Review: 2016 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

– Detroit, Michigan

For a guy who usually only spends a couple of days with each car I review, I can say that, by comparison, I’ve driven the Dodge Charger Hellcat a ton. I’ve had it on the track, driven it over 1,600 kilometres across the American southwest, and gulped down tank after tank of fuel burnouting my way across southeast Michigan. Yet I can’t get enough. It’s a hilarious middle finger to German powerhouses like the BMW M5. It has supercar power numbers and it has arguably the coolest name of any car on the road today. It’s big and imperfect, and I love this car.

Pros

• Seven hundred and seven horsepower. Say it again – seven hundred and seven horsepower. I shouldn’t have to explain why this tops my Pros section. There is so much available grunt in this car that you can spin the tires – with traction control fully engaged – at only half throttle. It doesn’t even matter what drive mode you’re in – even in its laziest setting, the Hellcat has sharp claws. The supercharger whine is loud and constant, the exhaust roar robust and plentiful. It goes like hell, and sounds like the devil himself while doing so.
• I love this B5 Blue paint so much I’m giving it its own bullet. This shade looks great, especially with the optional, ever-so-slightly bronze wheels ($ 695) that, even more awesomely, are actually called “Brass Monkey.”
• Everyone seems to flock to the Challenger as the poster child for Hellcat radness. But the Charger is actually way better, to me. It’s faster, with a top end above 320 kilometres per hour, you can see out of it, it seats five adults comfortably, and it doesn’t grab as much attention.
• Never mind the crazy power, the Charger is a really nice car to live with day to day. It’s huge inside, with big, comfortable, heated seats, the excellent Uconnect 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, tons of safety equipment, and an extra large trunk for all your stuff. Non-Hellcat Chargers get high marks in these categories, as well. But the Hellcat gets higher marks because Hellcat.

Cons

• To expand on my previous point, yes, the Charger has lots of stuff inside, but for the $ 76,945 asking price of the Hellcat, you’re only paying for the big motor. This does not feel like a $ 76k+ car inside – plastics and materials aren’t high quality, and the overall interior design is pretty plain.
• Good freaking luck getting the 14.5 litres per 100 kilometres combined NRCAN fuel economy figure. This car begs to be driven hard, and it’s so easy to really juice that engine. Based on my experience, look for numbers in the high teens on average. Not that you were concerned about fuel economy in your 707-hp super sedan anyway...

Competitors

 

2016 DODGE CHARGER SRT HELLCAT
ENGINE	Supercharged 6.2L V8
OUTPUT	707 Horsepower / 650 Pound-Feet
TRANSMISSION	8-Speed Automatic
0-60 MPH (0-96 KM/H)	3.5 Seconds (est.)
TOP SPEED	328 KM/H
NRCAN FUEL ECONOMY	17.6 City / 10.7 Highway / 14.5 Combined L/100 KM
WEIGHT	2,073 Kilograms (4,570 Pounds)
SEATING CAPACITY	5
CARGO VOLUME	467 Litres (16.5 Cubic Feet)
BASE PRICE	$ 76,945
AS-TESTED PRICE	$ 73,725 USD (US model tested)

Photos: Steven Ewing / Motor1.com

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