2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Quick Take: Seeing Red

In my line of work, I drive everything from the Smart Fortwo and Scion iQ all the way up to the Lamborghini Aventador and Dodge Viper SRT. That’s the beauty of the American automotive industry. There’s a car, truck, van, crossover, or SUV for whatever your needs are. Here’s where the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT comes into play. While not necessarily a volume model, the Grand Cherokee SRT offers up a stout drivetrain and all of the storage space you’ve come to expect from Jeep‘s largest offering. We recently hosted Jeep’s resident heavyweight to check out the minor tweaks made to it both inside and out. 

6.4-liter V8 gets a bump in power 

SUVs continue to be wildly popular in the American auto market and with gas prices sitting at $2.15 nationally according to AAA that trend looks to continue. However, most SUVs today are leaving the factory with V6 engines and not 6.4-liter V8s like the one sitting underneath the hood of the Grand Cherokee SRT. For the 2015 model year, the folks at SRT tweaked the Grand Cherokee’s engine to put out an additional five horsepower over the previous model year with a total rating of 475 horsepower. Torque is in the same neighborhood checking in at 470 lb-ft. This combination is good for hard accelerations and a solid 0-60 mph time of 4.8 seconds. We actually were able to beat Jeep’s announced figure with a time of 4.6 seconds sprinting from a standstill to 60 mph. 

Also: The Class of 2015 — New Vehicles Ready to Roll

The new, ZF-sourced eight-speed transmission provides smooth, refined shifting and didn’t hunt for gears even under spirited driving conditions. Even with this transmission though, there’s no saving the Grand Cherokee SRT’s fuel economy as we saw a combined mpg figure bounce back and forth between 12 and 14 mpg. For what it’s worth, the EPA rates the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT at 13 city/19 highway/ 15 combined mpg. Towing capacity sees a 44 percent bump in capacity for the 2015 model year and now boasts a 7,200 pound rating when properly equipped. 

SRT-exclusive features 

To get in a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, you’re looking at a $64,595 price tag but the top-trim SRT Red Vapor model (seen here) will set you back $68,590. Going with the Red Vapor SRT trim brings gloss black badging and grille surrounds, a unique SRT wheel center cap, and Black Vapor Chrome goliath wheels. A set of 295/45ZR20-inch Pirelli all-season run-flat tires come standard. Other exclusive features include an SRT logo on the steering wheel that lights up at night, black leather seats with red suede inserts, and a black faux-suede headliner. It should be clarified that Red Vapor is a trim level and Bright White Clear Coat, Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl, and Redline 2 Coat Pearl are available exterior paint colors. 

Tipping the scales at a robust 5,150 pounds, the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT defies the rules of gravity thanks in part to the standard 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine. We’re willing to bet there’s room to shoehorn in the same Hellcat engine that debuted in the Dodge Charger and Challenger SRT last year, too. If that’s the case, the Grand Cherokee SRT will descend further into the madness.  

See full review and pricing information for the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT or build and price your own to unlock its Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own, and more.