Our review topic is Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. In general, one mention of the Jeep Grand Cherokee causes awe in many of our compatriots. Back in the early 90s, when the first Russian entrepreneurs began to import this car into the country, it became a kind of off-road standard.

But, if the usual Grand Cherokee is a classic jeep, then the SRT 8 is its “charged version”. The abbreviation itself means "street racing technology". This is not the first time the parent company Chrysler uses this abbreviation for its cars. For example, the Chrysler 300 was also produced in the CPT8 modification. Eight means the number of cylinders.

The new car received a completely different fuel injection system from the Grande with an increased length of the intake ducts. The design turned out to be quite effective, and allowed to improve circulation and fillings. combustible mixture. As a result of this introduction, the fuel in the engine burns out completely.

History of appearance

Standard Grand Cherokee it has been produced since 1992, and the first generation of the Grand Cherokee SRT 8 was released in 2004. The car turned out to be so successful that they didn’t think about changing generations for five whole years. In fact, almost everything suited the buyers.

under the hood powerful jeep stood magnificent Gas engine 432 hp He accelerated the car from 0 to 100 km / h in just 5 seconds. For such characteristics, the unit had a volume of 6.1 liters. Continuing the comparisons to the classic Cherokee, it's also worth noting the stiffer suspension and lighter system. all-wheel drive. When creating it, the engineers installed a reinforced cross-axle differential, but they refused a lower gear.

The system works simply. The rear axle works normally. 95% of the torque is applied to it. But as soon as the car goes into a skid, or a sharp turn, the front axle is immediately connected.

Understanding how powerful the car turned out, the developers thought about how to provide this wheeled monster with a reliable braking system. It was created by the masters of the world famous trademark Brembo. They offered a model with 4-piston calipers. Brake discs with a diameter of 360 mm were installed at the front, and 350 m at the rear.

The car is often compared to an airplane, and not only because of its incredible power. Pipes exhaust system very similar to the nozzles of jet aircraft. At the start of the overload, it can be compared with the sensations of the passengers of a take-off airliner.

If you look into the interior of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 8, then you will pay attention to the seats. They are trimmed with high quality leather and have lateral support. You will appreciate its presence at sharp turns. Sitting in an ordinary chair, you simply fall out. This is especially true in the front row. But for passengers sitting in the back, this convenience is not provided.

The front panel and steering elements also differ from those in the "classic". Stylish leather elements and aluminum inserts are also used here. The pedals are also made of it, trimmed with comfortable anti-slip pads.

The next generation had an increase in volume power unit. If earlier the manufacturer believed that 6.1 liters. enough for everyone, now a 6.4-liter is put on the car gasoline engine. Thanks to the fact that the power increased by 36 hp, it was even possible to reduce the acceleration time to 100 km / h. Now this task will take you no more than 4.8 seconds. This generation was produced less than the previous one - only three years (from 2010 to 2013), but managed to gain considerable popularity in the world.

By 2013, Chrysler decided to release a facelifted version of the Grand Cherokee srt8. Looking at it, buyers had a question - what, in fact, is the difference? Of the noticeable - slight changes in the shape of the steering wheel. Also on it, the name Jeep was replaced with the letters SRT. Finishing tidy and interior has changed slightly.

Exterior refreshed LED lights front bumper. On the back door placed the inscription SRT. Eight removed. The engine remained the same, but, according to the assurances of the engineers, now acceleration to hundreds has become faster, thanks to the engine start control system. Whether 0.1 seconds will give you something, decide for yourself.

A car of this generation costs an average of 3.6 million rubles. That is, about a million more expensive than the regular Grand Cherokee. Not the most cheap car, but you pay not for a fashion brand, but for real power, and the ability to leave far behind those who decide to compete with you on the track.

This car is designed for those who like to drive a lot and fast. So get ready for the fact that you will have to refuel more often than on a regular SUV. On average, a jeep srt8 spends 20 hp. and more for every 100 km. city ​​run. In the combined cycle, consumption can reach 15.5 - 16 l / 100 km.

Modern Jeep Cherokee SRT 8 release 2016

What does the owner of a new CPT get? Of course, even more power. Chrysler uses HEMI engines for this car, familiar from many cars of this company, including RAM pickups.

For the street racing Cherokee, a 468 hp engine is used, paired with an 8-speed gearbox. The gearbox can operate as an automatic or shift using gears under the steering wheel. 8 cylinders of the "American beast" accelerate it from 0 to 100 km / h in less than 5 seconds. But this is far from the only plus, there are also such pluses:

• this model has such impressive handling that one hundred Chrysler named its performance the best in the history of the Jeep brand;
• during tests on the track, the car gave an acceleration rate of 90 g;
• the novelty has even more reliable brakes. At a speed of 100 km / h, the braking distance is 35 m. You can slow down in time and avoid an accident. The front discs have a diameter of 350 mm and the rear 320 mm. They have air cooling. Instead of four-piston, six-piston calipers are installed;
• select ride settings. The standard mode is "Auto", for winter "Snow", for racing "Track", or "Sport";
• Pirelli tires deserve special mention. Model P Zero P295/45/ZR20 is a really high-quality and reliable rubber.

Salon interior

Inside the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 8, everything is very stylish and high quality. If you like "expensive and beautiful", then this is about new Grand Cherokee. Everything looks so premium that you involuntarily wonder if this is definitely a Jeep and not a Bentley? Leather "Laguna", suede, alcantara - these are the main materials used in the decoration.

The steering wheel is heated, and under it are not only the gearshift buttons, but also the Uconnect system. You can connect your gadget and send sms from it using your voice. But much more important on the road is such a practical and useful thing as a navigator. Screen multimedia system just huge. Its diagonal of 8.4 "is what you need. It's even more than a display dashboard (7”).

Many drivers often complain about the noise in the cabin. The new generation Grand Cherokee SRT 8 eliminated this problem. For this, it was introduced efficient system noise reduction called ANC System. Now you do not hear the noise generated by the unit.

Car safety is not just about airbags for the driver and front passenger. The manufacturer took into account other equally important elements. For example, the car has rollover sensors. Another useful feature is collision warning. The cameras also check for so-called "blind spots". Useful and rollover protection.

Browse without ads

Test drives with Grand reviews Cherokee SRT 8 was made by everyone and sundry. Drivers are divided. Perhaps the most flattering reviews were left by the guys from the Russian department of Top Gear. They have characterized appearance cars are the brightest, comparing it with a hybrid of a beagle, a steam engine, top model Naomi Campbell and tennis player Serena Williams. In terms of handling, they equated it with slow-moving vehicles for the city, like the Volkswagen Golf.

The car is a real Yankee, beautiful, powerful, in which every detail and system is necessary and useful. As already mentioned, the only tangible disadvantage of the Jeep SRT 8 is gluttony. The new 6.4-liter engine consumes an insane amount of fuel - up to 25 liters per 100 kilometers.

The first thing a simple layman will say is “expensive”. Expensive, gentlemen, this is a tuned Cayenne, costing twice as much. And here the price is justified. Of course, a certain percentage of it is customs duties, but what can you do?

Main competitors

Who can compete with this powerful and beautiful car?

• First, the good old G-class. Mercedes Gelendvagen, of course, is a legend, and all that, but if you look at its design and operation in really difficult conditions, how the car falls on its side in difficult turns, it becomes clear that the Gelik was created for completely different tasks.
• Infinity FX and QX - Nissan creations often end up in the hands of fast drivers. Both series combine luxury, high-quality assembly and very good performance.
• Jaguar F-Pace - very good all-wheel drive vehicle from 3.0/380 hp petrol unit and 8-speed automatic. The car accelerates to 250 km / h. The speed is limited by factory settings. From 0 to 100 km / h, acceleration takes 5.8 seconds;
• Lexus RX - 2.7 l / 188 hp engine Max. speed - 200 km / h, acceleration to 100 km / h in 11 seconds;
• Mazda CX-7 - 2.3 l / 238 hp engine Max speed- 181 km / h, acceleration to hundreds in 8.3 seconds.
• Mitsubishi Pajero Sport- diesel 2.5 l. / 178 hp The maximum speed is 176 km/h. Acceleration 0 - 100 km / h in 12.4 seconds.

None of these machines can reach the performance that the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 8 has. Firstly, 468 hp. - unattainable figures even for a powerful Jaguar. Chrysler's creation is two heads taller. Secondly, 5 seconds to accelerate to 100 km / h. Here the Jaguar was only 0.8 seconds behind, but sports performance he is inferior.

The cars are in the same price range. Jaguar with 3 l. the engine costs 5.2 million rubles, and for the Grand Cherokee described in the review, they ask for 5.3 million rubles.

For 4.5 million rubles you can buy Porsche Cayenne S. This is much closer. First, its bi-turbo 420 hp. the engine can accelerate the car to hundreds in 5.4 - 5.5 seconds (with and without a sports package). Secondly, the car has good aerodynamics, and it helps where the "brick" Jeep meets air resistance.

And if you want real power, then take the Cayenne Turbo. It costs more than 7 million rubles, but it is already tearing according to the characteristics of the CPT8. Engine 520 hp accelerates the car to 100 km / h in 4.5 seconds. If you put a sports package - for 4.5. So we found a real competitor to the creation of Jeep. The only question is, are half a second worth two million rubles? If you are an avid street racing enthusiast, the answer is yes. If the car is bought as an indicator of prestige, and you need actual power, and not a difference in numbers, you don’t have to worry. The main thing is that you enjoy the feel of driving the crossover. And it, believe me, will be great in both cases.

On the broken asphalt of the railway station square in the city of Vladimir, it seems to be something alien, I would even say alien. I approach him in disarray, with Deep Purple's signature bass slap and Ian Gilmour's furious falsetto pounding in my ears:

Nobody gonna take my car, I'm gonna race it to the ground Nobody gonna beat my car, it's gonna break the speed of sound Ooh it's a killing machine, it's got everything!

“No one will take my car away from me, and I will drive it on the dirt road! No one will catch up with her, she overtakes the sound! Oh, this is a killer machine, and it has absolutely everything!

To be honest, I just did not expect such luck. There was only one bright red SRT in the small convoy of four Grand Cherokees that went on the quarter-century run, and I was sure that the guys from TV would immediately pick it up: they love everything bright in the frame. But they preferred the comfortable version of the Anniversary Edition, so I had a unique chance to check how this 468-horsepower monster behaves on not the best roads and light off-road. After all, usually such devices, capable of accelerating to hundreds of seconds in five and continuing to accelerate to a speed of about 250 km / h, our journalist brother prefers to test on ring roads, which allow him to squeeze everything he can out of the car. But after all, a sports SUV is good because it can not only show off on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice or on the asphalt of the Nordschleife, but also calmly go on a picnic or on a business trip, for example, to Kovrov. Suddenly you are a weapons baron, and you urgently desperately needed a batch of Pecheneg machine guns ...

But before you open the door and try on the role of the pilot of this aggressive beast, you should probably go back 25 years and remember the history of the Big Indian.

Pipe of peace, tomahawk of war

It is generally accepted that he was born on January 7, 1992, when a brand new ZJ, driven personally by Chrysler President Robert Lutz, spectacularly broke through a glass window and rolled out onto the presentation platform of the Detroit auto show.

Pictured: Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ)" 1993–96

But in fact, it all started much earlier, in the early 80s, when the Jeep brand was owned by American Motors, which, in turn, was owned by the French company Renault. The decision to start developing a model that will replace the famous "Brick" (Cherokee XJ) on the assembly line was made back in 1983. Larry Shinoda, Adam Klene and the great master Giorgetto Giugiaro were involved as designers, but the project they created, known as the “XJC project”, was already finished by their own home team. One way or another, in 1987, when Jeep came under the wing of Chrysler, the work was in full swing, and in 1989 the Jeep Concept 1 was presented to the world, in which we can easily recognize the future bestseller, and quite ready for serial production.

So why didn't ZJ get on the conveyor either in the 89th, or in the 90th, or in the 91st? And why did he have to become the flagship, although it was planned that he would replace the XJ?

I don’t want to reiterate “The Tale of How Lee Iacocca Buys a Jeep” (those who wish can read it, for example), but in this case it is important that Iacocca did not manage to buy the Jeep brand separately, and he got the entire AMC corporation, with all the debts, assets that he absolutely does not need and does not interest him model lines. As a result, at first he pulled as best he could with the launch of the Grand Cherokee in the series, since the money was needed for the development of the minivan class. Well, by 1992 it became clear that, firstly, the XJ, despite its solid (by the standards of the American market) age, is still selling well, and secondly, that the money to develop a new flagship to replace the retired 1991 Grand Wagoneer did not exist, and does not exist.

In the end, it was decided that two "Indians" are better than one "Indian", and together it will be easier for them to restrain the pressure of the growing popularity Ford Explorer, and the new Grand Wagoneer may not appear until next year, 2018. So the Grand Cherokee became the flagship and set sail for a quarter of a century, during which four generations of the model (ZJ, WJ, WK and WK2) changed.

It must be said that this path was marked by many technical innovations. For example, the ZJ generation Grand Cherokee became the first SUV, equipped with a driver's side airbag, and the first SUV with three different all-wheel drive systems. The WK was famous for its QuadraDrive all-wheel drive system, which allowed you to safely continue driving in a situation where only one wheel has normal traction.

Meanwhile, dramatic events were taking place in the fate of the Chrysler concern (and hence the Jeep brand). In 1998, an epic merger with the German giant Daimler-Benz took place, ending in 2008 with an equally epic divorce. But the fruit of this love was the Grand Cherokee WK, built on the Mercedes ML platform and debuting in 2005.

At the same time, another event occurred that cannot be ignored. V-shaped "eights" have always been part of the Grand Cherokee arsenal, but in the first two generations their power was about 250-260 hp. WK also got a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine that produced 357 “horses”, and this was already serious enough for SRT (Street & Racing Technologies) to pay attention to the model. So in the same 2005, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 was first shown at the Convention Hall in Las Vegas, where the famous SEMA Show takes place.

Pictured: Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK)" 2004–07

The novelty was equipped with an engine from the same Hemi V8 family, but with a volume of 6.1 liters and a power of 420 hp. Naturally, I had to work closely with both the transmission and the suspension ... And something unimaginable turned out. Such cars are always expensive, by definition they cannot be mass-produced, which means that they have only two options for the future: either flare up as a bright star and go down in history as an interesting but impractical experiment, or become cult. The Grand Cherokee SRT8 has become iconic. So when the next, fourth generation of the Grand Cherokee with the factory index WK2 entered the scene in the summer of 2010 (which in itself unequivocally hinted at a more evolutionary than revolutionary nature of the changes that had taken place), then the appearance of a “charged” version from SRT was also quite expected phenomenon. And, like the Grand Cherokee of the WK2 generation itself, the new car was not only more powerful (the 6.4-liter V8 HEMI installed on it already developed 470 hp), but also differed from the previous one by a much greater saturation of electronic systems.

And now you can return to the station square in Vladimir and take a closer look at the hero of our test, especially since there are three more Grands in other trim levels next to each other.

Indian chief

Let's start with the exterior... What is the usual difference between high-speed sports versions of any models? Primarily, aerodynamic body kit, and the Grand Cherokee SRT was no exception.

The installation of completely different bumpers required a change in the location of the fog lights. In the "ordinary" Grand Cherokee, the lower part of the bumpers is made easily removable: I was about to dive into the mud - I unfastened the plastic clips, removed the part, threw it into the trunk, and you don't have to worry about the safety of the "lower lip".

1 / 9

2 / 9

3 / 9

4 / 9

5 / 9

6 / 9

7 / 9

8 / 9

9 / 9

In addition, the lower air intake grille is decorated with powerful fangs of towing hooks, and rightly so: only those who have never ridden off-road have never got stuck. This solution allows you to attach a tow rope or sling without profanity and the need to lie down in the mud, or even excavate in general, trying to get to the towing loop located under the bumper.

The SRT has none of this, because no one expects feats on logging roads or rocky tracks from such a car.

But two diffusers appeared on the bumper, providing cooling for the Brembo brakes. They are sporty in the SRT8, 6-piston in front and 4-piston in the rear, with a ventilated diameter increased by 30 mm. brake discs. It has another form rear bumper... But still, the most conspicuous detail is the hood with a characteristic protruding "hump" in the middle and "nostrils" directed towards the driver, through which the hot air that has passed through the cooling system is discharged. That, in fact, is all, except for nameplates and corporate coloring in the color Inferno Red (“hellish red”). That which is minimal ground clearance decreased by 10 mm, optically not detected.

And inside? On the one hand, the Grand Cherokee remains the Grand Cherokee, and the SRT interior looks quite solid and respectable. But there are more than enough differences in the details.

First of all, the SRT has a different steering wheel with a cut-off lower segment and ergonomic influxes (other WK2s have a constant-section steering wheel). I can't help but approve of both. If it is understood that the car can at least sometimes move off the asphalt into all sorts of abysses, where sometimes you have to deal with high-speed taxiing “from lock to lock”, a constant section is much more convenient. And on the track, the rigidly set position of the hands on the steering wheel does not bother anyone ...

It is clear that the front row seats have more developed lateral and lower support. At the same time, the Americans did not go against their nature and did not completely liken them to sports "ladles": the seats are wide enough, and with my hundred kilograms of live weight I fit into them quite tightly. But a more slender pilot will definitely feel a lack of fixation in turns. I'm afraid that in this case, the inserts made of non-slip perforated nappa leather will not be effective enough.

Naturally, a car that has the word “sports” in its classification must also have an appropriate instrument cluster. Everything is quite expected here: the tachometer took the central place, and the speedometer shifted to the left. And since the left instrument of the Grand Cherokee has the shape of a semicircle, the markup turned out to be very small. The situation was aggravated by the fact that the SRT8 speedometer scale is marked up to 300 km / h (for the “simple” Grand Cherokee - up to 240). As a result, the scale turned out to be almost unreadable. Thank God that there is a small digital speed indicator on the panel, which I mainly focused on during the test.

1 / 3

2 / 3

3 / 3

All leather elements of interior design remained in place, but wooden inserts were replaced by parts made of plastic "carbon-look". This, of course, does not add speed, but you get the feeling that you are in the cockpit of a real sports car. Neither the Harman / Kardon acoustics nor the navigation and entertainment system interfere with this at all. By the way, it has a special Performance Page with a number of timers (including lap times) and additional data that is important only on the track. But perhaps the most serious changes have been made to the transmission mode controls.

1 / 3

2 / 3

3 / 3

Where the Laredo, Overland or Limited has a low gear button, the SRT has a Launch Control mode button. I’ll say a few words about it, but for now, we note that the Selec-Trac complex is really devoid of a “lower bar”. Instead of the descent assistance mode button, it's just a stub. Washer selector preset electronic modes exactly the same, but the modes themselves are different. In the "simple" Grand Cherokee, you are invited to choose between Snow ("snow"), Sand ("sand"), Auto, Mud ("mud") and Rock ("rocks"). The SRT driver has at his disposal Track (“track”), Sport and Auto (no need for translation), as well as Snow and Tow (“towing”).

There is also a Valet mode. Americans, you know, have a custom in public places to rent a car to a valet, in much the same manner as we rent a coat in a cloakroom. Here, so that an inexperienced driver does not inadvertently use all the power and does not bite into some kind of pole or other car, this mode is intended. Turned it on - and the fire-breathing dragon turns into a "vegetable": the engine starts to work in the speed limit mode (up to 4,000 rpm), power and torque, the first gear is blocked, and switching to higher gears is carried out earlier than usual. The steering column switches do not work yet, the inclusion of special modes becomes impossible, Launch control is turned off, and the stabilization system, on the contrary, becomes unswitchable. With us, this mode will come in handy when handing over a car for a service: suddenly hot guys are inflamed with a desire to drive without your permission, the temptation is great ... Actually, my hands under the driver's gloves were already itching with impatience.

However, on driver's seat I sat down with some apprehension: after all, almost 500 horses are no joke, the road goes through the city with all the restrictions and cameras. What if this beast jumps soooo? ... But nothing terrible happened. It turned out that the "Big Indian" knows how to behave modestly and quite civilized. In the first third of the gas pedal stroke, it generally behaves like the most ordinary SUV - I can’t even believe that such power is hidden under the hood ... Especially since the soundproofing of the Grand Cherokee is at its best, and the characteristic “boom-boom” of a large V-shaped “eight” at low speeds, it practically does not penetrate into the cabin. And not all 8 cylinders work in this mode ...

Nevertheless, the speed should be monitored very carefully: it seems like you didn’t drive, and didn’t even press the pedal - so, stroked it slightly, and the speedometer is already 90. At the same time, you don’t feel the speed at all - there is a complete feeling that the car is dragging no faster 40 kilometers per hour.

In general, “jeep drivers, be vigilant!”, especially since the speed on the speedometer is read, as I said, very badly. But the city finally ends, and the route leads us towards Suzdal, and not along the main highway, but along the local paths through Kameshkovo and Savino. There are less and less oncoming and passing cars, there are no photo fixation cameras, which means that you can press the gas from the heart.

And - here it is, for which there are such cars! Hurricane, flurry, fire, angry engine growl, speed, speed, speed!!! I wonder what the current fuel consumption is now? 20 liters per hundred or more? Don't care, it's not interesting at all! How is Metallica doing? Gimme fuel, gimme fire, gimme that which I desire! "Give me fuel, give me fire and what I desire!" Because under the wheels there is not a perfectly flat racing track, but broken asphalt of the Russian outback, and you need to keep your ears open: on pits, bumps and other irregularities, the SRT noticeably shirks to the sides, requiring careful steering. Yes, and in high-speed corners, despite adaptive suspension, falls a little more than we would like.

And thank God that our Grand was shod in Yokohama tires Geolandar 295/45 R20, which did not react as sharply to bumps as Pirelli P Zero 295/40 R20. No wonder colleagues who tested the SRT on Pirelli wrote that any trip on an ordinary road turns into an arm wrestling competition.

Here is a suitable straight line, and there are no cars. Well, try to accelerate to 200 kilometers per hour? And which mode to turn on, Track or Sport? No, God saves the safe, I’ll turn on Sport after all. In Track mode, stabilization systems are turned off, and the quality of the roadway hints that this is not worth doing.

Well, let's go, gas to the floor, pedal to the metal! 100, 140, 180, 200! The roadside bushes merge into some kind of gray mess, the knuckles of the fists clenching the steering wheel turn white, the flashes in eight cylinders merge into a victorious crescendo. Everything is flying towards it rapidly ... no, thank God, it’s not KAMAZ, it’s just a turn, but I don’t want to go through it in this mode at all. And it's good that the Brembo brakes on the SRT work quite adequately.

Trunk volume

457 / 916 liters

Naturally, I could not resist the temptation to try the Launch Control system in action, although, of course, it is not at all designed for such conditions. In theory, it is just supposed to be used on the race track ... There are no compromises here, the Track mode is automatically turned on, and electronic stabilization ceases to interfere with the pilot's actions. So, turn on Launch, squeeze the brake all the way, then the gas. At the same time, the revolutions are fixed at around 2,500. We sharply throw the left pedal, and further acceleration is carried out for you by the electronic mind. Its task is to ensure the fastest possible acceleration, but to prevent slipping. Feelings are amazing! Probably, carrier-based pilots experience the same thing when taking off from a catapult ...

But in general, I realized that, with a little adaptation and not paying attention to shaking, even on very bad asphalt, you can go quite quickly. Yes, and shaking something I would call moderate. Of course, range rover A Sport SVR or a Porsche Cayenne Turbo with air suspension would provide much more comfort. But they cost twice as much! At the same time, on the "Range" I would not hesitate to call on much more serious off-road - after all, he and downshift remained, and all off-road Terrain Response modes remained in place.

I returned from Suzdal to Vologda already in the cabin of the “ordinary” Grand Cherokee in a rich 75th Anniversary package. It seems that everything is the same, and 286 hp. - this is not at all small, and the 8-speed automatic transmission goes through gears just as imperceptibly. But you immediately understand that this car is designed to deliver the owner from point A to point B with maximum comfort (and no matter what road conditions you have to face). But SRT is pure adrenaline generator. Yes, probably, it is quite suitable for both city life and long-distance travel (especially since the folded rear sofa is converted into a flat platform with an area just under an air mattress, and the engine, unlike the engines of direct competitors, is not capricious and readily consumes 92nd gasoline). But that's not it, it's not…

1 / 3

2 / 3

3 / 3

I said everything. Hug

It is clear that any sports SUV is a purely niche product. They are bought either by lovers to demonstrate their special status, or by real fans. For the first category, the fact that the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is billed as "the most affordable sport utility vehicle on the Russian market", is more of a disadvantage than an advantage. Just think, some 5.2 million rubles ... Whether it's the Cayenne Turbo S for 14 million, or, at worst, the BMW X5 M for nine and a half ...

And a fan should not just be a fan of speed, he should get a buzz from just such a car: somewhat contradictory, a little illogical, brutal, formidable, not the easiest to drive, but precisely this and attractive. Are there many of these? By definition, not too many. But I am absolutely sure that the number of thirsty "fire and fuel" will always be quite sufficient to ensure that in the near future, when fourth generation The Grand Cherokee will replace the fifth, it also has a stunningly fast and powerful version with SRT letters on the nameplate.

You will love the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 if:

• Your favorite band is Deep Purple and your favorite album is Machine Head;
• Your main passion is speed, but you also respect fishing very much;
• Just a couple of kilometers from your dacha there is a good racing track.

You won't like the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 if:

• You don't understand why you need a Jeep that doesn't have a downshift in transfer box;
• Do you think that a $5 million SUV could be more comfortable, especially on a bad road;
• You are convinced that all the prestige of the Grand Cherokee has remained somewhere in the 90s of the last century.

A call from Olya Lukyanova, I pick up the phone and hear: “Mark, I have good news, in a week you are picking up Jeep test drive Grand Cherokee SRT8, are you happy?

“Well, yes,” I answered coldly, but inside I could hardly contain my emotions. Butterflies fluttered somewhere in my stomach, and the smile on my face, as it appeared after the call, lasted all week until the beginning of the text. I could neither eat nor sleep normally, all thoughts were only about one thing. Do you think I've gone crazy, and a normal person takes it easier? Congratulations, you are normal. Me not. This is a dream that was destined to come true.

Day X

Monday morning, Leningradsky Prospekt, Jeep representative office. After meeting with a representative of the company, we went to the parking lot where He was waiting. So, Renegade, Renegade, Wrangler, Compas, SRT… And then my tower was blown off. Remember that feeling when you saw a Ferrari for the first time as a child and were even allowed to sit in it? So, I remembered myself at that moment. Even the color red is my favorite. Signing papers for the transfer of the car. God, it seemed like an eternity, not 10 real minutes.

Looking outside

SRT8 does not have any cardinal differences from civilian versions, but this is for the usual onlookers at the bus stop. For those who are familiar with the brand, the differences are visible to the naked eye. Not even so - you have to be blind not to notice them. Completely different and aggressive front bumper, because of which the car becomes completely off-road. Hood with gills for air intake, which in turn cool the “brains” of the car, increased nozzle diameter exhaust pipes. Probably, only the lazy did not write that in the previous SRT the exhaust was more brutal due to its location in the center of the bumper. Remember the competitors, none of them had this, and the BMW X5M even produced a body kit with the same design. But now the jeep has become more modest and made it too "banal", but let's not focus on this. Pretty simple wheel disks 20th radius, which in these giant square arches look (oddly enough) harmoniously.

Inside view

Oh, this interior, pure American classic! And I'm not talking about those muscle car classics from the 70s. I'm talking about everything american cars roughly the same. Quite a modest and ascetic car with a large screen multimedia system, well-assembled and very comfortable.

A plump steering wheel with comfortable molding and the most thermonuclear heating in my memory.

Firstly, in any frost it instantly heats up, which is undoubtedly a giant plus. For example, in the new BMW 5 G30, the heated steering wheel is such a brake that while it heats up, you are already turning off the car at work. Just kidding, of course, but for a very long time.

And secondly, he heats it up to such temperatures that in 2 minutes it can melt the heart of any of your exes. By the way, it turns on the heating on its own at a negative temperature overboard - conveniently. It's the same story with heated seats. The car was created to melt the hearts of gloomy Moscow young ladies in the cold winter season.

Armchairs. A few words about them. From the shape, you immediately understand that this is pure water made in the USA. The Germans are more refined in this regard, but they usually spend precious hours in traffic instead of admiring them. And in this regard, everything is a solid five. They have all the basic adjustments, advanced lateral support and even ventilation. Oh yes, the combination of Alcantara and leather on the seats, I think is rightfully the best solution. It's both beautiful and comfortable. Do not sweat in the warm season and do not freeze in the cold.

Have you seen the dashboard? Take a look at the speedometer. Personally, with a quick glance, I will not notice the difference between 60 km / h and 160 km / h, the numbers are so close and the readings are very small, every 20 km / h. Here a true friend comes to the rescue in the face of an electronic dashboard, where you can display so much information (including electronic speedometer), that for a week I have not decided which readings are most interesting to me. Perhaps the acceleration time to hundreds? Or maybe a quarter mile time? Maybe lap time? I think the temperature is better ICE oils! Or is it the oil temperature in the gearbox? To hell with everything, I will watch the instantaneous fuel consumption and burst into bitter tears.

Oh, this multifunctional lever on the left behind the wheel! Why can't I make a lonely sweep of the wipers by simply pressing the end of the lever? This is how it is implemented in Mercedes, and very convenient. Why does it immediately start spraying washer fluid with a simple press? Of course, you get used to everything, but definitely uncomfortable.

Fast forward to the center console and take a look at the large touchscreen monitor. It is responsible for almost everything: navigation, music, entertainment, climate, even dimming the rear-view mirror is turned on through it. In general, this is a small world that controls your iron horse. But I take my hat off to Jeep management for leaving all the vital and frequently used buttons mechanical, right below this screen. It is convenient when you can turn off the sound in the blind or make it quieter. It's great when, without being distracted from the road, you can make the climate a little warmer or turn on the air windshield. In general, a big and bold LIKE.

By the way, about music. I apologize to you, my readers, that in every test drive I pay so much attention to this. It so happened that I have been fond of music since childhood, and at the age of 7 I was presented with a powerful - even by modern standards - audio system. Therefore, when I hear the midrange crying, not coping with its tasks, and with it the door trim, not coping with its tasks, I begin to cry too.

Harman/Kardon

Bad music and Harman-Kardon are non-overlapping concepts. The subwoofer copes with the lowest frequencies even with the equalizer turned to the maximum. With my hand on my heart, I can write that this is the most powerful factory sub that I have ever heard. The mids merge a little into a mess almost at maximum volume. High frequencies are always distinguishable. The only disappointment was the power window block on the driver's side - sometimes it rattled to the beat of the music at a volume of 50%.

Central tunnel

A convenient gear lever with a fixed position, two cup holders, a niche for a phone with AUX and USB input, as well as a washer for selecting transmission modes. There are 5 of them: automatic, snow, trailer, sport and track. The latter, as you understand, is the most evil. On it, the machine allows you to completely turn off the stabilization system and throws it on rear axle up to 70% torque. A very, very evil regime. The accelerator pedal is so sensitive that at the slightest pressure the car starts to turn up its nose. But do not think that it is impossible to “pedal” in this mode. It's just scary. It's like the Sport+ mode multiplied by two in AMG cars.

Launch button with the image of a racing traffic light. Drooling flowed, eyes lit up, and here I am in search of a hook. How bad it is to test such cars in winter.

SEX. Available. But I haven't tried

The rear sofa is spacious. Rear passengers are provided with airflow deflectors in the central tunnel, there are also buttons for turning on the heating of the sofa and two USB sockets for charging electronic devices.

Delivery of furniture. Expensive

I experienced the trunk to the fullest on a trip to the country. Having folded the rear sofa, we get a completely flat floor, which is convenient when traveling and for spending the night in a car. But I spent the night there with a curbstone in the assembled state and a bunch of things scattered around the cabin.

So you will definitely succeed in saving on delivery from IKEA. But not on petrol.

About the close button

She's not where we're used to seeing her. It is located on the left side of the taillight. Unusually, but wildly convenient in the case when packages from the supermarket huddle in the hands. By the way, there is also an LED flashlight on the left, which does not have batteries, but is charged from the power of the car.

six and four liters

This is an absolutely incredible volume by modern standards. While the Germans are releasing two-liter stools of death, the Americans live in their own world and laugh at the sight of juice packs in the face Subaru WRX. What a boyish high it is when you press the red START Engine button and wake up the beast.

A second - and the whole yard is aware that you are going somewhere. This is a real sound, no deception in the form of an exhaust sound from the speakers. Everything is fair. Isn't honesty the most important thing in a relationship? Let the relationship between machine and man.

6.4 Hemi

V-shaped eight with the ability to disable half of the cylinders in order to save fuel. He won’t say “goodbye” to 100 thousand kilometers, and he won’t say after. It is powered by 95th gasoline, 92 if desired, but it is better to love your car and give it the best. Scheduled maintenance is 100-150% cheaper than German competitors - in the region of 20-25 thousand rubles. Requires only an oil change and replacement pads. Isn't it happiness for a Russian person? No turbo lag, forget about it. Consistent and even traction from the very bottom to the cutoff. Incredible pickup with low speed. And the sound of the exhaust in the range from idle to 2,000 rpm is simply exciting ...

Well, we try to accelerate to 200. Closed circuit (yeah). Sport mode. We hit the gas pedal with our right foot and in response we get the same sharp blow in the back from the car. 0-100 flew by unnoticed, 140, 160 ... by 220 everything is not so fast. But this sharp push at the start. It was unforgettable, like the first sex. I am ready to experience it again and again.

Where is the launch button? We press and try to start with it.

Track mode. Stabilization is disabled completely. Brake. Gas. Let's go!

Fast but emotionless. To be honest, I expected a concussion from hitting the headrest, but there was no push at all! Just fast uniform acceleration. Boring. Tried it once and never used it again.

I have not received such emotions from overclocking for a long time. Yes, there were cars much faster and more powerful, but it's a different feeling. In CRT, 5 seconds feel much more emotional than 4 seconds. By the way, about numbers. The manufacturer is modest in his testimony. Factory values ​​​​of acceleration to 100 km / h are equal to 5 seconds, in fact this value is slightly less.

While colleagues go crazy with acceleration in 8 seconds, SRT8 makes the planet spin even faster.

An 8-speed automatic helps to achieve such acceleration. Not a robot, but a real torque converter. It shifts gears imperceptibly and without jerks, both during dynamic acceleration and when driving through Moscow traffic jams. Comfort, and more! The automatic transmission is reliable and does not cause problems. The potential is big. Increasing power won't break it. This is certainly not a 5-speed gearbox, as in the previous model, which does not die at all, no matter what you do with it, but also nothing.

I got a bonus card from one of the major gas stations ...

Let's talk about fuel consumption. Yes, the topic is sick when you have SRT. But everyone is interested in these indications. Well, a car consumes fuel in direct proportion to how hard you press the gas pedal. Yours sincerely, your Captain Obvious. Now you will understand what I mean.

Driving in the city in ECO mode and without traffic jams. 14-15 liters per hundred.

Driving in the city in normal mode and with traffic jams. 17-18 liters per hundred.

Driving in the city as usual, but "on the gas" at every traffic light. 18-25 liters per hundred (depending on the pressing force).

Riding in the city in sport mode on the petals in the style of "hot Caucasian just bought an AMG." 25-35 liters per hundred.

Driving on a suburban highway. 11-13 liters per hundred.

Control

I want to dispel the myth and cliché of a decade ago about management. Yes, this car will not drive like an X5M, GLE63 or Cayenne Turbo. It is obvious. Don't go to a fortune teller. But it doesn't just drive in the forward direction like the SRT8 MK1 did. It flies well into turns, rolls are not minimal, but they do not cause discomfort. At speeds under 200 km / h, you can safely enter turns and enjoy driving with a little fear to boot. After all, the weight of the car is 2.4 tons.

The BREMBO brakes handle their hardships 4 out of 5. I would like a slightly more sensitive pedal, and the brakes could withstand 10 minutes of very active driving, not 5.

Active driving for me is not two starts from a traffic light up to 79 km / h, followed by braking. This is a constant speed of about 200 km / h with constant braking up to 100 (as on a track).

The steering wheel is heavy, especially after the Germans. Approximately at the level of BMW. There is no void in the zero position. Reacts sharply to the slightest change in course. This car definitely has character. It is not artificial, like most representatives of the modern automotive industry. You fight with him and fear him at the same time, from this falling in love even more.

Curiosities noticed during use

Adaptive cruise control is a blessing for a traveler like me.

SRT monitors a vehicle moving in the same direction and can apply the brakes, up to a complete stop at traffic lights or emergency situations followed by independent acceleration. Collision warning works amazingly, no delays. The car saw the danger and, if you do nothing, immediately slows down. As fast as in Mercedes. foot parking brake. Sometimes he kicked me out of his stupidity. Basically, it's a matter of habit.

A small subtotal

I thought for a long time what to write on the results. SRT needs to be understood, you need to love its character. This is not a mass market that tries to please everyone and everyone. In principle, like any charged crossover, this product is very niche.

This is not a German that every schoolboy in the yard loves. This is a car for those who appreciate brutality. Who cares about fuel consumption and taxes. For those who do not care that letters from the traffic police come more often than letters to Whats'app from a beloved.

When asked if I would buy it for myself, I still can’t answer. I fell in love with this car, it sunk into my soul, and I can not forget it. But I would rather prefer a crossover with a three-liter diesel engine. Just because I travel a lot. And 12-13 thousand rubles for gasoline per week is quite a large amount for me. Although it gives unforgettable emotions.

Buyer portrait

A young man between the ages of 25 and 37. Having a small or medium business. Who cares about the opinions of others. He wants to get a fast, brutal, at the same time reliable and unpretentious car for every day, in order to feel comfortable in the big metropolis near the Central Department Store and in the Sverdlovsk region with his family on a picnic.