2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 First Drive

An odd thought spawned by too many hours spent watching campy TV shows shouldered its way into consciousness the moment we laid eyes on the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8: This black-as-night bad boy is exactly what a modern-day Batman would drive.

With a humongous Hemi engine and a sizeable cargo area perfect for stashing all the latest Bat-Gadgets, there’s no question this midsize SUV has got the goods to do superhero service. Add a downright sinister look sure to scare the bejeebees out of even the most colorful criminals and this sporty sport-utility makes the original Batmobile look like Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang.

The best part is that, with a sticker price of just $39,995, you don’t have to be a mild-mannered millionaire-turned-superhero to afford one. And that’s a very good thing, as our day-long drive along twisting mountain roads north of Los Angeles to Willow Springs International Motorsports Park convinced us that more than a few ordinary Gotham citizens will be every bit as eager to slip into the driver’s seat as the Caped Crusader himself.