WASHINGTON — For this Car Report, I tried to keep my license clean in the 707 horsepower Dodge Charger Hellcat.
I didn’t misspeak when I said 707hp Dodge Charger; the SRT Hellcat has a supercharged Hemi V8 that’s loud, and with the whine of the supercharger it sounds like you’re breaking the law even when you’re stopped at a light.
The Charger SRT Hellcat is the most powerful and probably the quickest sedan you can buy for under $100,000.
With all that power, you’re thinking to yourself, “that’s cool for bragging rights, but can you really use the Charger Hellcat just like a normal sedan car?” I took one for the team and spent a few days with the crazy powerful Hellcat and I survived just fine.
It drives like a normal sedan until you press your foot down — then it will convert rear tires into smoke signals for cops. Most loaners for car reviews are for seven days, but the Hellcat is Tuesday through Friday only, no weekends for me this time. I’m sure that’s to keep people like me from grabbing a helmet and hitting the local track.
All Chargers — not just the loaded $69,070 Hellcat — benefit from some big updates for 2015. There is an improved interior and a new eight-speed automatic transmission. Chargers have a bolder styling outside, especially if you choose an SRT Hellcat. It looks menacing from the front and the black 20-inch wheels complete the look. With the Hellcat, even the hood has vents and scoops to let the hot air out and fresh air in, because making a lot of power creates heat. Keeping the engine cool gets some neat styling cues.
If you buy a Charger SRT Hellcat, you are supplied with different color key fobs — one is black (with that, the car is limited to only 500hp), or use the red key fob, and unleash all 707hp.
The car has more than just power — it also has a trick setup display which allows you to customize different suspension, transmission and other settings. I drove around on “full track” and the suspension is very firm and the shifts are lightning quick: zero to 60 is less than four seconds.
I have driven and own some powerful modified cars, but this Hellcat — with a warranty — is something else. It’s a good time to be into cars. But what really struck me was, as a commuter car in a normal setting, it drives like a slightly stiffer Charger. It went along in traffic and never missed a beat. I had a good deal of rain and in ECO mode it wasn’t scary with just 500hp. You don’t buy this car for good mileage — 14 mpg is about expected and there is a $1,700 gas guzzler tax.
Inside, the updated interior was comfortable with heated and cooled leather seats and room for five people, but the back seat isn’t as big as you would expect for a big sedan. The rear vision isn’t the best, but the large 8.4-inch screen with camera helps you get in and out of spots — other people should hear the car and stop anyway. The rest of the Uconnect system works very well and the touch screen is one of the better that I’ve used. The Bluetooth is quick to connect your device and the voice commands even work well.
If you want the most powerful sedan for the carpool or to rip and snort on the track, there is an American car ready to oblige. The 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat — with its 707hp — is eager to shred some rubber or whisk you off to work in comfort. With a starting price of around $63,000, this is the most cost effective way to have 700hp and a warranty that I could find. If there something out there to one-up Dodge, send it my way.
Editor’s note: Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.
