Jeep Grand Cherokee test drive since 2005 SUV

Black hurricane

This name is quite suitable for this Indian Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
Remove it, release the whole herd at once, and you will understand what a feeling of delight can be! Hide a grin, even if you are an experienced driver, forget at least a few seconds about the previous affection, enjoy primitive roar, no other, even the best motor in the world can sound and you will get true pleasure. And do not remember either the BMW X5 or the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, they are good on their own. But this one is faster! Not at maximum speed, but in accelerated dynamics. He is deprived of a turbine or compressor, he also has two valves for the cylinder to claim the title of the most extreme SUV. Because this is a version of SRT, which means Street and Racing Technologys.
What is the most familiar with the Russians Jeep Grand Cherokee? With comfort, characteristic and impressive appearance, as well as with a powerful motor under the hood. Moreover, the current Grand Cherokee is also a very good rogue, despite decent overhangs. And the version 5.7 Hemi in addition is very dynamic. Actually, it is extremely difficult to combine a decent clearance and off-road opportunities with an incendiary temperament. However, the Americans succeeded. Especially in the SRT version.
Hidden power
In this case, we are dealing with a werewolf hiding under the decent appearance of the Grand Cherokee V8 with a volume of 6.1 liters, which is ready to issue 432 forces and 569 nm of torque. This honest atmosphere turns Cherokee SRT into the fastest SUV today. By the way, he has an enviable ratio of mass/power.
The standard version of the SRT8 is distinguished by some, perhaps not too noticeable details. However, large 20-inch cast discs of a very aggressive design are striking in the eye. If you look closely, then you see that tires of different dimensions of 255/45 in front, and 285/40 are put on them. If you look closely, you notice a decreased clearance and some decorative elements on the body, such as spoilers in the lower part of the bumper and chrome inserts on the thresholds and bumers. Well, of course, one cannot fail to notice two huge pipes of the exhaust system, proudly shining right in the center of the rear bumper. And even greater black brake calipers and a nameplate on the trunk lid. That is, the appearance is indicated by this Grand Cherokee is not at all simple.
He is both kind and evil
The American company is not used to making other cars, real uncompromising sportsmen, the management of which is really often akin to the taming of vipers. However, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 is not more friendly. Despite the enormous power and very, which is especially noteworthy, a very quick automatic transmission, you can ride this car without much stress every day. At any speed. The thing is that the electronics sensitively monitors what force you press on the accelerator. Trips, at which the pressure on the pedal is minimal, can be called comfortable. The tachometer arrow rarely takes a mark of 2500 rpm, a 5-speed automatic transmission smoothly and almost imperceptibly changes the gears. And only a barely audible bass rumble, and very hard pendants in this case that you are driving a very, very powerful car.
To make sure of this, it is enough to squeeze the gas to the floor once. The reaction of someone can simply hit. After a barely noticeable pause (moreover, only if you press the first time) under the hood it seems to come to life of a thermonuclear installation. You will be imprinted in the back of the chair with such force that one of us even thought suddenly: and why am I not in the helmet?. Moreover, with the ESP disconnected, and one is included in the standard SRT8 equipment, the jerk will be accompanied by a slight demolition of the stern as a result of slipping of the rear wheels. This is the time to say a few words about the all -wheel drive transmission of the car.
Under normal traffic conditions, from 5 to 10% of the power are directed to the front wheels. However, it is worthwhile to slip, as the central differential controlled by electronics will direct more than the moment to the front. Moreover, the computer constantly monitors what is happening with the car and progressively regulates the distribution of torque between the axes. For a more effective implementation in the rear axle, an independent differential is installed in addition. However, a huge moment of 569 Nm cannot be realized instantly, so the feed, which accounts for 44% of the mass, immediately wants to bury. More precisely, to say to slip, because in the first seconds of the start, acceleration reminds of powerful rear -wheel drive cars with a barely noticeable breakdown of the stern, the car shoots a place, exchanging a second hundred on a speedometer in less than five seconds. Imagine what a person who is in a two -ton vehicle with such dynamics is experiencing. Sensations, as in the present American Muscle-Car.
Naturally, the SRT is endowed with the corresponding dynamics of brake mechanisms. Brembo was responsible for their development, as a result, with the deceleration of the model, things are no worse than overclocking. It is not difficult to dose the effort on a completely informative pedal, and you can not forget that you can not fasten the car at the wheel of a car at the first sharp braking.
But the most pleasant thing is that, despite the dynamics, this crazy Indian is not so difficult to manage. The thing is that almost the entire suspension was seriously fraught. As a result, the SRT8 body is closer to the ground by 2.54 cm, which was achieved by installing new, more rigid springs and shock absorbers from Bilstein. Of course, this significantly reduced the off-road abilities of the car, but it is difficult for me to imagine a person who rushes to storm a serious off-road on a 432-strong monster. As a result, the rolls of the body on the bends are minimal, and many cars will envy the stability of the jeep. But this does not mean at all that each irregularity will be given an unpleasant blow. Nothing like that surprisingly, but the Grand Cherokee SRT8 willingly swallows the pits and remains a completely comfortable car.
Yes, still the steering is not an example of the usual Grand Cherokee more acute from the edge to the edge of the steering wheel, it makes only 2.85 turnover.
Everyone is an example
SRT8 has another difference that we liked his salon. Unlike prosaic plastic American interiors, the interior of the SRT8 is more like a good European models. So, all the torpedo is sheathed with genuine leather with a characteristic stitching. The seats with the SRT8 logo are also trimmed with skin, and in the central part there are inserts from Alcantara. In addition, seats have an enviable side support and a complete set of electrical adjustments, not to mention a very successful profile. And only regulated only in height of the steering wheel, the upper part of which, like the automatic transmission, is sheathed with Kevlar, reminds of the American origin of the car. Only now this does not create any problems with landing, since the absence of longitudinal adjustment of the steering column is compensated by pedal moved in height.
The massive front panel stylistically is no different from the civil versions of Grand Cherokee, with the exception of one, very pleasant part, the central console, as well as the door handles, as well as inserts on the side panels, are made of cold polished metal. Naturally, there are climate control, and a large color monitor, and all other benefits. And there is a magnificent Boston Acoustics audio system.
Extreme fee
Grand Cherokee SRT8, meanwhile, is noteworthy. Despite the title of the fastest SUV, it costs 67 thousand euros. That is, much less than the Porsche Cayenne Turbo or BMW X5. Not so expensive, we admit, for such a car.
Text: Andrey Osipov, Oleg Osipov
Photo by the author

Source: Newspaper "Automobile Izvestia" [No. 11 (123), 2007]