Pack in more
2015 Charger R/T Scat Pack is one cool, fast four-door
Back in high school, there was an accepted vehicle “coolness” order. Most desirable were two-door coupes, followed closely by convertibles, then two-door SUVs and pickup trucks. Four-door sedans were a distant fifth, and station wagons/ full-size vans (this was right before minivans) were a very distant sixth— two rungs above a bicycle.
In 2015 Dodge markets the Charger as a “four-door muscle car”— an unacceptable description/combination back in my school days, but times have changed, and so has the Charger. I tested the latest Charger R/T Scat Pack, and this is one fast “more-door”!
So what makes the Scat Pack notable? The heart of this Charger is a 6.4-liter HemiV-8 engine with 475 pound-feet of torque, backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 2015 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack delivers 115 more horsepower and a 90-pound-foot leap in torque over 5.7-liter Charger R/T models. Beyond the drivetrain there’s a performance-tuned Bilstein suspension, four-piston Brembo brakes for plenty of stopping force, responsive electric power steering and meaty 20-by-9-inch aluminum wheels with allseason performance tires or optional three-season tires for super sticky handling.
Dodge’s Performance Pages with configurable drive modes give you all the vital data behind the wheel and help you better sort this car out. Sport mode and three-mode electronic stability control (ESC) help you sell this car to the family finance director as a regular family car. Tip: if you really want this car, start with a Challenger and then act like you’re compromising by getting the extra doors, comfort and trunk of a sedan.
Dodge has effectively reskinned the Charger’s exterior to make it the best-looking Charger of the reborn-as-sedan line. Up front, the new aluminum hood with NACA duct center air intake announces this is no standard-issue Charger. New front and rear fascias, HID headlamps, new fenders, retooled specific front and rear performance fascias and side sills dress the car appropriately. The rear features the distinctive Dodge signature LED racetrack tail lamps, and the new Satin Black R/T Scat Pack-specific spoiler finishes the deal.
On the road (and track), this four-door busts it. Dodge indicates this more-door muscle car’s best-in-class power enables it to run verified mid-4-second 0-60 mph times (with the Chevrolet SS manual transmissionequipped car just a few hundredths away) and mid-12second quarter-mile times. Accordingly, don’t expect great around-town mpg. Intown ride is a little firm, but you can pick the best setting and switch as performance demands require.
The interior can comfortably hold five and all their stuff — the large trunk is 16.5 cubic feet. Infotainment is handled by the Uconnect Access system. An 8.4-inch touch screen integrates the audio, navigation and climate-control functions. A great feature is that the Charger can become aWiFi hotspot.