2022 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

The cost of the Dodge SRT Hellcat range starts with the base SRT Hellcat Widebody at $74,900 MSRP before a destination charge of $1,595. This is followed by the Redeye at $83,500, and the Jailbreak at $84,495. Before ticking any options, the offering is relatively generous with key comfort features such as electrically adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and keyless entry. Adding the most expensive options on the Jailbreak and accounting for the $2,100 Gas Guzzler Tax will raise the purchase price of the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Jailbreak over the $100,000 mark.

While it doesn't have the most modern underpinnings, the inclusion of the Bilstein Adaptive Damping suspension gives it a bit of edge through the corners. Regardless, precise inputs into the throttle and steering are required if you wish to maintain composure through tight corners as the rear-end can spontaneously make you go viral on YouTube, more particularly while behind the wheel of the Redeye. Find the perfect balance of acceleration and steering and you will be rewarded with a thrilling driving experience.

With the power of active damping, the Hellcat has an impressively comfortable ride, despite sitting on a set of 20-inch alloys, making it an ideal daily commuter, if you can fit the gas bill. It's not on the level of what you would get from a mainline premium sedan, but in the performance car realm, it's welcomingly plush and lofty.

Unfortunately, the electrically-assisted steering wheel makes this a bit of a challenge. The system's ability to adjust its weight provides more versatility to the driver but surface feedback is minimal. As a result, you're required to cater more attention to steering inputs than should be necessary if you want to keep the Hellcat going in the right direction. Thankfully, even in its stiffest setting, the adaptive damping reacts to indentations in the road efficiently which ensures that balance is maintained. This comes in handy for both aspirational driving and general commuting.

All models employ the Brembo brake system which consists of six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers with front and rear vented rotors. This is a key inclusion as it allows the weighty sedan to come to a stop promptly and without drama.

If you are looking for a straight-up bonkers four-door muscle car with more power than you'll ever need direct from a manufacturer, you don't have a choice other than the Charger SRT Hellcat. It is held back by its dated design and features but you'll be so focused on enjoying that supercharged V8 that everything else will blend away in the background.

Since the Hellcat range was released, it has been an in-demand muscle car in both Challenger and Charger guise. The Charger in particular has somewhat more appeal because you have the advantage of better interior packaging, including more generous trunk space. Unfortunately, the newest Uconnect system is absent from the dashboard but the current unit still offers all of the essentials you'll need to conduct your daily life while having some fun thanks to the SRT performance apps.

The Charger SRT Hellcat is just a few steps away from the end of its lifecycle with an official replacement being somewhat unlikely. It should still be around for about two more years, but after that, a new-age electric performance car may be set to take its place. Considering this, these are essentially the final days of a product that has been holding the muscle car line since it was established in the 1960s.

The Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is on its last legs so if you're going to buy one now, you may as well make sure it's a special one. The Jailbreak trim comes with most options and packages standard and gives you access to a multitude of appearance options for both the exterior and interior. This allows you to create a one-of-a-kind example of the Charger SRT Hellcat. With it, you get the full-fat 807 hp Redeye power output, Laguna leather upholstery, lightweight alloy wheels, and an adaptive damping suspension. With a price of $83,500, it is just $995 more than the Redeye, but once you stack the visual options such as the $995 dual stripes, $1,500 gloss black painted roof, $595 colored brake calipers, $199 exterior badge colors, and more, this price can escalate very quickly.

The M5's starting price of $103,700 MSRP makes this an oddball comparison but there's not much else in the segment that can match the Hellcat's obscene power output. The Bavarian performance sedan uses a smaller twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 to produce 600 hp and 553 lb-ft. This is quite a bit down on power compared to the four-door muscle car but thanks to the M5's xDrive, all four of its wheels transfer this power to the ground, giving it a claimed 0-60 mph time of 3.2 seconds. As it operates in a more premium segment, the M5 also offers better cabin quality, more standard and optional safety features, and an arguably better transmission, but it's still a hefty chunk more than the Charger range. When it comes to value for money in the speed department, it is hard to argue with the Hellcat.

It's a really tough call to pit a fossil-fuel-burning muscle car against a new-age electric vehicle but let's consider that the SRT clan has unofficially been at war against Tesla since owners started bringing their Model S Long Range units to the drag strip. With an MSRP of $94,990 it is a margin more than the Hellcat range but consider that long-term savings will be apparent by excluding the cost of fuel. A 0-60 mph time of of 3.1 seconds afforded by the dual-motor setup means that the driving experience will still be full of thrills but there will be no characterful engine noise to supplement the sense of speed. The Model S is a compelling argument for those who simply want to go fast and have access to a conclusive selection of safety features but unfortunately, it just does not hold a candle to the overall muscle car experience that is translated by the Hellcat.