Sport Utility of the Year

SPORT UTILITY OF THE YEAR

2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SRT

I know. I know. It's not a redesign. It's just a refresh. But the most surprising and rewarding vehicle I drove this year was the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, which, in the era of super-utes (Porsche, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, etc.) tends to get overlooked.

The one sonic experience of the year that I will not forget is engaging the ignition on the SRT. This is the sweetest-sounding, most reasonably priced engine note of our time. The car is a badass, both in performance and appearance. The twin scoops on the hood are evil and subtle at the same time. It's constantly surprising. Fast as anything. Amenities out the arse (I loved discovering that the cabin is its own Wi-Fi hot spot), and it holds four or five people and a lot of their stuff.

And with the standard Grand Cherokee and the new diesel version, it's part of an impressive lineup with a lot of range. And it's American. —D. G.

470-HP HEMIV-8

13 19 $64,190 4.8 SEC.