The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. It’s expensive, thirsty, harsh-riding, and doesn’t offer the off-road capability of typical Jeeps. But it’s hard to deny that it has a certain appeal.

When we tested the redesigned-for-2011 Grand Cherokee, we found that its heavy weight took some toll on performance from its optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8. The SRT8 adds a substantial 113 horsepower and 0.7-liters more displacement. It still doesn’t exactly lunge off the line, but speeds build very, very rapidly. The SRT8 also sounds fabulous with a lively exhaust note.

Giant performance tires add grip and there are big Brembo brakes. Gone are the off-road modes from the Jeep’s drive system; instead there is a setting for track use or for towing. The ride is pretty stiff, even with the adaptive suspension tuning in the normal “auto” position. You can still tow 5,000 pounds with the SRT8, down from the 7,200-pound limit for the regular four-wheel-drive V8 models. Regardless, it’s safe to assume that there will be no lack of pulling power. There’s also a “snow” mode, but even with the all-wheel drive, a set of winter tires instead of the performance rubber would be greatly beneficial.

Suede-lined sports seats are grippy but rather stiff, helping transmit road imperfections directly through to your spine. Our borrowed SRT8 had an upgraded Luxury Group interior package that added a stitched leather dashboard and carbon-fiber trim, which helped raise the sticker price to over $66,000. Sure, it’s expensive, but the Grand Cherokee SRT8 is a lot cheaper than a BMW X5 M, X6 M, or even a modestly equipped Porsche Cayenne.

While the SRT8 looks purposeful, its purpose goes in a different direction than the traditional utilitarian Jeep. In a way, it mirrors the recent move upscale for the Jeep line-up, especially the Grand Cherokee and (somewhat) more refined Wrangler Unlimited. Sure, Chrysler and Jeep had SRT8 versions of their cars before. But both this Grand Cherokee SRT8 and the Dodge Charger SRT8 we also tried benefit a lot from being built on considerably improved foundations.

Check out the video below to see the SRT8 in action.