Jeep Grand Cherokee 6.1 SRT-8 (2006) CAR review

A Grand Cherokee at the 'Ring? Surely a fish a long way from its water…

Yes, but this is the grandest of Grand Cherokees, the SRT-8. The initials stand for the skunkworks that fettled it, Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology division, and the eight is a nod to its 420bhp Hemi V8 engine. They took the rather dumpy and flaccid Grand Cherokee and transformed it into something rather special. It's the fastest Jeep ever, and probably the meanest looking, too. But the undulating 14-mile German test circuit will provide its sternest test yet. If ever a track exists to mercilessly lay bare a car's dynamic flaws, this is it…

Did it understeer off at the first corner?

You'd have thought so, considering the SRT-8's jumping off point: a cumbersome and wallowy off-roader. But this honed Jeep tackled the ‘Ring with an entertaining degree of verve and tenacity. Sure, it still rolls, pitches and dives, and its high driving position makes you feel like you’re driving a fast-moving skyscraper. Thanks to the heavily revised suspension, though, it has plenty of grip, decent body control and the ride quality is pretty good too, doing a decent job of sponging away all but the worst intrusions.