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.