Special editions join 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 lineup

The 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee will arrive in dealerships this month with more new special editions and a price of $60,920 including $995 in destination and handling. That's just about the same as last year's price.

Output from its 6.4-liter Hemi V8 stays the same at 470 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. The sprint to 60 takes a scant 4.8 seconds—more than a second faster than the supercharged Land Rover Range Rover Sport—while the quarter-mile clicks by in the mid-13-second range. The Grand Cherokee will also pull an impressive 0.90 g on the skidpad.

The Alpine and Vapor special-edition packages will come with one of two new paint colors and unique badges, front grille and a rear light bar in gloss black. The wheels get a special Black Vapor Chrome finish. The cost of the package is $2,495.

Our favorite feature, the Jeep Selec-Track system, remains, with settings for snow, track, towing, sport and auto. The system adjusts several parameters including the stability control, damping, transmission shift points, torque proportioning, the limited-slip differential and the throttle control.

It also comes with SRT Performance Pages, a system that measures sprints, braking, g-forces and quarter-mile times right from the dashboard.

Loads of safety features are offered, and now that we know that the Grand Cherokee passes the moose test, we're recommending this ute to anyone who wants to blow the doors off the other SUVs in the neighborhood.

Jeep

By Jake Lingeman