Who would have thought it – a new Jeep that costs Range Rover money and has Porsche levels of performance (in a straight line at least)? The idea of being able to do over 150 mph in something as tall as a Grand Cherokee is a daunting idea, although the ability to get to 62 mph in 5.0 seconds while transporting the family pets is quite entertaining (if not for the pets).

It is powered by what Jeep says is an all-new 6.4-litre HEMI V8 engine with Fuel Saver technology that turns off four of the eight cylinders when full power is not required. The V8 delivers 461 bhp and 624 Nm of torque and is fitted to a five-speed automatic transmission. However, we think that is rather a liberal use of the term “all-new”. It is a pushrod engine with two valves per cylinder, so good old 1960s technology, albeit modernised for the current century with electronic enhancements.

Standard equipment on the SRT model includes Bi-Xenon headlights, Command-View dual-pane sunroof, 825-watt, 19-speaker audio system from Harman Kardon, Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning and Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross-path detection. However, Forward Collision Warning will only warn of an obstacle, it will not automatically brake the car unlike a City Stop system.