Inside Line tests hundreds of vehicles a year, but not every vehicle gets a full write-up. The numbers still tell a story, though, so we present "IL Track Tested." It's a quick rundown of all the data we collected at the track, along with comments direct from the test drivers. Enjoy.
The whole idea of a high-performance sport-utility vehicle is a little tough for us to swallow. It's a totally nonsensical concept, yet it continues to thrive even in the face of expensive gas and even more expensive vehicles.
That said, who wouldn't appreciate driving a 2-ton, four-wheel-drive vehicle that can run 13s in the quarter-mile? There aren't many that can, but we've tested two that impressed us.
Most recently, it was the 2009 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S that rolled through the garage and blew us away with its 550-horsepower V8. Then again, it should for $139,000. If your budget doesn't allow for such extravagance, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is the next best thing. For a mere $45K, it offers a similar experience. How similar? See for yourself in our latest head-to-head match-up straight from the test track.
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Grand Cherokee SRT8 | Porsche Cayenne Turbo S |
| 0-30 (sec): | 1.6 | 1.9 |
| 0-45 (sec): | 3.0 | 3.3 |
| 0-60 (sec): | 4.7 | 5 |
| 0-75 (sec): | 7.3 | 7.2 |
| 1/4 Mile (sec @ mph): | 13.4 @ 102.3 | 13.2 @ 105.2 |
| 0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): | N/A | 4.7 |
| 30-0 (ft): | 33 | 28 |
| 60-0 (ft): | 128 | 111 |
| Skid pad lateral acceleration (g): | 0.84 | 0.89 |
| Slalom | 61.9 | 66.2 |
Vehicle: 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
Odometer: N/A
Date: 9/10/2007
Driver: Chris Walton
Price: $45,465
Specifications:
Drive Type: All-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Five-speed automatic
Engine Type: V8
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 6.1 (6,059/370)
Redline (rpm): 6,400
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 420 @ 6,000
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 420 @ 4,800
Brake Type (front): Ventilated disc
Brake Type (rear): Disc
Steering System: Power rack-and-pinion
Suspension Type (front): Double wishbone
Suspension Type (rear): Solid live axle
Tire Size (front): 255/45R20Z
Tire Size (rear): 285/40R20Z
Tire Brand: Goodyear
Tire Model: Eagle RS-A
Tire Type: All-season
Wheel Size: 20-by-9.0 inches front/20-by-10.0 inches rear
Wheel Material (front/rear): Forged aluminum
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 4,819
Test Results:
0-30 (sec): 1.6
0-45 (sec): 3.0
0-60 (sec): 4.7
0-75 (sec): 7.3
1/4 Mile (sec @ mph): 13.4 @ 102.3
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): N/A
30-0 (ft): 33
60-0 (ft): 128
Braking Rating: Good
Slalom (mph): 61.9
Skid Pad Lateral Acceleration (g): 0.84
Handling Rating: Good
Db @ Idle: 50.9
Db @ Full Throttle: 78.4
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 69.7
Acceleration Comments: An unreal launch that fels like a freeway rear-ender! Zero slop of delay as I let off the brake. Upshifts are very quick yet not particularly harsh. The size of the Jeep and how quickly it accelerates felt at odds. It shouldn't do this, but it does.
Braking Comments: Good, not great brakes. I was expecting more bite, more power and less fade from SRT. Some dive but no change of direction.
Handling Comments: Skid pad: Mild understeer with throttle-modulated oversteer at the ready, but non-defeat ESP puts an end to it just as it begins.
Slalom: The SRT8 feels taller and tippier than it once did. Suspension winds up and releases, exaggerating that tall feeling. Non-defeat ESP applies brakes just as useful rotation begins. Frustrating and difficult to get a rhythm in the slalom.
Vehicle: 2009 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S
Odometer: 882
Date: 7/7/2009
Driver: Chris Walton
Price: $139,070
Specifications:
Drive Type: All-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Six-speed automatic
Engine Type: V8
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 4.8 (4,806/293.3)
Redline (rpm): 6,700
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 550 @ 6,000
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 553 @ 2,250
Brake Type (front): Ventilated disc
Brake Type (rear): Ventilated disc
Steering System: Speed-proportional power steering
Suspension Type (front): Double wishbone
Suspension Type (rear): Multilink
Tire Size (front): 295/35R21 107Y
Tire Size (rear): 295/35R21 107Y
Tire Brand: Michelin
Tire Model: Latitude Sport
Tire Type: Summer
Wheel Size: 21-by-10 inches front/rear
Wheel Material (front/rear): Alloy
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 5,483
Test Results:
0-30 (sec): 1.9
0-45 (sec): 3.3
0-60 (sec): 5.0
0-75 (sec): 7.2
1/4 Mile (sec @ mph):13.2 @ 105.2
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 4.7
30-0 (ft): 28
60-0 (ft): 111
Braking Rating: Excellent
Slalom (mph): 66.2
Skid Pad Lateral Acceleration (g): 0.89
Handling Rating: Excellent
Db @ Idle: 47.7
Db @ Full Throttle: 70.4
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 65.9
Acceleration Comments: Glad to see they got rid of the 2nd-gear start in anything but Manual mode. Responds exceedingly well to brake torque up to around 3,000 rpm. Most of the power lives above 4,000 rpm, though. Shifts are both fast and smooth. Runs 2-5 were made in sport/sport.
Braking Comments: Not entirely convinced that the brakes were bedded properly (only 900 miles on the odometer) as they smoked quite a bit after acceleration and braking runs. Still, they displayed tremendous power and effectiveness -- especially for a 5,500-pound SUV.
Handling Comments: Skid pad: Subtle but stubborn understeer, good steering information and load-up. Only needs a little throttle to adjust line. Very little difference or intervention with the stability control on and off.
Slalom: Crazy-quick turn-in, laser precise, only a little strangeness from active roll bars that keep it totally flat. Eventually it oversteers, but only if provoked. Expected a better exit with more front-end bite. Otherwise this is a total physics rule-breaker.
4dsc85 says:
12:40 AM, 08/19/09
Glad to see both have there pros and cons. Price being the biggest difference. I guess if you can afford the Porsche cayenne you might be better buying the SRT-8 and supercharging it, though if you are buying the Porsche, its because you want the name. In the end you end up with high performance gas guzzlers. I think straightline should get there own site because there articles are far more interesting than the day to day stuff on inside line.
wrinklebump says:
04:20 AM, 08/19/09
The very notion of spending $140k on a crossover - albeit a very nice one - is so preposterous. Think of all the amazing vehicles you could have for that figure. You could park a brand new ZR1 and an E46 M3 in your driveway for that kind of cabbage.
dougtheeng says:
06:17 AM, 08/19/09
Definitely impressed by the Jeep.
ptcdawg says:
06:51 AM, 08/19/09
LOL at the over priced German SUV.
fuhteng says:
07:44 AM, 08/19/09
I saw a Cayenne Turbo (maybe S I can't remember) in my little mid-west college town of 50,000. WTF? Who buys that in this town? The C6 Z06 I saw yesterday makes a little more sense because it is a monster of a toy, but that Porsche is just daft.
bodyblue says:
08:06 AM, 08/19/09
You could buy the SRT and still have enough for a Cayman left over....the best of both worlds. SRT to blow most things away at the stoplight and a TRUE Porsche for being a sports car. And the Jeep is still a lot better looking than the melted jellybean VolkswagoPorsche look.
ahightower says:
08:19 AM, 08/19/09
I still love the Cayenne. I actually think it looks good. And this isn't really a direct comparison other than performance. A Charger SRT8 is as roomy and fast as an Audi S8, but they're not exactly in the same bracket. Now, $140K is pretty steep. Even if I was rich, I would probably limit myself to the Cayenne GTS (manual transmission!). But the Turbo S is about the same price as the S63 or S600 or a fully loaded Range Rover. If you want too much power, lots of luxury, and need a hatch/wagon for Fido, it's a pretty sweet ride.
roadburner says:
08:21 AM, 08/19/09
I'd go with the Jeep; a Porsche truck just seems wrong to me. I'd also take the extra cash and buy a Cayman S.
ahightower says:
08:32 AM, 08/19/09
And while it's fun to speculate about "I'd buy the Jeep and spend the savings on a real sports car", the people who can afford the Cayenne Turbo S aren't worried about the price. They already have that 911 we say we'd get with the money we saved on the Jeep.
It is a fun game, though. For my imaginary $140K, I'd get a Suburban 2500, a 30-ft travel trailer, and an M3 sedan.
wrinklebump says:
08:45 AM, 08/19/09
ahightower:
Bad taste is bad taste, is what I think the argument is here. A Porsche truck. I mean just look at the phrase. If we wanted to all be wieners we would just all post stuff like 'BUT THINK OF ALL THE STARVING CHILDREN YOU COULD FEED WITH THAT MONEY OMG.' That's not the point. The point is that's a $140k Porsche truck. And it's looking pretty silly next to a $45k Jeep.
mercedesfan says:
09:16 AM, 08/19/09
I am shocked at how much better the Cayenne handles than the Jeep. 0.5g better on the skid pad and 5.3mph faster through the slalom is about the difference one gets between a $50,000 sports car and a $150,000 sports car. When seen in this light the price difference doesn't seem nearly as ludicrous. Although I still feel like anyone who would purchase either of these is utterly insane.
iskch says:
09:42 AM, 08/19/09
Bragging rights test for the fast and heavy! If I ever need one I won't pay that much for neither of those two. But if you can afford a Porsche Cayenne go ahead get one. Or get the cousins for less (Audi & VW models).
As for the Jeep is the best MUSCLE VEHICLE that won't smoke the tires or make a whole lot of noise to get the job done. I think with those numbers the Jeep will spank the Challenger SRT, Camaro SS & Mustang GT 0-60.
brn says:
09:54 AM, 08/19/09
Both vehicles are ridiculous. However, you can buy three ridiculous Jeeps for the price of a ridiculous Porsche.
matt310 says:
10:55 AM, 08/19/09
"As for the Jeep is the best MUSCLE VEHICLE that won't smoke the tires or make a whole lot of noise to get the job done. I think with those numbers the Jeep will spank the Challenger SRT, Camaro SS & Mustang GT 0-60."
Uh, have you ever been next to, or behind one of these Jeep SRTs on a full throttle launch? Between those exhaust pipes and the 6.1L engine breathing fire, it could just about wake the dead.
matt310 says:
10:59 AM, 08/19/09
"I am shocked at how much better the Cayenne handles than the Jeep. 0.5g better on the skid pad and 5.3mph faster through the slalom is about the difference one gets between a $50,000 sports car and a $150,000 sports car."
The Jeep has heavy wheels, run-flat tires and non-defeat stability control, which contribute to the difference in handling performance, but not nearly as much as its suspension setup (which is antiquated and far inferior compared to the Porsche).
phoenix_5 says:
11:05 AM, 08/19/09
Consider this...
Porsche was building tractors around 1950 while Willys, after 'aquiring' the design from Bantam a few years prior, was building essentially a 4WD tractor called a Jeep. Both manufacturers being niche manufacturers have come a long way and it's amazing in today's market they survived. A better matchup possibly would have been the nearly $70K less expensive Cayenne GTS (Base MSRP~$72K) with 400+HP. All of the "I would take ___" aside, I had the opportunity to join Mr Hurley Haywood and his band of incredibly talented merry madmen professional driver's around the racetrack in a Cayenne S. Love it or hate it, if a person can get out of the Cayenne S without a 'dirt-eating grin' after riding hot laps with a professional driver and not appreciate the ability of the of the vehicle...check their pulse, their dead and have no business making the statement they are car fanatics. I would relish the opportunity in the Jeep too!
flwind says:
11:09 AM, 08/19/09
Who the hell would use these as track vehicles? If you got the cash to plunk down on a 160K SUV and want some track time, then surely you have a proper sports car. That is unless, you want to do laps with little Johnny Rockefeller and little Jenny Moneybags in the back seat. The Cayenne price tag is asinine when compared to the SRT8 and is more of an 'exclusivity' thing than anything else. The only interesting and relevant performance figure out of this entire test as far as Im concerned is the straight line performance which is the only "performance" duty these are likely to ever see. The price disparity between the two makes the Cayenne look pretty silly.
phoenix_5 says:
11:21 AM, 08/19/09
flwind -
good comments, agree.
FWIW the track time was spent in 997 Carrera S's and Twin Turbos. The opportunity arose to see how rapid a box could hussle around the track. That's when it was surprising. It would be quite moronic to believe one would track a $140K 5500# SUV, even more so to actually buy one.
primeplusone says:
04:03 PM, 08/19/09
Porsche should be ashamed. Having another $100K built into the price and they are no better than the Jeep SRT8? Can you imagine what SRT team could do if they were told they had another $100K to play with?
dyzio says:
04:21 PM, 08/19/09
this Jeep is such a marvelll!!!
SRT division did a great job...
it's faster, so much better lookin (pure american street-bandit), and best of all it costs 1/3 of price of that stupid splash-Frog-looking Porshe !
I love this car , its among my personal fevourites Modern Muscle...(it should have manual-pistol grip option , though
modern muscle debate
ernwopr@wp.pl
dyzio says:
04:43 PM, 08/19/09
This Porshe engine is not bad:), but it seats in unproper, and ugly body. It should find a place in proper sports car - ...modern interpretation of 928 , anybody ?
of course Porshe dont have this car in their lineup , because money's been invested(read waisted) in this stupid cayenne project (they have money from it , no doubts..) - it's poseur car for Yupppi..
On the other hand Jeep is in proper place and in proper time..it's cheap , handsome and Muscular - cool and cult car ! - future classic
- it's poseur/red neck car too - but in a positive way :) - it's purpose of this car , right?!
6ixspeedstick says:
08:03 PM, 08/19/09
I admit the idea of these cars is kind of ridiculous. But honestly... living in the snowy northeast... I'd take the TURBO S as my winter car ANY DAY.
I'm a fan of light, manual sports cars but (I'm sorry) this car would be the most insanely fun car to drive around during the holidays.
So yes, it's a stupid idea--but it's practical for those of us who have to drive around on slippery, deadly roads for months out of the year. If I owned it, I would love it... a lot.
I know it's hard for some people to imagine but GROUND CLEARANCE MATTERS IN THE SNOW!! I'd love to be able to drive an all-wheel drive panamera turbo in the winter but it's low to the ground and would be destroyed by our winters.
All this to say... get off the Cayenne Turbo S's back!!! It may be stupid, but it's also dope. Keep that in mind.
machine_man says:
08:14 PM, 08/19/09
By matt310 "I am shocked at how much better the Cayenne handles than the Jeep. 0.5g better on the skid pad and 5.3mph faster through the slalom is about the difference one gets between a $50,000 sports car and a $150,000 sports car."
You're off by a decimal point on the skidpad numbers. That's the difference between hitting the Moon and hitting the Sun. It's 0.05g and that's not very big at all. So you get 0.05g and 5.3mph for your 105K? Wow, that's some of the worst math I've ever seen!!!
carz4life says:
08:46 PM, 08/19/09
is it just me or does it look like that jeep was photoshopped in there... Doesn't really matterrrr lol
07mx5 says:
09:31 PM, 08/19/09
i like the jeep. It's got presence. It looks like it could just effortlessly catch up to any car in the left lane and say, "move." the car would change lanes, and the jeep would continue on with its business...
07mx5 says:
09:33 PM, 08/19/09
the porsche definitely does not have that presence.
jeepsrt says:
11:29 PM, 08/19/09
Good write up, I have to say I'm on vacation in California from Colorado and my GC SRT8 amazes me with it's acceleration. I don't think I want to take it back to high altitude:( this thing takes off like nothing else a little bit of rear wheelspin and it's gone.
zoomzoomn says:
06:12 AM, 08/20/09
So, I could buy three SRT8's to one Cayenne. I know. That's not the point. A Jeep can never be a Porsche. It could be a regular man's Porsche, though. I'd like to have seen how the Trailblazer SS and Cherokee SRT8 stacked up against eachother.
auprof says:
10:39 AM, 08/20/09
I know that it is somewhat to be expected of a $140k Porsche, but I am nontheless blown away by the fact that they built a 5500 lb. SUV that can stop in 111 feet. Amazing.
Also, I realize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I just don't care for the Porsche's looks. And, in my opinion, I should for $140k. So, if I were in the markey for a high performance SUV, I would wait for the BMW X5 M to arrive.
vwestchester says:
01:18 PM, 08/20/09
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/Cars-Trucks-/6001/i.html?_nkw=cayenne+turbo+s&_catref=1&_dmpt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&_fln=1&_trksid=p4506.c0.m282
Follow that link. Can you believe how many of them are under $60K (albeit with the older 520 bhp engine). Still, you can get rock-solid Porsche performance for 10% more than the brand-new Jeep, and many have remaining factory warranties. Hell, go Porsche CPO for that extra piece of mind and pay a little more.
I love that Jeep though, always have. It has a Howitzer sized central exhaust that snarls, and those 20's fill out the frame nicely. Get a used one for $27-35K.
matt310 says:
02:51 PM, 08/20/09
machine_man:
lol - that was NOT my quote. I was quoting someone from up above: mercedesfan on August 19, 2009 9:16 AM
hondapilot2004 says:
09:53 AM, 08/21/09
The cars are ridiculous... just the way i like them... nothing to it!
flunder says:
03:13 PM, 08/22/09
I think the SRT team did a horrible job, srt8 has lost all utility purpose during the transformation... at least Porsche still retained most of what SUV should do...
ie. light duty off road and towing
coolbreezesd says:
09:37 PM, 08/23/09
I've had two Jeep GC SRT-8's. I think they are so much fun for the $$. Every time I take off to the mountains (with my bike on top), I feel like yelling to my fellow motorists - "first one to the top wins!". I also have a 2009 Viper SRT-10. I have become such a fan of the SRT products over the years. Yes, I loved my AMG's but with the economy down - I find I'm having just as much fun for less dough.