WR TV: 2015 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack

Cars, Reviews I By Bradley Iger I April 06, 2015

This week we’re getting our first chance to get behind the wheel of the new Charger R/T Scat Pack. While the Hellcat is stealing headlines for its supercar-level power, the R/T Scat Pack is no slouch either, and at a 40% discount, it makes for a compelling alternative for those who might not have the desire (or means) to pony up for a $65,000 vehicle.

From a performance standpoint, the Scat Pack option for the Charger is essentially what the SRT “Core” model was for the previous two years – a stripped down version of the SRT model that boasts the same 4-piston Brembo brakes, performance exhaust, gearbox, and 6.4-liter V8 as the SRT model, but for substantially less money. While the Scat Pack models do not share the six-piston Brembo brakes, three-way adaptive suspension and other SRT-specific features included with the SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat, the Charger R/T Scat Pack comes in at a significantly more affordable price point, which starts at $39,890. That makes this the most powerful sedan you can currently buy for under $40K.

That re-tuned Hemi feels noticeably stronger for 2015, and it’s happier than ever to fry the tires from a stoplight whenever your right foot gets the slightest inclination. Dodge says the Charger Scat Pack is capable of 0-60 sprints in the mid four second range and quarter mile times in the mid-12s. A substantial factor in the 2015 model’s quicker acceleration over the similarly powered 2014 SRT model can be attributed to the new quick-shifting 8-speed TorqueFlight automatic which shares the same gear ratios as the Hellcat models. Coupled with a great sounding active exhaust system, brakes that can get the big sedan to a stop from sixty miles per hour in under 120 feet and a taut suspension that effectively corrals body roll without resorting a punishingly harsh ride, and the Scat Pack Charger offers a lot of fun and capability for relatively little coin. Let’s take it for a spin:

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