2022 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

　　

2022 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye. With a name like that, this car could have the 105-horsepower engine and 14-inch wheels from a 2002 Daewoo Lanos and still be super cool. But of course, the Hellcat is indeed the biggest, baddest Challenger around. The lineup starts with the "regular" SRT Hellcat, which has a supercharged V8 good for 717 hp. Then Dodge gives you the Redeye with 797 hp or the SRT Super Stock that has 807 hp. The Super Stock is the drag-racing ace and comes close to replicating the outrageousness of the limited-production 2018 Challenger SRT Demon.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat 2dr Coupe w/Prod. End 01/22 (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$285/mo  for Challenger SRT Hellcat

　　Challenger SRT Hellcat

　　SRT Hellcat 2dr Coupe w/Prod. End 01/22 (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M) - $63,530 MSRPSRT Hellcat 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A) (Most Popular) - $69,040 MSRP

　　vs

　　$198/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　The Challenger isn't all about brute force. The ride is reasonably comfortable, the back seat is roomy enough for adults, and the trunk is huge. It also has an easy-to-use infotainment system and a selection of advanced driver aids if you want them. True, Ford's Shelby GT500 and Chevy's Camaro ZR1 are more accomplished all-around high-performance sport coupes, but for pure muscle car glory, it doesn't get any better than this. Check out our Expert Rating below for the results of our test team's instrumented testing of the Challenger Hellcat and more.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Challenger drive? In Hellcat Redeye trim with the Widebody package, the Challenger produces relentless straight-line speed. Despite struggling for traction, our test vehicle hit 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds, with a quarter-mile time of 11.8 seconds at 124 mph. Braking was similarly impressive for such a heavy vehicle — stops from 60 mph took only 103 feet. 

　　Like other Challengers, the Hellcat Redeye is on the heavy side. Although the Widebody setup does help a bit with handling — we recorded a respectable 0.99 of lateral g on our skidpad test — the Challenger is still a formidable beast and needs a lot of respect. Ludicrous amounts of power are available in an instant, making it downright tricky to drive in tighter situations.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Challenger? Despite its Herculean levels of horsepower and its insane straight-line speed, the Hellcat is impressively comfortable. The adaptive suspension is stiff but forgiving, ironing out all but the largest of bumps. Adding to the comfort is an easy-to-use climate control system capable of taming baking hot summer days with ease.

　　Seat comfort is commendable too, and a few hundred miles of driving brought no discomfort or complaints from a multitude of drivers. At a standstill, the Challenger's cabin is relatively quiet. But get on it and the supercharged V8 trumpets a heady mix of V8 rumble and supercharger whine.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below