The Hemi Street Beast

By: Kase van Rees

Clearly we love Jeeps. But this model of the Grand Cherokee is a Jeep in name alone. Its low front bumper and wide, grippy tires are meant to crush pavement like a standard Jeep does rocks. So, is the road restricted SRT a lapse in judgement or a stroke of genius?

Behind the wheel, this Jeep drives like a muscle car. Fat tires and sporty suspension let the beast throw its weight around with relative ease. And huge Brembo brakes give you the confidence to slow it down, which is important when you peek what lies under its vented hood. Ram 1500's are offered with a 5.7 Hemi. This Jeep has the 6.4 Hemi from the Ram 2500. With almost 500 naturally aspirated horses on tap, the snarling old-fashioned torque makes this SRT seem ready for a fist fight.

Its guts feel luxurious thanks to soft, two-tone leather and cold, satin metal accents. As soon as your hand finds the flat metal base of the steering wheel and you gaze up through a tinted moonroof, you realize this Jeep pretty much has it all. It's tough not to look down on other vehicles both literally and figuratively while your powerful speakers drench the well made cabin with crisp noise.

The ever busy 8-speed transmission is this thing's only big let down. At low speeds you notice constant upshifts and downshifts. Subtract two or three gears and you'd lose out on some MPG's, but it would be a better driver.

I don't know a single gearhead who wouldn't find the SRT Jeep intoxicating. It's great to look at, sit in, drive, the only thing you wouldn't want to do is line up next to the brute.