Grand Cherokee SRT – Cheaper Than The Trackhawk, But Just As Fun:

Since the introduction of the 707 horsepower 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, the Grand Cherokee SRT has taken a second seat to the performance Jeep lineup. The Grand Cherokee SRT continues on strong for the 2019 model year. The most popular SRT nameplate (yes, is a Jeep) got some subtle updates for the 2019 model year. Blind-Spot Monitoring, a new dash bezel around the touchscreen and climate controls and navigation are now standard.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT’s powerful 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 with Fuel Saver Technology that delivers 475 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. Matched with a ZF-sourced 8-Speed Automatic Transmission, the SRT will still throw down 0-60 miles per hour (mph) acceleration runs in 4.3 seconds and will run the quarter-mile in 12.8 seconds. Not to mention still has a top speed of 160 mph.

The Grand Cherokee SRT uses Jeep’s MP 3010 transfer case which is a single-speed with electronic proportioning and is a full-time four-wheel drive system. The system is tuned specially for the Grand Cherokee SRT and uses different variable torque-splitting to the front and rear wheels based on which performance mode you are in. Automatic mode allows the transfer case to split torque 40% to the front and 60% to the rear, while both Snow and Tow modes split the power evenly between the front and rear. Turn the dial to Sport and the power is put 35% to the front and 65% to the rear. Putting the SRT into track mode results in 70% of power being sent to the rear wheels.

Stopping all that power and weight with the Grand Cherokee SRT is a lot of work itself, the 2019 Grand Cherokee SRT offers two different braking systems. The standard 15.0-inch x 1.34-inch vented disc with Brembo six-piston calipers with ABS up front and 13.78-inch x 1.10-inch disc with Brembo four-piston caliper and single-channel ABS. An optional 15.0-inch x 1.34-inch two-piece aluminum performance directionally slotted rotors up front with Brembo six-piston caliper and ABS. In the rear, the optional system shares its setup with the Trackhawk with a pair of 13.78-inch x 1.10-inch performance directionally slotted discs with Brembo four-piston caliper pistons and single-channel ABS.

While the exterior of the Grand Cherokee SRT and Trackhawk look very similar, there are subtle differences. The SRT has dual exhaust tips (compared to the Trackhawk’s quad-exhaust tips) which allow the 6.4-liter HEMI to orchestrate that big naturally-aspirated sound. Fog lights are standard on the SRT model (where Trackhawk does not offer due to allowing more cooling). But the exterior look of the Grand Cherokee SRT is aggressive and in your face look with its “Domino Mask” look of the front grille.

Last year, we got behind the wheel of the 2018 model year Grand Cherokee SRT. The Grand Cherokee SRT proved to have not just a performance-themed interior, but a luxurious one as well. Our Co-Editor Jared Balfour wrote “Jeep did an incredibly good job with the interior. All materials are of very high quality, and I’m a big fan of the Black Alcantara Headliner and A-pillars. Gloss carbon fiber and silver trim are abundant, setting off the all black interior. The SRT gets a unique flat-bottomed steering wheel with a nice thick leather-wrapped rim. The steering wheel also has nice hand grips and perforated leather sections.”

Jared went on to say, “A panoramic sunroof makes the interior feel airy, while back seat passengers get a reclining seatback and TV monitors with audio/video and HDMI inputs if so equipped. I’m just over 6-feet tall and found it easy to get comfortable in all seating positions. Seats are leather with Alcantara seating surfaces, heated and cooled in front and heated in the rear.”

The Grand Cherokee SRT offers performance, luxury and capability, which is good enough for an everyday daily driver for the family, hardcore track days on the weekend or a luxury tow vehicle capable of towing up to 7,200lbs. For a starting U.S. MSRP of $69,640 after destination (CAN MSRP $79,590).  The Grand Cherokee SRT is more than $18,000 US ( $28,400 CAN) cheaper than its Grand Cherokee Trackhawk sibling.