Performance cars often catch the eye of shoppers, old and young alike. However, performance is a term that has trickled into the pickup truck and SUV genre in recent years. Who can forget the Ford Lightning pickup? SUVs have also been the recipient of limited-edition vehicles with special speed and handling packages. Now, one of the early performance SUV offerings is starting to draw the attention of collectors. That would be the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 values are rising

Hagerty Insurance is a company of auto enthusiasts and experts. One of their company’s pillars is to monitor the classic vehicle market and report its findings to the motoring community. So, annually, the company releases data about the trends they discover called the Bull Market List.

One recent discovery they have made is that there is a growing interest in the early SUV performance models. Specifically, the 2006-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 has seen values rise an average of 15% during the last two years. They are also difficult to find in the original unmolested form. 

What is special about the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8?

Reviewing the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 from that era, Hagerty, of course, finds some pros and cons about the SUV. They offer, “Highs: Makes beautiful noises; cheaper than a Trackhawk; plenty of grocery space. Lows: Loves the gas; stiff ride; less than half the towing capacity of a Silverado.” One could counter, however, that the lows listed are not really the purpose for buying an SRT8 anyway. 

The real reason someone buys the 2006-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is for the performance aspect that the massaged engine brings to the platform. Right now, Jeep is happy to throw the Hellcat engine in the Grand Cherokee. Back then, however, there was no Hellcat. So, Jeep set its eyes on creating a horsepower monster by enhancing a 5.7-liter into a 6.1-liter 420 hp Hemi engine. All that power is put on the ground with an all-wheel drive system. Overall, the end product is a growling tarmac carver.

It is not all about the engine

There are some visual enhancements as well. The exterior of the 2006-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 receives dual center-exit exhaust tips, updated front facia, and a lowered stance. Together with the suspension, tire, wheel, and brake enhancements, the SUV was a formidable beast for its day, and still today, just not as formidable as the more modern Grand Cherokee Trackhawk with a Hellcat engine. The interior received special leather seating surfaces that are mixed with Alcantara. There is also SRT8 badging is sprinkled inside and outside. 

Hagerty’s data for the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 indicates, “In the realm of fast trucks, appreciation for the SRT8 is growing. The number added to [insurance] policies and the average value at which they’re being added saw strong growth, while the [Ford] Raptor faltered. This may bode well for future SRT8 values.” Of course, Hagerty also reinforces the thought that there are no guarantees when collecting. So, they encourage potential shoppers to buy what they enjoy. That way, if there is a loss of value, the driving enjoyment will reduce the sting. Having said that, the value is currently on an upswing.