2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Quick Spin and Review

Lost in the blaze of breathless prose praising the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is another new and improved member of Dodge's muscle car family - the Challenger R/T Scat Pack.  Named after the 'Scat Packages' that were popular with Chrysler's original performance cars in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack strikes a more balanced posture that avoids the over-the-top horsepower of the Hellcat in favor of an appealing blend of performance and real-world drivability.  In fact, after having driven both the Scat Pack and the Hellcat back-to-back, I can honestly say that on a road course I much prefer this more modest entry in the Challenger line-up.

Of course, the word 'modest' is relative, as the 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack's 485 horsepower, 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 pales only in comparison to the leviathan 707-horsepower Hellcat.  Also capable of generating 475 lb-ft of torque, this motor can be thought of as the mid-point in the Challenger's vastly expanded eight-cylinder model range, sitting 110 horsepower above the 5.7-liter mill found under the hood of the standard R/T.  You can choose to shift the car yourself by way of a six-speed manual transmission, or opt for an excellent eight-speed automatic unit.

The R/T Scat Pack shares its engine with the next-step-up SRT 392 edition of the Challenger, but there are some important differences between the two models.  Right off the bat there's the $7,500 price gap that separates the Challenger SRT 392's MSRP of $45,995 from the Challenger R/T Scat Pack's $38,495 window sticker.  This discrepancy can be explained by the more track-oriented equipment crowding the SRT 392's list of features: larger, six-piston Brembo brakes, launch control, a unique aluminum hood, the SRT Performance Pages app to track your high speed exploits down to the second, and Sport and Track modes for the car's adaptive suspension system and electronic traction control.

The 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack justifies its own $7,000 premium over the standard R/T model not just by way of its larger engine but by the inclusion of a stiffer suspension system, 20-inch rims, unique styling cues, and its own set of Brembos (albeit four-piston up front).  In addition, there's a version of the Performance Pages app, as well as access to Sport mode that leaves out the suspension tuning found with the SRT car but which tightens throttle response, steering, and in automatic-equipped models, shift points (the car also offers the same launch control system featured in the SRT 392).  It goes without saying that the Scat Pack gets the updated styling front and rear that come with all 2015 Challengers, as well as the much-improved interior that makes use of higher-end materials and which introduces the availability of Chrysler's excellent Uconnect 8.4 touchscreen interface.

While it might seem disappointing that the Challenger R/T Scat Pack doesn't feature the same trick adjustable suspension or enormous brakes offered by the SRT 392, it's actually a blessing in disguise for your wallet.  The R/T Scat Pack is enormously fun to drive in a straight line, with gobs of torque waiting to be unleashed by your right foot regardless of transmission choice, and its upgraded shocks and springs do an equitable job of keeping it well-behaved when it comes time to turn a corner.  There's also a spine-tingling rumble unleashed by the coupe's no-restriction, 2.75-inch dual exhaust every time you romp on the throttle, which adds yet another layer to the car's visceral experience.

While the Dodge Challenger SRT 392 might go through the motions of pretending it’s a sports car, the reality is that it's still a very heavy, and quite large vehicle that must be coaxed and coerced through a slalom or circuit if one is hoping to post a competitive lap time.  Unlike the $7,000 step-up between the R/T and the R/T Scat Pack, which brings with it a substantial improvement in acceleration, there's really no need in my mind to pay out another $7,500 for the illusion that the Challenger is anything other than a gloriously loud, respectably quick, and fantastic-looking muscle machine.

The Sweet Spot

The vast majority of Challengers - Scat Packs, Hellcats, or SRT 392s - are going to live happy lives as boulevard cruisers terrifying the local gentry from stoplight to stoplight in a celebration of their heritage.  Should you decide to take the 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack to a race track, however, you'll still have a good time.  While it might not run with the race leaders, I personally enjoyed the Scat Pack much more than the Hellcat when turning in hot laps for a very simple reason:  with the Hellcat's ferocious 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque lurking like a stalking butler at every corner, I had to use the utmost discretion with the throttle so as not to upset the car, even when plotting a relatively straight course from one apex to the next.

With the Challenger R/T Scat Pack it was a completely different story: this is a car that, heavy as it is, is happy to be flung into a corner and then claw its way back out again without asking that you keep an egg under the accelerator as a self-preservation tactic.  My ability to enjoy what the Scat Pack had to offer unfettered by fears of my own rapid immolation in the event of on-throttle oversteer glossed over the more uncouth aspects of its handling personality.  It's also much, much quicker than the standard R/T, which simply doesn't have the guts to overcome its 4,160 lbs of curb weight.

My advice to you is simple: if you're looking for a dedicated track car, then there are plenty of other, more lithe options in the $45k price range.  If you're seeking the best possible balance between straight line speed, comfortable interior room, outstanding retro styling, and X-factor attitude, then the 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack is the pick of the litter.