Road Test: 2020 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack 392

Cars that the neighbours can hear before they see you coming around the corner are few and far between these days, but the 2020 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack 392 is definitely one of them!

It’s far from subtle, and not just because of how the engine sounds, but also because of its aggressive styling and eye-catching Sinamon Stick exterior colour.

And it was fitting that our tester had the $3,000 Shaker package installed because this car literally shakes as you fire up the powerful engine.

With several other options tacked on, the final as-tested price came to $64,065 for this rear-wheel drive sports coupe. That is a significant jump from the base price of $52,495, but some of the extras are well worth it.

Some of the notable additions included Nappa Leather/Alcantara-faced front vented seating, high intensity discharge headlights, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-path detection, adaptive cruise control, stitched dashboard and an upgraded infotainment/sound system.

Between the colour, special Scat Pack decal and Shaker hood scoop, once people do lay their eyes on it, they will have a hard time looking away until they take it all in.

But the real attraction of the Challenger Scat Pack 392 is out of sight – a 6.4-litre SRT HEMI V8. As mentioned, it is loud and has the figures to back up the growl – 485 horsepower and 475 ft-lb of torque. All of that goes through the rear wheels on the Challenger, with an 8-speed automatic transmission managing it all quite well.

As equipped, the Challenger also comes with launch control and SRT Performance Pages with drive modes.

Fuel economy is not likely a big consideration for someone buying a large V8, but the Challenger is rated at a combined average of 13.0 litres of premium fuel per 100 kilometres.  My average? Nowhere close to that, at 20.8 L/100 km.

The two-door Challenger is attractive from every angle – from the slim and wide front end, the angles of its silhouette and the rear design, which includes a black rear spoiler and Bee fender badge as part the Shaker package.

Some of the extras of the Scat Pack – like the spoiler and decals – add extra character to the design, as do the 20-inch low-gloss granite aluminum wheels.

Inside, the Bee badge appears again on the comfy sports seats, and the Shaker package also swaps the normal gauge cluster for a nice white setup.

The fit and finish on this trim level was excellent, and the materials also were more upscale thanks to some of the options.

Being a coupe, it’s a bit tricky getting into the back seat and I found that the front seats didn’t slide forward all that much. Thankfully, it was only a 7-year-old squeezing back there and not a larger adult.

Our tester featured an upgraded infotainment system, starting first with the $795 Uconnect 4C Navigation with a larger 8.4-inch display screen. That comes with a Wi-Fi hot spot and is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Taking things up a notch further is the $1,495 Harman/Kardon sound group – a whopping 18 speakers, including a trunk-mounted subwoofer. With the satellite radio activated, it was easy to find the appropriate music for the week’s ride and enjoy it. With that many speakers and surround sound capability, you could easily drown out the engine noise if you wanted to, but that is a tough choice to make.

The 2020 Challenger Scat Pack 392 has a lot of power – probably too much to ever be fully enjoyed by most of us. This beast wants to run wild and has the DNA of a thoroughbred coursing through its veins.

However, it can be tamed through the drive modes and in eco, it’s actually quite sedate as the acceleration is stunted – severely so, knowing what it is usually like. The engine also shuts off four of eight cylinders under certain driving conditions, so despite being a big V8, the Challenger at least tries to reduce fuel burn.

Under hard acceleration, the back end can get a little loose at times, but nothing that is too concerning – I was probably not helped by the fact the temperatures during my week with the vehicle were a tad on the cool side.

That being said, though, the Challenger was well behaved and even with a sporty suspension setup, the ride felt quite comfortable.

At the end of the week, it was hard not to crack a smile thinking about the Challenger Scat Pack 392: It looks good, sounds better and makes a statement everywhere you go.

2020 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack 392
Price as tested: $64,065.00
Freight: $1,895.00
Configuration: Front engine/Rear-wheel drive
Engine/transmission: 6.4-litre SRT HEMI V8/ 8-speed automatic
Power/torque: 485 horsepower/ 475 ft-lb of torque
Fuel (capacity): Super (70 L)
Combined fuel economy ratings (L/100 km): 13.0 L/100 km
Observed fuel economy (L/100 km): 20.8 L/100 km
Warranties: 5-years/100,000 km (basic)
Competitors: BMW M340i, Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, Mercedes-AMG C43

Links: Dodge Canada