2008 Audi R8 vs. 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 Comparison Test Video

By Edmunds Video Productions | Published October 21, 2009

4:18 min

Comparison Test: 2008 Audi R8 vs. 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 One�s a slippery minx of a two-seater. The other has a 1,050-pound maximum payload, seats five and looks like it was carved by Eskimos. Yes, at first you might think that the 2008 Audi R8 and the 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 have nothing in common. But you�d be wrong. No one will seriously cross-shop the R8 against the SRT8. But like the Audi, the Jeep pairs all-wheel-drive with a V8, giving it enough performance to readily compete with the Porsche Cayenne Turbo. So maybe a there is a comparison to be made here. The output of Jeep�s 6.1-liter pushrod V8 matches that of the direct-injection, 4.2-liter DOHC V8 in the R8, but our dyno testing showed that Jeep creates 34 more horsepower than the Audi. Though it�s debatable why, the advantage here goes to Jeep. That advantage didn�t quite make up the difference at the track. The Audi R8 delivers 0.98g in ultimate grip on the skid pad and 73.8-mph speed through the slalom. This is one of those rare vehicles with both enough straight-line traction and cornering grip to match its high-performance engine. The Jeep SRT8 delivers a more than respectable 0.84-g result on the skid pad and 61.9-mph speed through the slalom. Braking is no contest. The R8�s shortest stop from 60 mph is a remarkable 103 feet, beating the Jeep�s best by 25 feet. So, not surprisingly, Audi handily wins the Dynamics element of our comparison. For an SUV, the Jeep�s acceleration is stunning. It takes just 4.7 seconds to 60 mph and does the quarter-mile sprint in 13.4 seconds at 102.3 mph. But that�s still no match for the R8�s dash to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and its run through the quarter-mile in 12.7 seconds at 110.7 mph, helping the Audi to win in this category as well. Although the R8 is ultimately quicker than the SRT8 in every facet of our instrumented testing, the SRT8�s performance is more accessible both in everyday use and by virtue of its roughly $45,500 as-tested price. This is about $78,000 less than the price of the Audi. In short, the Jeep flat-out clobbers the Audi in Index of Performance. Comfort and convenience are more of a mixed bag. The Audi R8 is a dignified sports car: comfortable, relatively spacious, and with smooth ride quality. But the Jeep offers something the Audi never can � an SUV�s tall driving position. And at 69.0 cubic feet, the Jeep offers nearly ten times the maximum cargo capacity of the Audi. But it isn�t the perfect SUV, as it�s built for neither towing nor off-roading. So for this category, the Jeep wins on practicality, and the Audi truly raises the bar on sports car user-friendliness. We�ll call that a tie. The Audi�s shape blends modernity with arty details while delivering full-frontal road presence. While the chrome dubs and bespoke center-mounted tailpipes extensions help the SRT8 to stand out from lesser Grand Cherokees, few would call this SUV beautiful. Advantage: Audi With the 2008 Audi R8, the people at Audi have succeeded in combining performance and sophistication in equal measure. By comparison, the 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 could be called one-dimensional and antisocial. It trades traditional SUV functionality for murderous straightline acceleration, but the surprise factor is why we love it. So despite its enormous price penalty, the Audi R8 still takes the top spot in this very unlikely comparison.