Whats the difference between scat pack and hellcat

If you sit around reading reviews of the Hellcat, it may be easy to fall victim to the allure of a sub-$100,000 muscle car with more power than most mid-engine supercars. We found the Hellcat to be surprisingly livable if not a bit scary when pushed hard and it is certainly worthy of dream car status. But driving the Scat Pack has softened our opinion. After driving a Charger with "only" 485 hp, we found it to be more than adequate and in fact, far more usable out on the road.

Table of Contents Show

How much does a Hellcat cost?
Is the Dodge Scat Pack a good deal?
The Hellcat vs the Scat Pack
What's the difference between a scat pack and a Hellcat Charger?
Which is better SRT or Scatpack?

Whereas the Hellcat lights up its rear tires with the smallest provocation, the Scat Pack is more effectively able to let you enjoy the power without worrying about crashing or going to prison. Even on a race track, it would take some long straights for the Hellcat to hold a tangible advantage and out on public roads at legal speeds, there is barely an appreciable difference in acceleration.

If it were our money, we'd gladly save more than $25,000 by getting the Scat Pack Widebody. We understand getting the Hellcat if money is no object but on a budget or otherwise, we prefer the Scat Pack.

The Dodge Charger and Challenger are some of the gnarliest muscle cars around. Between widebody kits and SRT editions, these cars’ top trim levels may seem a little confusing. But each Dodge trim level designates a different engine: A 6.4-liter HEMI V8 powers the Charger and Challenger Scat Packs while a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 powers Hellcat, Redeye, and Superstock models.

How much does a Hellcat cost?

The 2022 Dodge Challenger Hellcat’s MSRP is $63,530 and the Charger version will cost you $74,900. Considering that these cars both feature a supercharged V8 that makes a supercar-rattling 700+ horsepower, they are a bargain. But that’s still a lot of money for a muscle car.

2022 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody | Stellantis

The Hellcat engine is a project cooked up by the glorious mad scientists at Dodge’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team. By 2015 the Dodge Charger and Challenger needed a refresh, so Dodge SRT stepped in and engineered the first factory supercharger for a HEMI engine. “Hellcat” was the team’s internal term for the project, but marketing loved the phrase so much it became the car’s official name.

The Hellcat engine debuted in the 2015, SRT edition of the Challenger and Charger. It originally made 707 horsepower. It has since spawned several new models including the 808 horsepower Demon. Today, you can buy a regular Hellcat, a 797 horsepower Hellcat Redeye, and an 807 horsepower Super Stock.

Is the Dodge Scat Pack a good deal?

The 2022 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack’s MSRP is $44,155 while the Charger version goes for $46,225. That’s $20k less than a Hellcat. With the largest V8 Stellantis makes, and available SRT suspension, and available widebody kit, the Scat Pack is a steal.

2022 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody | Stellantis

The defining attribute of the Scat Pack trim level is its engine: a 6.4-liter (392 cubic inch) HEMI V8 shared with heavy-duty Ram trucks, the Grand Wagoneer, the Dodge Durango 392, and the Jeep Wrangler 392. In both the Challenger and Charger Scat Pack, this V8 makes a healthy 485 horsepower. In the Jeep Wrangler, it is tuned for 470 horsepower.

There are many ways to upgrade a Scat Pack Charger or Challenger to make it even faster. You can order a Scat Pack car with the SRT-tuned Bilstein suspension that’s standard on the Hellcat. You can also upgrade any Scat Pack with a factory widebody kit and wide tires. The extra rubber improves acceleration, braking, and performance.

The Hellcat vs the Scat Pack

The Hellcat and the Scat Pack trims of the Charger/Challenger are different tools for different jobs. The Hellcat excels at highway pulls from 60 mph up to well over 100 mph. But you can build a Scat Pack that is as good as the Hellcat at most everything else.

2022 Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat | Stellantis

An Endangered Species: Dodge Offers Three Stunning 2022 Challenger SRT Models

And while the Hellcat makes an excellent halo car for the Challenger and Charger lineups, the American muscle car originated as an affordable sports car, not a supercar competitor. A muscle car that pushes six figures when fully loaded misses the entire point.

A Dodge Challenger Scat Pack with SRT-tuned suspension and a widebody kit may just be the ultimate naturally-aspirated American muscle car. And manual transmission fans will be happy to hear you can even get it with a stickshift.

What's the difference between a scat pack and a Hellcat Charger?

But each Dodge trim level designates a different engine: A 6.4-liter HEMI V8 powers the Charger and Challenger Scat Packs while a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 powers Hellcat, Redeye, and Superstock models.

Which is better SRT or Scatpack?

If you want higher-quality interior materials and a more sinister badge, you might want to spring for a used SRT 392. However, if you want to save money with options like cloth seats, you can find a used Charger or Challenger Scat Pack. Either way, your neighbors will know you've got a beast of a muscle car.