2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Review: Bruiser's Last Cruise
If you want to buy a brand-new Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, 2023 will be the last year you'll be able to do so. The current-generation Challenger first arrived in the USA as a 2008 model and, after a decade and a half on the market, the massively powerful, tire-smoking bruiser is finally being put out to pasture as Dodge readies a new era of electric muscle cars. The mediocre NHTSA safety review of the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is just one of the reminders of how old and out-of-date the car is. Still, like that middle-aged bodybuilder uncle that spills your beer as he elbows his way to the barbeque, we can't help loving the Challenger SRT Hellcat's brutish charm. Even the tamest Hellcat packs 717 horsepower and will give you a pummeling as it blasts off the line in a cloud of tire smoke. It gets crazier from there; the Redeye ups the ante to 797 hp, and the Jailbreak and limited-run Black Ghost have a full 807 hp on tap. You can even buy a 1,025-hp SRT Demon 170 this year, but we review that tire shredder separately. It doesn't have many old-school rivals left; with the old Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 now dead, it's essentially this, the less powerful Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, or nothing.
What's the Price of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat?
The base price of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat six-speed manual is $67,595 and the Widebody will cost you $73,595. Opting for the eight-speed automatic transmission instead will add $2,995 to the price of either trim. The SRT Hellcat Redeye costs $76,200 and its Widebody variant, $82,200; the two Redeyes come with the eight-speed automatic only. These prices include the Jailbreak package, and while Dodge doesn't provide a price for the package, it should be the same $995 it costs on the Charger. Last of all, the Black Ghost Widebody is reported to retail for $99,315. All these prices for the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat trims are MSRP and exclude the $1,595 destination fee, as well as the gas-guzzler tax, which is $1,700 on the two standard trims and $2,100 on the three Widebody trims.
2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Handling and Driving Impressions
The Challenger's underpinnings date back to the 2000s and it's simply too big and heavy to be called a nimble handler. It lacks true athleticism or agility, but adaptive suspension is standard and does an admirable job of providing commendable ride quality. Together with the roomy interior and large trunk, this makes for a surprisingly comfortable tourer. It won't stay with a sporty Mustang around a tight track, but grip is immense and, provided you can rein in your enthusiasm and feather the accelerator pedal, the Challenger's sticky 305-section summer performance tires will generate massive grip. Fail to discipline your right foot and you can send the Challenger sideways in a big way and melt rubber at will - exhilarating or terrifying, depending on whether you planned the maneuver or not. It's no lightweight sportster, but there's a lot of fun to be had getting the balance right and marveling at how flatly such a heavy car can fly through a corner, considering its age. The steering is well-weighted and accurate, but a bit numb, and there are no complaints about the powerful Brembo brakes.
Verdict: Is The 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat A Good Car?
Judged by modern standards of technology and efficiency, the Challenger Hellcat is rough around the edges and laughably outdated in its approach. It's a throwback to a bygone era. It's also astonishing that anybody still builds a gas-guzzling 800-hp V8 in 2023 and Dodge must be commended for keeping the American muscle car alive all these years. It's stupidly fast and enormous fun to drive, even if it isn't a track car and not the last word in handling precision. This is the last V8 Challenger Dodge will ever make. In some ways, that makes it the best car you can buy. Just make sure you have a limitless supply of gas and rear tires.
What 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Model Should I Buy?
In the case of the new Challenger SRT Hellcat coupe, too much is just enough, and since this is your last chance ever to own an 800-hp V8 muscle coupe, it must be the Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak. It has the stance, the power, and the attitude already, so it's up to you how you personalize it via the countless Jailbreak options. You could end up paying $100k for it, but you can create a totally unique Challenger and you'll own a piece of rip-roaring, tire-smoking history.