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2015 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Review: Bringing SRT Power to the Masses

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2015 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Review:
Bringing SRT Power to the Masses


by Patrick Rall in January 2015(5)

The 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack is an incredible machine, combining components from the SRT lineup into a Challenger R/T body while retaining a price in the R/T range, bringing SRT performance to the masses and creating what I believe to be not only the best bargain in the Dodge lineup - but also the best bargain in the modern muscle car segment.

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The Hellcat cars have gotten the vast majority of media attention within the 2015 Dodge Challenger lineup, and with 707 horsepower paired with a price starting under $60k, it isn't hard to understand why. However, as much as we would all like to drive a 707 horsepower muscle car, the Hellcat is too much for many drivers, both in price and performance.
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Fortunately, there is the SRT 392 Challenger, which packs 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque, and this is among the most powerful naturally aspirated muscle cars on sale today. The "problem" with the SRT 392 Challenger is that due to the long list of standard features, this package starts up around $47,000.

Enter the 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack.

This muscular Mopar takes the 392 cubic inch Hemi V8 from the SRT 392 model and applies it to the more budget-friendly Challenger R/T options. While the Scat Pack doesn't feature the 15.4 inch Brembo front brakes or the adjustable suspension, it does pack the 485 horsepower 6.4L Hemi and a slightly smaller Brembo brake setup, a sport tuned Bilstein suspension package, and the fast-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission. It might not handle as well as the SRT 392, but the Scat Pack Challenger provides every bit as much high performance thrill as the far more costly SRT models.

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My 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack test car was finished in the stunning Sublime Green and carried a base MSRP of $37,495. Options on the test car included the Scat Pack Appearance Group ($1,995), the 8-speed automatic transmission ($1,400), the Technology Group ($995), the Leather Interior Group ($1,500), the Driver Convenience Group ($495) and the premium UConnect navigation package ($695) which when added to the MSRP and $995 destination charge, gives my test car a price of $45,570.

Now, I imagine that many of you are saying "Wait a second…he said that the Scat Pack costs well below the SRT Challenger, but $45k is right in line with the SRT 392 model." You are right, as this is a fairly hefty price, but it should be noted that the SRT 392 Challenger with the exact same drivetrain starts at $47,390, and if you add in the available options of my test car to the SRT 392, the price is up around $50k.

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I have to stress that very few of the options of my test car are required to get the most fun from the 2015 Challenger Scat Pack. The Technology Group, the Appearance Group, the Leather Interior Group, the Driver Convenience Group, and the high end UConnect system are all strong additions, but none of them improve performance, so if going fast is your key concern, you can get into a 2015 Scat Pack Challenger with the 8-speed automatic transmission for under $40,000 - if your only option is the transmission.

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That's a 485 horsepower Challenger with the lightning quick 8-speed TorqueFlite, Brembo brakes, Bilstein suspension, Sport tuned steering, an active exhaust system, and more - for under $40,000. Unless you are a devout road racer, the Scat Pack Challenger is unquestionably the best bargain in the muscle car segment today.

The Exterior

The 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack in standard form could easily be mistaken for a Challenger R/T if you didn't see the badges. The key differences for the Scat Pack are the prominent chin spoiler, the larger duckbill style wing out back, and the unique 20 inch wheels. The Scat Pack has the same grille and hood design along with the same rear fascia design so it is easy to mistake a Scat Pack for a 5.7L Hemi-powered R/T if you didn't see the badges.

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My test car was fitted with the Scat Pack Appearance Group package which added those stunning 20 inch wheels, the stripe around the rear end, the black fuel door, the blacked out grille and the HID headlamps so for $1,995, it is a nice package. However, you can get the wheels on their own for $1,000 so those who don't want the extra black trim, there is another place where you can cut costs from my test car. I love the black appearance group, so that is definitely one box that I would check during the ordering process.

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Aside from the unique cues of the Scat Pack trim line, this Mopar muscle car sports the same handsome features as the rest of the 2015 lineup. This includes the 1971-inspired grille, the "power bulge" hood, the new twin LED taillights, and the big, brawny lines that really bolster the muscle car feel. The current Mustang and Camaro can be called pony cars or muscle cars, but there is no question that the Challenger is a muscle car through and through.

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Really, the 2015 Challenger looks haven't changed much from 2014, but the new grille, the new taillights, and the features of the new Scat Pack trim line give this muscle car a refreshed look that I love.

The Interior

While my 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack test car was equipped with an SRT-like interior leather package, cloth seats are standard, so those looking for big muscle on a tight budget can save $1,500 if they go without the leather wrapped, heated and cooled sport seats. However, these power control leather sport seats are beautiful. They have deep bolsters for lateral grip during hard cornering, but they are wide enough to very comfortably accommodate larger adults. Some sport seats in other cars will have the bolsters always pushing against your sides and hips, but these seats do not do that. They are as comfortable as they are good looking, so I consider them to be $1,500 well spent on the Scat Pack Challenger.

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In terms of space, the Challenger is by far the most comfortable in the modern muscle car segment, and this is true regardless of the package chosen. The front seats have enough space to comfortably seat even very tall adults while the back seat is the only one in the segment that will actually seat two adults without mashing their heads into the roof or their knees into the front seats. If you need interior space for four people, the Challenger is the only real option in the segment, as it offers real space for four normal sized people.

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The most exciting aspect of the 2015 Challenger Scat Pack interior is the standard 8.4" infotainment screen which not only offers access to the climate control, the navigation, and the sound system, but for the Scat Pack, the big touchscreen also contains the SRT Performance Page package, which includes a long list of gauges, a long list of timers and even a horsepower screen that shows the actual output of the Hemi at any given second.

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This allows you to measure the performance of the quarter mile time, 8th mile time, braking distances, G forces and more. While this doesn't add any performance, it adds an extra element of fun for those who like to go fast and measure that speed. For the record, I was able to record a quarter mile time of 12.6...which is mighty impressive on the chilly local roads.

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My 2015 Challenger R/T Scat Pack test car was loaded up inside, so the interior was nearly luxury level, but even when you strip down some of the gadgetry and the leather seats, you still have the high tech infotainment system with the performance gauges and the roomiest interior in the segment.

The 2015 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Drive

The 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack is powered by a 6.4 liter, 392 cubic inch Hemi that delivers 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque, making this Challenger the most powerful muscle car in the market outside of the Hellcat Challenger, the $58,000 Camaro ZL1, and the $75,000 Camaro Z28.

My test car was mated to the new 8-speed automatic transmission, which is makes this model efficient enough to avoid gas guzzler taxes - with expected fuel economy figures of 15 mpg around town, 25 on the highway, and 18 combined. I observed better highway numbers than expected, but my average numbers fell a little short, with an average of 16.7 over the course of a week. The video below provides a great sound clip of the Scat Pack start and idling through the adaptive dual mode exhaust in its quiet setting.

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While the Bilstein suspension and Brembo brakes make the Scat Pack Challenger a strong handling vehicle, all of that power does best to propel this big beast in a straight line. With the help of the lightning quick 8-speed automatic transmission set to Sport mode, the Challenger rips away from the line with as much urgency as any non-Hellcat muscle car on sale today. It pulls hard from a stop, it pulls hard in the midrange and it pulls hard on the top end so no matter how you are driving, putting the pedal to the floor at any second immediately sets you back in the seat and propels the Challenger well past any posted American speed limit in a big hurry.

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Where the sport tuned suspension and steering work best is when you have the Challenger R/T Scat Pack blasting down the highway, as the Bilstein dampers allow this car a surprising amount stability even at very high speeds. You can hammer some tight turns as well, but those who are really that concerned about turning in tight quarters are better off paying the extra money for the Challenger SRT 392. However the Scat Pack suspension does a great job of balancing ride quality with cornering abilities so while this setup is appropriately stiff, you can comfortably daily drive the Scat Pack and enjoy every single second of the drive.

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The past Hemi Challenger models with an automatic transmission (a Mercedes five-speed) have been criticized for the transmission being less than spirited in its shifts, but this new 8-speed TorqueFlite is proof that Chrysler can program an automatic transmission that will shift as quickly as any tradition fluid driven auto in America. In normal driving mode, it shifts quickly and smoothly, but when set to Sport mode, it bangs from gear to gear as quickly and as positively as any self-shifting transmission I've driven.

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Listen to the video below, showing the Scat Pack blasting from a stop up to 60 miles per hour in the 4 second range and pay special attention to how quickly it rips from gear to gear. Also, this video shows how the Launch Control works, allowing me to move out in a big hurry while the computer works to get the best traction with all of that power.

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Finally, this video allows you to hear the Scat Pack Hemi roar through the active exhaust at its full volume and there is no question that this exhaust system sounds great at idle - but it sounds even better when the exhaust automatically opens up and clears its throat. I love the exhaust note, and it seems that everyone else does too, based on the comments I received while driving this beautiful beast.

For the price, you simply won't find a car on the market that offers as much pure American muscle as the 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack, so if you want to dominate the quarter mile and most of the stoplight sprints in your home town in the same car that you drive to work every day, there are few cars for under $40,000 sold in the US that will compete with the new Scat Pack Challenger. Not only does it offer the look of a proper muscle car, it packs SRT power into a surprisingly affordable package. If I were looking to buy a new daily driver muscle car today, there is nothing on the market that I would consider ahead of the 2015 Challenger R/T Scat Pack.

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Chargers at the track including HellcatDodge Charger SRT Hellcat and other 2015 Dodge Chargers


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