Sometimes we drive a car that makes us smile with joy. Heck, we grin just looking at it.
And our 2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack Widebody is such a car. And once you drive it – you’ll never be able to wipe that smile off your face.
Green Giant
Well the first thing to kick in the old endorphins is the new -for-2020 Widebody exterior. Originally seen on the Challenger model and offered on the 707-horsepower Charger SRT Hellcat model, the Scat Pack widebody adds integrated fender flares that add 3.5 inches in width. And the Charger was already a big sedan! Call it bold and muscular. More than just a couple sets of cannonball deltoids, the Charger also gets more aggressive front and rear fascias that make really sell that widebody look.
Massive 20” by 11” black Devil’s Rim alloys fill out those cavernous wheel wells and make the Charger look glued to the ground. Peeking through those wheels are standard 15.4-inch Brembo two-piece brake rotors with six-piston front calipers from the Charger SRT Hellcat.
We absolutely loved our tester’s F8 Green exterior paint, and adding to the visual menace, our Green Giant had the Satin Black Appearance package that covers the hood, roof, decklid, and rear spoiler. The finishing touches are perfect – 392 Hemi badges on the flanks and Scat Pack logos front and rear. Look up badass in the dictionary and our Charger should be the picture!
And if Green is not your thing, there are also the wonderfully-named choices like Frostbite, Go Mango, Granite Crystal, Hellraisin, IndiGo Blue, Octane Red, Pitch Black, Sinamon Stick, TorRed, Triple Nickel and White Knuckle.
Swanky Spaces
Inside, the impression is an interior with loads of space, and a stylish one at that. A big portion of that style comes from our tester’s optional Plus Group that includes Scat Pack Logo Nappa/Alcantara seats in a gorgeous Caramel color – a perfect partner to the green exterior. Other high-level touches include contrasting stitching throughout the interior, including on the dash panel.
The front seats are big and comfortable, heated and cooled, and the driver’s 4-way power lumbar setting makes getting comfortable easy. The rear seats are spacious too, and there’s a large trunk, with a generous pass through. Fold the rear seats and you get an impressive cargo hold – meaning the Scat Pack not only hauls, but it can haul too.
We’ve always liked this generation of Dodge dashboards, with large, legible speedo and tach and a bright 7-inch digital driver information display that can toggle through loads of available stats.
The real showcase is the 8.4-inch display with Navigation, and Dodge’s excellent Uconnect infotainment system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto hook up easily, but the system really shines as it interfaces with all of the performance systems, including setups for Sport, Track and Custom modes, plus extra gauges and other systems like launch control. You feel like you’re in the NASA/ SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule – an amazing amount of info at your fingertips!
Rocket Man
And you’ll be glad to have that system helping you out – because the Scat Pack Charger is an amazingly powerful and fast machine. Under that flat black hood is the legendary HEMI V8, in this case, a 392 cubic inch (6.4 liters) monster that pumps out 485 best-in class, naturally-aspirated horsepower and 475 lb.-ft of torque.
If you’re wondering, the standard 5.7-liter R/T HEMI churns out a still impressive 370 hp, but it gives you an idea what a massive jump you get when you’re rolling that 392 badge on the flanks.
All that power pours into an 8-speed torqueflite automatic transmission that seems well up to the task, and its ability to snap-off lightning shifts, up or down is impressive. Asking what it’s like to drive in daily traffic may seem like asking Superman about his typing skills, but the Scat Pack is quite capable and comfortable when doing the daily commute.
It is a big engine with loads of low-end power, so a light foot when maneuvering in parking is recommended, and it glides up so easily and effortlessly to the speed limit – and beyond – that you do need to be cautious.
When you do want to get on it, you can use launch control (we didn’t) or program the dynamics (we didn’t), or just put it in Sport Mode and let it fly. And when you do, it is incredible. The HEMI sings like the best dragster soundtrack you’ve ever heard, the shifts punch you in the back, and 0-60 mph comes up in just 4.3 seconds and the ¼ mile in 12.4 seconds. Those massive Brembo brakes are there for a reason, and they work like crazy with powerful stopping power, excellent feel and little fade.
This is the stuff you’ll most likely experience at the track – this car is just so fast you’ll barely be able to use most of the power unless you’re lucky to live in an area with little traffic or don’t mind getting up at the odd hour of the night. Or have a judge in the family.
But the Widebody is more than some straight-line missile – it is a stunning handler as well. A Bilstein three-mode adaptive damping suspension can dole out a smooth ride, but when clamped down in Sport or Track mode, they make the most out of the huge 305/35ZR 20 Pirelli P-Zero tires, with no body lean, and incredible grip – getting close to 1G in turns and happily slamming you into the door panels when doing a rapid lane change.
Here you are tossing around a massive 4-door sedan with 485 horsepower, and it’s approachable, delightful, even confidence inspiring. No, you probably wouldn’t want a freshly-minted 16-year old driver pushing the limits, but to the seasoned enthusiast this is a vehicle with phenomenal, linear performance.
Phenomenal Value
While you do pay for your thrills, Dodge gives you hope. If you just like the looks, you can get a Charger SXT for as little as $29,995, and for $31,995 you can get the GT model which has many of the styling clues of V8 models but runs an efficient V6 and is available in All Wheel Drive.
HEMI V8 models start with the R/T at $36,495, but at that price we’d certainly pony up to a Charger Scat Pack at $40,495. That’s a performance bargain. Building a Charger like our tester shows what can be done with a long list of options. The Scat Pack Widebody pacakage will run you a cool $6,000. Our tester had the Plus Group that includes lots of luxuries, including that Nappa/Alcantara seating for $1,995.
But there’s more! The Technology Group includes Adaptive Cruise and Lane Departure Warning and more, for $1,895. The 19-speaker Harmon Kardon Audio Group added $1,595, Driver Confidence Group $795, Navigation and Travel Group, $995, Power Sunroof $1,295, Painted Black Satin Graphics $3,495, and all-season tires, $695. Add in $1,495 for destination and we totaled at $60,250. Nearly $20k more than a non-widebody Scat Pack!
Competitors are interesting. We tested the BMW M340i, and that came in at $69,000 a completely different take on a super sedan. But equally thrilling to drive. The Mercedes AMG C 63 sedan features a 469 hp biturbo V8, but comparably-equipped it came in at $79,660, but it is an AMG. We say drive them all and decide.
We loved our Charger Widebody Scat Pack. And we love the idea of an American super sedan that can challenge Europe’s best, but still has a personality that could only come from here. Drive one and you’ll be smiling too!
Ben Lewis grew up in Chicago, and after spending his formative years driving sideways in the winter – often intentionally – moved to sunny Southern California. He now enjoys sunny weather year-round — whether it is autocross driving, aerobatics, and learning to surf.