Skip to main content

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT review

You've never seen 5,000 pounds move as fast as Jeep's Grand Cherokee SRT

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT
Bradley Iger/Digital Trends
2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT
MSRP $66,795.00
“The Grand Cherokee SRT makes a driver feel like the king of the road at price that massively undercuts the competition.”
Pros
  • Authoritative power
  • Excellent handling and braking for a 2.5 ton SUV
  • Well-appointed with numerous standard features
  • Significantly less expensive than competitors
Cons
  • 6.4-liter V8 is still quite thirsty

“Why you can trust Digital Trends – We have a 20-year history of testing, reviewing, and rating products, services and apps to help you make a sound buying decision. Find out more about how we test and score products.“

The concept of a high-performance SUV should be a contradiction in terms. Yet through exhaustive engineering and sheer strength of will, the automotive industry has created an entire segment of vehicles which fit that description, and nearly all of them are just as at home on the road course as they are in suburbia.

Recommended Videos

Jeep was among the first out of the gate with a performance-focused version of their mid-sized SUV in 2007. In the years since the segment has grown to include many of Europe’s most respected marques, but the SRT-flavored Grand Cherokee has always served as a bit of an outlier because although it’s one of the priciest vehicles in the FCA portfolio, it’s still tens of thousands of dollars less expensive than models like the BMW X6M and the supercharged Range Rover Sport.

Recent years have seen some important updates made to the Grand Cherokee SRT, and 2017 brings a few more as well. But this year’s updates also serve as foreshadowing for an all-but-official Hellcat iteration of the Grand Cherokee SRT which is expected to debut early next year with a 707 horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8 not unlike the motor found in the engine bays of the Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcats. Is this rumored Grand Cherokee SRT Hellcat worth waiting for, or is the naturally aspirated SRT model we have here already up to snuff? I hit the streets of Los Angeles and the desert highways outside of Palm Springs to find out.

Improving upon the formula

Although this generation of the Grand Cherokee SRT has been around since 2011, Jeep has updated it in meaningful ways in the ensuing years. 2014 saw the old five-speed automatic replaced with the excellent, ZF-derived eight-speed gearbox, now found in just about every vehicle across the FCA lineup that it will fit in. Not only did it improve fuel economy for Jeep’s thirsty high-performance SUV, it also chopped half a second off its 0-60 mph sprint and made the SUV substantially more engaging to drive in the process.

The following year saw Jeep recalibrate the 6.4-liter Hemi’s engine management software, resulting in a small bump in power to 475 hp and 470 pound-feet of torque, while an active noise cancelation system helped broaden the use of the Hemi’s fuel-saving cylinder deactivation feature during low-load driving.

Last year brought a revised configuration for the dash display, moving the tachometer front and center, while Selec-Track driving modes were expanded to include a custom setting that allows drivers to pick and choose the various mode parameters like throttle response and suspension stiffness to their liking rather than using a preset. 2017 sees a new, more aggressive looking front fascia to the SRT model added to the mix, highlighted by three additional air intakes positioned just above the bumper, along with a new leather interior package.

While none of these updates have wholly reinvented the Grand Cherokee SRT along the way, each has helped prevent this fast SUV from getting stale, resulting in a vehicle that still feels fresh seven years on.

On the road

While there are a host of vehicles that offer more horsepower than the Grand Cherokee SRT, few pull off the “king of the road” vibe as convincingly. With no turbochargers to wait on, the Grand Cherokee’s throttle response is essentially instantaneous and feels especially authoritative due to the muscle car growl of the 6.4-liter V8 under the hood.

Few pull off the “king of the road” vibe as convincingly as the Grand Cherokee SRT.

Paired with the paddle shifted eight-speed automatic and supplemented by adaptive dampers and big six-piston Brembo brakes, the Grand Cherokee dispatches asphalt more like a war machine than a family hauler. And yet its brakes aren’t grabby at the top of the pedal, its suspension relaxes when asked to do so, and cabin isolation is near-absolute during long stints on the highway, even when the Hemi’s often-bemoaned cylinder deactivation system kicks in.

It’s that convincing split personality which really allows the Grand Cherokee SRT shine. Vehicles like the Range Rover Sport offer opulent luxury and straight line urgency, but can feel top heavy and wayward when they get their weight thrown around. By contrast, the Jeep feels planted and confident when asked to perform, eager to cut a swath through slow-moving traffic and then settle back into a relaxed grand touring routine when you’re ready.

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT
Bradley Iger/Digital Trends
Bradley Iger/Digital Trends

The interior is a nice place to do the business of driving too, with 8-way leather sport buckets that are both comfortable and well-bolstered, while the Uconnect system and its 8.4-inch touchscreen display continue to impress with responsive hardware and comprehensive suite of features. The SRT Performance pages included here offer all manner of performance-related information, allowing you to check out telemetry data in real-time and fine-tune performance functions to your preference.

Our Take

You’d be right to be skeptical of a high-riding, 5000 pound SUV that claims to offer a high performance experience. But the Grand Cherokee SRT simply defies conventional wisdom, offering legitimately quick straight-line acceleration with responsive handling and superb stopping power when optioned with the six-piston Brembo brake package.

And yet Jeep has also managed to keep the interior as luxurious as it is purposeful, and a host of standard driver assistance features like blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, emergency braking assistance and a rear back-up camera make piloting this brute through tight urban streets an effortless endeavor.

Some of its European rivals offer greater performance, more luxury, or both, but none of them come anywhere near matching the Grand Cherokee’s price tag for this level of performance and features.

What are the alternatives?

The Porsche Cayenne, BMW X6M, Range Rover Sport Supercharged and Mercedes-AMG GLE63 all play in the same space as the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT but none are within $30,000 of the Jeep’s bottom line, while a few cost more than double the asking price of the Grand Cherokee.

How long will it last?

While the SRT iteration of the Grand Cherokee was never intended to be a volume seller, it’s safe to assume this model isn’t being put out to pasture any time soon, and it’s no secret that development of the platform is ongoing.

In terms of the 2017 Grand Cherokee SRT’s future proofing, while it doesn’t include the latest version of FCA’s Uconnect system – which debuts on the 2017 Dodge Challenger and Charger this fall – the infotainment system’s feature set is fairly comprehensive. Its lack of the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility is perhaps the most obvious disadvantage versus the upcoming version of Uconnect.

Should you buy it?

How much performance do you need out of your SUV, how much do you have to spend, and how patient are you? While this Jeep is no slouch in the performance department, SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S will undoubtedly outperform it, albeit at more than twice the cost.

But then there’s also the long-rumored Grand Cherokee SRT Hellcat (or Trackhawk, or whatever Jeep chooses to call it). We’ll likely see it officially debut in January at the 2017 North American Auto Show, with production starting next summer.

For those that don’t want to wait, this naturally aspirated model offers a ton of performance and no shortage of luxury for the price. But those willing to be patient could be first in line for what may end up being the fastest production SUV ever built.

Bradley Iger
Former Contributor
Relocating to Los Angeles after competing his undergraduate degree in Rhetorical Studies at the University of California…
The week in EV tech: From sky-high dreams to ground-level drama
tesla robotaxi feud alef in transition flight

Welcome to Digital Trends’ weekly recap of the revolutionary technology powering, connecting, and now driving next-gen electric vehicles. 
Buckle up, folks — this week we’re taking off with a look at the futuristic dream of flying electric cars possibly gliding above U.S. roads sooner than you think. But before we get carried away, let’s bring it back down to the bumpy road of present-day realities.
Even if you’re mostly interested about the tech powering the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, it’s become increasingly hard to avoid the politics around it: You guessed it, we’re talking about this week’s public feud between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump.
What does this have to do with EV tech? Well, quite a lot actually. For starters, the technology behind Tesla’s Autopilot and Full-Self Driving (FSD) modes may return in the crosshairs of regulators: Despite the names, these are still driver-assist features that require active driver supervision, and until Trump’s election, they had been under heavy scrutiny by safety regulators for several years.
Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration  (NHTSA) launched an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD. Big questions remain about the driver-assist system's performance under adverse, yet naturally-occurring conditions such as fog, sun glare, rain, and snow.
When Musk, who spent about $275 million to help elect Trump, was appointed to head a newly-created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), it raised more than a few eyebrows about his power and influence over the regulators who are supposed to oversee traffic safety, and therefore Tesla.
It didn’t help that the Trump administration followed Musk’s recommendations and relaxed crash-reporting requirements put in place since 2021, while also relaxing rules to accelerate the deployment of fully-automated robotaxis.
The Trump/Musk clash takes place just as Tesla is due to launch its robotaxi pilot progam in Texas later this month. While Trump is now threatening to pull billions of dollars in government subsidies and contracts from Musk’s companies, it’s unclear whether he might pressure the Department of Transportation to again tighten the regulatory screws on Tesla. What is clear is that Trump has never been a fan of electric vehicles and is already trying to end federal subsidies on EV purchases and leases. And while he had made a big deal about buying a bright red Tesla Model S back in March, Trump now says he wants to sell it.
Back to the tech
Meanwhile, Tesla is still required to respond to information and data requests from NHTSA regarding the safety of its robotaxis by July 1. And ultimately, it should come down to the performance of the technology.
For Autopilot and FSD, Tesla has opted for less expensive navigational tech relying on multiple onboard cameras that feed AI machine-learning models. But especially for so-called adverse driving conditions, it’s the more expensive technology relying on a blend of pre-mapped roads, sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar (a laser-light radar) which has received the nod of regulators.
Waymo, the sole robotaxi service currently operating in the U.S., and Zoox, Amazon’s upcoming robotaxi service, both use that blend of navigational tech.
For its robotaxis, Tesla is said to have upped its game in terms of autonomous driving with its Hardware 4 (HW4) technology, which does include radar sensors and promises enhanced environmental perception.
Will that be enough for Tesla to convince regulators, catch up with Waymo, or compete effectively with Zoox?
We’ll have to wait and see.
Flying cars
In a recent edition, we noted that while consumer confidence about robotaxi technology is on the rise, most people also want more data before they hop into a self-driving vehicle.
What about flying taxis? According to a recent survey by Honeywell, nearly all U.S. airline fliers, or 98%, said they would consider using a so-called electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle, or eVTOL, as part of their travel journey.
But while the buzz around flying electric vehicles has mostly focused on air taxis— like Archer Aviation’s Midnight, expected to fly athletes around the 2028 LA Olympics, or Joby’s slick air taxi, backed by Toyota — one California startup is shooting for something a little more... driveable.
Meet Alef Aeronautics, a Bay Area company that wants to put the “car” back in “flying car.” This week, Alef announced it has received over 3,400 pre-orders for its electric flying vehicle, the Model A — and get this: it’s not a futuristic prototype gathering dust in a lab. Alef says production could begin by the end of 2025, or early next year.
On the ground, the Model A operates like a low-speed electric car, complete with hub motors in the wheels and—wait for it—a real steering wheel. You can legally drive it at up to 25 mph on public roads, parking it in a normal garage like any other EV. It’s refreshingly manual in an increasingly hands-free world.
But when it's time for lift off, the steering wheel takes a backseat. For vertical takeoff and flight, the Model A transforms into a drone-like aircraft. Its cabin rotates sideways to create lift, and eight electric rotors—controlled by a flight system and joysticks—take over. No pedals, no yoke, just a bit of joystick magic (or autopilot, if you prefer).
The Model A has already received the nod from regulators for test flights.
While the $300,000 price tag won’t fit everyone’s budget, the company is clearly betting on a future where you don’t have to choose between a car and a flying machine—you can have both.

Read more
8 key things you need to know from Apple’s WWDC 2025 event
From a fresh look and updated names, to new features, more intelligence and live translation
iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 shown on devices.

The WWDC 2025 keynote ran for just over an hour and a half. For those of you who don't fancy sitting through the whole presentation, we've pulled out the key things you need to know from the latest Apple event.

1. Welcome to the 26 club

Read more
Tesla’s robotaxi service is almost here, but it’s not the car you want to see
Silver Tesla Model Y Juniper side

Tesla chief Elon Musk has said that the automaker is aiming to launch its robotaxi service on June 22, in Austin, Texas.

“Tentatively, June 22,” Musk said in a post on X on Tuesday, adding: “We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift.”

Read more