American V8 For The Price Of A Fortuner! » MotorOctane

The Fortuner is the obvious choice if you want an SUV around the Rs 50 lakh range. But what if we tell you that you could get an iconic American V8 for the same price? Why settle for the boring choice that everyone makes when you can have this instead?
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American V8?

Everyone knows about the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. The 6.4-litre hemi V8 that converts petrol into horsepower and noise is no stranger to enthusiasts. Dodge has fitted the same engine in an SUV.  You can now get this SUV for the price of a Fortuner. We have found a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT on sale that features Dodge’s iconic naturally aspirated HEMI V8. 

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Looks

The Grand Cherokee stands out in the crowd of SUVs like no other. If you thought that the Fortuner had a commanding road presence, you should have a look at this car. The matte-purple paint job, 20-inch alloys with Brembo brake callipers and the classic Jeep SUV design would outshine any SUVs on sale at the moment. It might outstage the outgoing Grand Cherokee as well. It is a 4.8 metre SUV, which means it is longer than the Fortuner. 

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Features

Step inside, and you are greeted by hilariously red-leatherette seats. If these bright-red seats weren’t indicative that it is a performance SUV, it also gets SRT badging on the seats and a bright red push-button start. If you ignore the gaudy interiors, you can see that it is a very practical and spacious cabin. Being a 2019 model, it comes with many features, including cruise control, a rear parking camera, powered front seats, a 19-speaker stereo, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic sunroof, rear-seat entertainment screens, and headlight washers. 

The one downside it has over the Fortuner is that it lacks a 3rd row of seats. Instead, you get a whopping 762-litre boot. With the Grand Cherokee SRT, you can go as fast as a sportscar, while being able to carry enough luggage for a 2-month-long family trip. This is what makes a performance SUV popular. 

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Powertrain

If you buy this car, you would buy it for the 6.4-litre Hemi V8 that churns out 475 bhp and 630 Nm of torque. This power is passed down to the 4 wheels via an 8-speed AT. This particular unit has a stage 2 tune and a performance Valvertronic exhaust. The aftermath of this modification is an exhaust note that can wake up neighbouring cities. 

It can touch 0-100 kmpl in less than 5 seconds, and flat out, you can touch 260 kmph. The performance figures might be stunning, but so are the efficiency figures. The claimed economy is around 8-9 kmpl, but in Indian traffic, it would be a miracle to get those figures. The Grand Cherokee, being a 2.5-tonne vehicle, does not help its economy either. Nevertheless, you get an astounding amount of power and torque, and that is all that an enthusiast cares for. 

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Should You Buy It? 

This car seems like a dream, right? Think again. Jeep is already notorious for its maintenance and reliability, and buying such a performance vehicle seems like a huge gamble. The performance spares won’t be cheap, and it is very likely to be a frequent visitor to the service centre. If you do plan to buy it, make sure to set aside Rs 7-10 lakhs for repairs and maintenance. You may hit the jackpot, and the car could be as reliable for you as the Toyota Fortuner. Nevertheless, have it checked by a trusted mechanic and buy it if you are aware of what you are getting into. 

This SUV is listed at Rs 56 lakh, and you may be able to negotiate the price down with strong bargaining skills. The Grand Cherokee SRT has its pros and cons. It is a gas-guzzler and can be tough to manoeuvre in tight spaces, but you are compensated with a V8 engine. All in all, it is an interesting find and definitely worth considering. Since it is practical, it would make a convincing argument to your family members. Would you buy it over a standard Fortuner? Let us know your thoughts below. 

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