rebound over bumps, but it's a vast improvement over the standard car. And bearing in mind the price, it provides plenty of power for your pound.
Specifications
| Engine | V8, 6059cc, 16v |
| Max power | 420bhp @ 6200rpm |
| Max torque | 420lb ft @ 4200rpm |
| 0-60 | 4.8sec (claimed) |
| Top speed | 155mph (limited) |
| On sale | March 2006 |
