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The 5.9 Limited is one hot Jeep.

Twist the key and the basso V8 voice of 245 horsepower rumbles out of its three-inch exhaust tip. Nail the throttle and it leaps away from stoplights like a four-wheel-drive muscle car. It sprints to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds, which is why Chrysler Corporation says it is the fastest Jeep ever.

Aside from its rapidly disappearing tail lights, it is distinguished from other Grand Cherokees by its five-spoke, star-shaped, 16-inch alloy wheels, louvers in the hood, body-colored lower panels and mesh in the grille. It only comes silver, white or slate. Ours was slate, with a matching interior, and it was most handsome.

“Sport-utility” and “performance” are rarely uttered in the same breath, but Chrysler has changed that. Look for more of these beasts in the future as other manufacturers tap into a burgeoning segment.

The 5.9-liter engine is the same unit available in the Dodge Durango, and it is a brawny brute. Some 335 foot-pounds of torque are available at 2,800 rpms, which is ideal for towing or slogging through foot-deep muck in the outback. The transmission is new and the transfer case has a stronger output shaft. While Jeep Grand Cherokee Limiteds may be popular for towing, I suspect not many of these leather-and-wood-trimmed luxo-utes with prices nudging $40,000 will ever see any serious off-road activity no matter how capable they are.

Putting this kind of power into a vehicle that weighs more than 4,200 pounds and has the aerodynamics of a truck results in high fuel usage. Our vehicle’s trip computer showed an average of 12.2 mpg in mixed freeway/city driving during our test drive. The EPA rates it at 13 city and 17 highway.

Quadra-Trac, Jeep’s excellent full-time four-wheel drive system, is standard in this vehicle. In normal conditions, most of the drive goes to the rear wheels. When conditions warrant extra traction, the transfer case seamlessly sends power to the front wheels. You never have to worry about selecting four-wheel-drive because it is always working in the background. For off-road work, the extra-low gear has to be selected manually.

The fact that the 5.9 Limited was created explains much of what is going on with the whole sport-utility segment, because it is more than just a Grand Cherokee on steroids. Inside, it’s as suave as any luxury sedan you can name. Birdseye Maple trim, calf’s nap grain leather upholstery and a killer stereo with 10 speakers are just a few of the specifics. Toss in heated seats, power sunroof and automatic climate control and you’ve got a sport-utility that makes you feel as pampered as your mother’s chicken soup did when you had a cold.

The real wood trim adds a nice touch of warmth to the dark interior. The seats are plush and soft, like lounge chairs in a swanky hotel.

From an ease-of-use perspective, some of the switches mounted on the dash behind the steering wheel, such as those for the heated seats and r ear wiper, are hard to reach. They would be handier on the console or in a location that is more accessible to the driver.

In keeping with the 5.9 Limited’s luxury-car trappings, the coil-spring suspension rides as nicely as a sedan. Minor road irregularities are filtered out before you can feel them in the cabin. This smoothness is amplified at highway speeds. Blindfold your passenger and they would be hard pressed to figure out they were in a sport utility vehicle.

One thing I didn’t like was a slight side-to-side pitching induced by small bumps at low speeds. I have not noticed this on other Grand Cherokees before.

Grand Cherokees are not overly big inside, despite their looks. The back seat is on the snug side compared to some full-size SUVs, for example, and putting the full-sized spare tire in the cargo area simply takes away space that could be used for hauling luggage or other stuff.

The 60/40 rear seat takes some work to fold down if you want to u lize the full load space. The headrests have to be removed and the bottom seat cushions tumbled forward before the seat back will fold flat.

The glass in the top-pivoting tailgate can be opened by itself for quick access to the load area.

Given the increasing popularity of loaded SUVs, this big-engined Jeep is a good choice for folks who want the feel and performance of a luxury sedan in an all-weather package.

Price

The base price of our test car was $38,175. The only options were skid plates and two hooks. The sticker price was $38,900.

Warranty

The standard warranty is for three years or 36,000 miles.

Vehicles for The Star’s week-long test drives are supplied by the auto manufacturers.

Point: The extra power of the 5.9-liter V8 not only makes the Grand Cherokee Limited fast but also gives it excellent towing capability. The low-key exterior looks sharp and the leather interior is sumptuous.

Counterpoint: Some switches are located behind the steering wheel, which makes them hard to reach; this engine is thirsty; and the spare tire takes up vital room in the cargo hold.

SPECIFICATIONS:

ENGINE: 5.9-liter V8

TRANSMISSION: automatic

WHEELBASE: 105.9 inches

CURB WEIGHT: 4,218 lbs.

BASE PRICE: $38,175

PRICE AS DRIVEN: $38,900

MPG RATING: 13 city, 17 hwy.