Performance SUVs can come in many shapes and sizes, from smaller and more efficient specimens like the Kia EV6, to high-end luxury weapons like the Lamborghini Urus. These cover two distinct areas of the market, but neither is arguably the rawest and most engaging of the breed out there. The muscle SUV makes a strong case for taking these accolades, with machines like the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat wading into battle with insane supercharged V8s. Not only do they sound like a god getting frustrated wrenching on their own pride and joy, but they go like stink and look like they'd give you a black eye without hesitation.One thing is for sure: the word 'dull' can't be used to describe this breed of SUV. Happily, it seems as if we'll be getting another form of muscle SUV by the end of the decade, and it's one we've had the pleasure of experiencing before. The rabid Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT is coming back. The First Performance-Focused Jeep Arrived 20 Years Ago JeepIn the early years of the Jeep Grand Cherokee's life, it was designed as an off-road mid-size SUV for families. It was ideal for those who used to show Mother Nature a thing or two in their old Wrangler, before needing something more practical and better suited to the road as they grew their family. The vehicle could be had with a range of beefy six and eight-cylinder engines, though there was never a bona fide performance version. That all changed in 2006 though, as Jeep elected to produce a hardened version of its third-gen Grand Cherokee called the SRT8.The WK version of the nameplate arrived in 2005, and was initially available with a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 as its most powerful option. With the modern muscle car rising in popularity at the time, Jeep felt the addition of a muscle SUV to its line-up could prove fruitful for its bottom line. The Grand Cherokee SRT8 Brought The Thunder JeepOf the changes made, the most notable was the ditching of the 5.7 Hemi in favor of a larger 6.1-liter version of the engine. While it remained naturally aspirated, the 420-horsepower unit added over 60 extra horses to the Jeep's stable. This ensured it could hit 60 mph in under five seconds, a rapid effort for a practical mid-size SUV. Jeep didn't stop there with the upgrades, either. The SRT8 was treated to a set of heavy-duty Bilstein shocks and a stiffer suspension setup, which helped reduce body roll versus the standard models. Jeep's trusty 4WD setup was retained, and the power was channeled to the wheels through a Mercedes-Benz-sourced five-speed automatic transmission.This meant it handled more like a proper performance car, allowing muscle car enthusiasts to have their cake and eat it. Not only could they fit their family and all their luggage inside the vehicle for their upcoming trip, but the enlarged Hemi engine and beefed-up underpinnings meant it provided the thrills of their old muscle car. It even looked the part, thanks to more aggressively designed body panels and commanding 20-inch wheels. Jeep Went Harder With The Follow-Up Jeep / StellantisThe SRT8 proved popular with Jeep's customers, and it ended up lasting for the remainder of the WK's production run. Wanting to build upon the recipe, Jeep pushed the envelope further when it was time to unveil the successor, which was based on the fourth-gen WK2 Grand Cherokee. Released to the world in 2012, the SRT8 retained the naturally aspirated V8 recipe found in its forerunner, but it waded into battle with an even bigger 6.4-liter powerplant.This saw peak power rise to 470 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque, which was once again shared between all four wheels, this time via a slicker six-speed automatic gearbox. In 2014, this was replaced by an eight-speed unit. Aside from refining the suspension and foundations of the machine, Jeep also provided launch control as standard with the sophomore model.The 4WD setup was also tuned to work with the vehicle's various drive modes, to the point where different levels of power could be sent to the front and rear axles to alter the handling balance. For example, 70% of the engine's grunt is sent to the rear wheels when in Track mode, which provides a more rear-driven bias to increase agility. The WK2 SRT8 was a clear step forward from its predecessor, but Jeep was only getting warmed up. The Trackhawk Elevated the Grand Cherokee To The Next Level JeepIn 2018, Jeep elected to borrow the 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 normally found in the likes of the Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcats and slot it under the hood of the Grand Cherokee. The Trackhawk was born, and it became the most powerful SUV in the world overnight, thanks to its 707 hp peak power figure. This wild family bus could hit 60 mph in a scarcely believable 3.5 seconds, and provided all the elegance of parking a bus on the front lawn of the White House.But that is exactly what made it so awesome, as it was essentially a rabid drag racer dressed up as a practical SUV. It was completely unnecessary and silly, but these traits made it effortlessly lovable. With the traction afforded by the full-time 4WD system, hitting the throttle means you lurch forward at a ridiculous pace, ensuring you'll reach that upcoming corner at a concerningly high speed. At this point, the adaptive suspension does a pretty good job at dealing with the mass and height of the machine.Plus, it retailed for around half the asking price of better-badged performance SUVs, such as the Urus. The Trackhawk was certifiably insane, and thus it was a shame that Jeep ditched it back in 2021. An SRT-Badged Grand Cherokee Will Be Back Soon Jeep / StellantisAlongside the Trackhawk, Jeep also discontinued the SRT variant of the Grand Cherokee upon the release of the fifth-gen WL model in 2021. As a result, we haven't been graced with a performance version of the SUV ever since, but this is set to change very soon. In May 2026, Jeep's parent company, Stellantis, announced that the marque would be bringing three new models to market by 2030. Notably, one of these would be an all-new Grand Cherokee SRT.The WL was facelifted for the 2026 model year, so it's likely the new SRT will be based on that, rather than a future sixth-generation version. Details have been kept under wraps for now, but the recent resurrection of the Hemi V8 means that it's likely some form of that powerplant will once again be shoehorned beneath the hood. The 6.4-liter unit found in the previous SRT version is still being used in the Wrangler as of 2026, so it would be relatively simple to use that once again. That said, it would be nice to see it upgraded to perhaps eclipse the 500 hp mark in the Grand Cherokee. We can only dream. Stellantis Is Digging Up The Heritage Of Its American Brands StellantisThe news is welcome, seeing as of the time of writing, we haven't had any form of performance-focused Grand Cherokee for half a decade. Jeep elected to discontinue the SRT and Trackhawk as it pivoted its mid-size SUV to feature a range of more efficient and less wasteful engine ranges, with Stellantis betting on a hybrid and electrification future instead. The trouble is, this future hasn't been as forthcoming as the operation anticipated, and the buying public made it clear that they'd rather have V8s.This led Stellantis to do an about-turn on its initial plans in 2025, by resurrecting the Hemi V8 to be sold alongside its newer and more efficient Hurricane inline-six engine family. Having disbanded the SRT department back in 2021, the automotive giant proceeded to bring it back to life in 2025, with a view to building the performance-focused machines that its fans craved. Following the axing of its hybrid-powered Jeep models in early 2026, Stellantis then revealed that a range of V8-powered Jeep models would be brought to market by the end of the decade.Jeep feels that by offering such vehicles once more, it can attract customers back by providing cars that play to the heart, rather than the head. In an era where cars are getting more expensive than ever, providing that extra temptation for people to want to buy a car, rather than simply needing to, is as critical as ever. Whether it ends up working or not, at the very least, we'll be getting a new version of one of the coolest performance SUVs on the planet to enjoy.Sources: Jeep.