AutoNSider Review | 2019 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Plus

And hey…this isn’t even the Hellcat.

The Scat Pack is “just” Dodge’s 392 cubic inch / 6.2 liter 485 HP Hemi. Sort of the “middle brother” of the family, if you will.

But punch the throttle even half-way and you’d best have your wheels pointed straight. More than once I had the almost-foot-wide 305 25 ZR20 soft and sticky summer tires losing their battle to stay connected to the road.

“Scat”? Not hardly. This set-up flat hauls bacon. It feels as though you could throw a chain around the rear and go uproot a few telephone poles.

Dodge’s Challenger is one of the three original muscle cars that came on the scene back in the ‘60’s. And all three are still here and still way more than just a-tickin’.

They’re kickin’. Over the past 40 – 50 years they’ve all morphed from sexy-lookin’ pretenders into very serious vehicles.

So how does Dodge’s Challenger differ from the other two guys, you may ask?

It depends, of course, on how you equip them, but my experience is that the Challenger is not only fast, but it’s the more comfortable of the bunch….and it’s big on acceleration.

While the Challenger R/T Scat Pack will go around just about any corner roughly three times faster than the law allows, it seems to be built more for straight-line speed. In fact, last year, the Scat Pack’s big brother, the Challenger Hellcat, made its debut as a drag racer…with slicks and all.

So how does it go? How does 0-60 in under 4 seconds sound?

And how does it stop?  60 – 0 in 117 feet…thanks to the 4-piston Brembo brakes.

But back to “comfort”.  Entry and exit are fairly easy for a two-door coupe. Your seats are not heavily bolstered as they’d be for a track car, but, instead, will hold the average “Big Daddy” in relative comfort. Unusual comfort for such a high performance vehicle.

So what else is unusual about Dodge’s Scat Pack?

The price. As with most everything made by Dodge today, you get more HP for less $ than almost anywhere.

Dodge’s Challenger R/T Scat Pack Plus has a window sticker that starts under 40K. Reasonably well tricked out as ours was, though, will put you into the mid $50s. And that’s still a whole lotta’ HP for not a lot of dough.

If you like the look and can live without the “fast”, 3.5 six-cylinder Challengers will list in the high $20’s…and come with either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed auto.

Step up to a 5.7 liter V-8 Hemi, and you’ll have more power under foot than 99+% of drivers will ever need…with pricing from the high $30s into the  $40’s,depending up on equipment.

But if you’re one of the 1% who need more… consider doin’ your heavy-duty haulin’ in a Scat Pack! Follow AutoNSider on Facebook for review videos and more!