WASHINGTON — Summer weekends are prime time for cruising in a cool car. Not just any car — a muscle car. A big V8, to be exact. Dodge has a two-door Challenger for most budgets with a starting price of $27,000 and power that ranges from a V6 to a supercharged V8 Hellcat version with 707 hp.
The Challenger R/T has always been the gateway into this power, with their 375 hp V8. but if you choose the Scat Pack option you get a larger V8, with 485 hp, and it is nearly $10,000 less than the SRT model. My test car came in at $41,000 because of the $1,400 automatic. If you want to row your own gears, a manual will save you money.
Driving the Scat Pack is a hoot; the V8 sounds great and makes good power. This is a large car, so the handling isn’t as sharp as the Camaro or Mustang, but it handles well for its size. The ride is pretty comfortable for a muscle car, so you can take this brute on longer trips without any problems. The vision out of the car isn’t great, but a little better than the competition.
This car could use wider rear tires, as they have a hard time fighting for traction with all that power. If making tires smoke is your thing, mission accomplished. If you can get a clean launch, this is one quick ride and would be fun at a local track. The Brembo brakes have good stopping power, but they aren’t as large as the more expensive SRT model. This car isn’t about fuel economy, but I managed 19.6 mpg over 310 miles, which is better than the 18 mpg the sticker says. Rain helped slow this powerful beast.
Looks are a big seller of muscle cars, and the Challenger has the retro look down. It stands out in a crowd. It looks like a mixture of old and new and blends them well. The front end gives the hint of past MOPAR muscle cars, with that distinctive grill and round headlights, but with a big front air dam. Be careful for curbs and speed bumps.
The hood has creases and scoops, so it carries on the muscle car looks, and it has 20-inch wheels to help fill in the wheel wells. A bright red paint job also makes this car stand out. The black rear spoiler and trim pieces at the bottom of the car break up the size and color. There are a few Scat Pack badges on the car that look cool and remind you of that muscle car of your youth. A large dual exhaust system announces your impending arrival. The chrome finish is a nice touch.
The price would make it seem like you would probably get a sparse interior, but luckily this isn’t the case. You don’t get a leather-trimmed interior, but the cloth seats are comfortable and there is good space inside for a two-door coupe. The rear seats are usable and there are latch systems for three car seats, so the family can go along. There are coupes in this class that don’t have this much space.
There’s also the Uconnect system, with a large 8.4 inch touch screen and NAV plus a rear-view camera which helps when backing out of a parking space. The interior materials are nicer after a refresh a couple years ago, and a family member who passed over the Challenger in 2010 says it would be contender now.
The Challenger R/T Scat Pack is a serious dose of fun with 485 hp and a sticker that starts under $40,000. With recent improvements, it’s the alternative to the other American muscle cars and it does it with a blend of retro and new, a bit more tire smoke and a more comfortable ride.
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.
