Performance and Driving Impressions

From Car and Driver

Performance and Driving Impressions Rating:

The Grand Cherokee SRT and Trackhawk are America’s answer to high-performance crossovers from luxury rivals BMW, Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche. They specialize in straight-line speed and embarrass expensive alternatives at the drag strip, and they go around corners surprisingly well given their heft. While the Jeep brand is best known for blazing trails, these badass versions are built for lapping tracks.

Acceleration

Both Jeeps use a paddle-shifted eight-speed automatic transmission that was well behaved when left to its own devices and lightning quick when prodded. Their standard all-wheel-drive systems include launch control, which makes them explosive out of the blocks. The 475-hp SRT version we tested was impressively quick for any SUV, with a snappy throttle and a roaring soundtrack. The Trackhawk’s 707-hp supercharged Hellcat V-8 produces laughs and gasps and otherworldly acceleration with each stab of the throttle-shooting from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and erasing the quarter-mile in 12 seconds flat at 115 mph.

Test Results: Acceleration

Ride, Handling, and Steering

These high-powered Jeeps have a sport-tuned suspension with adaptive dampers. The setup is stiffer than that on regular Grand Cherokees for improved handling. However, the SRT and Trackhawk were comfortable and quiet over smoother surfaces. Both have standard 20-inch wheels, and our test vehicles wore the optional Pirelli P Zero summer tires versus the standard all-season rubber. This resulted in similar results on our 300-foot skidpad, with the SRT hanging on up to 0.87 g and the Trackhawk maxing out at 0.89 g. While rivals from BMW and Porsche had even higher limits, the Jeeps still have respectable, stable handling that can be exploited on twisty back roads and highway ramps-and they wouldn’t be totally out of their element on a racetrack. The electrically assisted steering systems felt quick enough, but the thick-rimmed helms didn’t relay as much road information as we’d like.

Test Results: Maximum Cornering Capability

Braking

The SRT and Trackhawk share Brembo brake calipers (six-piston front and four-piston rear) that stopped them both in 168 feet. While their brake pedals felt firm and responsive during daily use, that distance is merely average for this set of high-performance crossovers.

Test Results: Maximum Braking Capability

Test Results: Curb Weight and Weight Distribution

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