2022 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

This 2022 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat has been bringing smiles to many a muscle car fan at a reasonably competitive price for some time - sure, you have to look past its poor gas mileage. Unfortunately, this is due to come to an end when the overlords at Stellantis pull the plug on supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V8-powered products in the not-too-distant future. The Hemi V8 may be living on borrowed time but with its power output of 717 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, it's certainly going out with a bang. The Redeye pack will increase this to an insane 797 hp and 707 lb-ft and add an open-air intake with the revolutionary Power Chiller cooling system. And, if you're looking to get the full extent of the engine's performance, the SRT Jailbreak package ups this to 807 hp.

The all-new Jailbreak option opens the catalog to some new visual trims both inside and out to those who are looking to create a special build of the four-door muscle car, while the automaker boasts the supercharged engine uses the largest supercharger of any production car. The Charger SRT Hellcat isn't as quick as the less powerful BMW M5 since the German has the advantage of an all-wheel-drive system, but the Dodge is far more affordable. If an old-school sedan with a charismatic V8 and little regard for efficiency is up your alley, there is hardly a better alternative than the rowdy Charger SRT.

Despite being a relatively older product in the current market, the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat maintains a tough but youthful look. The widebody panels coupled with a set of 20-inch alloy wheels ensure that the four-door muscle car commands an authoritative stance from every angle while C-shaped LED DRLs and signature loop taillights maintain its distinctive appearance. Air intakes positioned on the hood and front bumper add further aggression to the face while a characterful rear bumper is presented with faux-air outlets, a trunk spoiler, and two exhaust tailpipes. A power sunroof is available as an option, and a black SRT rear spoiler can be added optionally.

The Charger SRT Hellcat is a sizeable performance car with an overall length of 201 inches, width of 78.3 inches, and height of 57.6 inches. A wheelbase of 120 inches, front track of 65.6 inches, and rear track of 65.3 inches create an imposing stance when coupled with its low 4.5-inch ground clearance. These dimensions and the heavy mechanical components mean that the Hellcat has a curb weight ranging from 4,536 pounds to 4,594 lbs. With the mass of the engine at the nose, the SRT offers a fairly balanced front/rear weight distribution split of 57/43 percent.

There are a multitude of colors available for the Charger SRT Hellcat. These were all available at no additional cost for the 2021 model, but now Dodge has added price tags to some shades. Available for free are the Pitch Black, TorRed Red, and White Knuckle shades. Priced at $95 are Granite, Smoke Show, Triple Nickel, Indigo Blue, Frostbite, and F8 Green. For the Hellraisin, Octane Red, Go Mango, and Sinamon Stick colors, you'll have to fork out $395.

Dual Carbon stripes bring out an iconic muscle car imagery for $995 but it cannot be had with the $1,995 Satin Black painted hood. If you want a sinister two-tone look, a Satin Black hood, roof, trunk, and spoiler package is available for $3,495. Brake calipers can be painted in Black, Gunmetal, or Orange for an extra $595. These extras are not available for the Redeye.

With the Jailbreak model, all colors apart from the Smoke Show ($95) are available at no additional cost. Dual stripes can be had in the aforementioned Carbon as well as Gunmetal, Silver, Blue, and Red, each at $995. For $995, you can also spec the SRT hood scoop, roof, and decklid stripe to give it a retro muscle car look. Added to the brake caliper offering are shades of Blue and Yellow. If you want a truly distinctive look, you can color the badges in Brass Monkey, Midnight Metallic, Red, or Satin Chrome for $199. Black Charger exhaust tips will increase the price by $99.

There are three states of tune for the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat's engine with one transmission and drivetrain option. Starting off the range is the base Widebody offering with 717 hp and 650 lb-ft, which is follower by the Redeye Widebody increasing the output to a menacing 797 hp and 707 lb-ft. Jailbreak models have 807 hp, but all setups use a TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission with rear-wheel drive, resulting in a 0 - 60 time of 3.6 seconds. The higher-spec Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat models will reach a top speed of 203 mph while the regular Hellcat will top out at 193 mph. If you want to hit the drag strip, Charger SRT models are more than equipped with a claimed quarter-mile time of 10.93 seconds at 125 mph for the base model and 10.6 seconds at 129 mph for the Redeye.

Despite being down by almost 100 hp, the BMW M5 is quicker to 60 mph at 3.2 seconds, but that's because of the extra traction afforded by its AWD system, whereas the Charger relies only on its rear wheels to transfer all that power to the ground.

The Hellcat's supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 that sits under the hood has achieved legendary status. For the past seven or so years, the amount of smiles it has delivered is almost directionally proportional to the amount of gasoline it has combusted. The SRT Hellcat may have specs of "only" 717 hp and 650 lb-ft, but this trim is not shy to deliver thrilling acceleration. Off the line, there is a noticeable struggle to maintain traction if you decide to floor the throttle from the get-go. Stringent gauging of the throttle is required if you want to get close to the claimed acceleration time. Launching from a standstill in the Redeye, delivering 797 hp and 707 lb-ft, doesn't feel much different because of this very characteristic, despite the large bump in power. New for 2022, the Jailbreak ups the ante, with 807 horsepower - the most in the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat range, courtesy of a massive supercharger and tweaked engine calibration.

Unfortunately, the transmission that does duty across the range does not offer the fastest gear changes, particularly in its normal setting, but the speed at which the revs rise thanks to the supercharger somewhat offsets that delay. When Track mode is selected, the shifts are sped up by a fraction. The SRT Hellcat's strength lies in its in-gear acceleration as the supercharger doesn't taper off at higher engine speeds. At full cry, this engine sounds absolutely magnificent as the supercharger whine harmonizes with the V8's bass-heavy burble.

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.

No one gets behind the wheel of a Hellcat and expects great fuel returns. With EPA-rated gas mileage figures of 12/21/15 mpg city/highway/combined for both the base and Redeye, the SRT Hellcat is going to demand a large sum of capital every time you fill its 18.5-gallon tank. Once full, you can expect the muscle car to carry you for about 278 miles until it empties again. Compared to the more expensive and less powerful Audi RS7 and BMW M5's smaller-capacity turbocharged V8s, the Dodge is thirstier; both Germans manage 17 mpg combined.

The Charger SRT Hellcat still offers a dated cabin appearance that maintains strong cues that were popular in the last decade. This includes a housing that cascades from the instrument cluster to the infotainment screen and strictly analog climate controls. Plastics are abundant throughout but the addition of leather upholstery and Alcantara highlights add to the premium appeal. It's also well-kitted with dual-zone climate control, front seats with both heating and ventilation, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a user-friendly touchscreen infotainment system.

While not the most spacious sedan inside, the Dodge Charger affords average-sized occupants a decent amount of legroom and headroom, although the middle rear-seat passenger will feel more cramped than the rest. On a positive note, the seats themselves are comfortable and have good cushioning, with four-way power lumbar on front seats with heating and ventilation. The rear seats are heated as standard, too. There are some issues affecting visibility, however, such as the small rear window and wide roof pillars. The sloping roofline also hampers easy access to the back seat for taller folk.

Laguna leather upholstery is standard for the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat and is offered in a choice of three colors. The Black and Sepia tones are available at no extra cost, but the Demonic Red shade will add $395 to the price. For a more special touch, you can add the Black Alcantara/Laguna leather upholstery for $995. Demonic Red seatbelts add an element of performance for $395. Available for $1,595 is the Carbon/Suede Interior package with a suede headliner and real carbon fiber interior accents. A premium leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob are standard fare.

In the Redeye, things are a lot more limited as only the Black leather upholstery is available without the option of adding the red seatbelts. In the more customizable Jailbreak model, Black/Hammerhead-Gray seats are available, as is Black/Sepia, and Black/Demonic Red at no cost. Black Alcantara/Laguna leather still goes for $995, while Demonic Red or Hammerhead-Gray seat inserts can be had for $395 and $295, respectively. You can also have the seatbelts in Demonic Red, Hammerhead-Gray, or Sepia for $395. Exlusive to the Jailbreak, custom bezel and console finishes include a set of Hectic mesh or DUB plate accents for $299 or real carbon fiber accents for $599. For $199, you can have your steering wheel finished in Alcantara with a red or white LED logo. A leather-wrapped steering wheel costs the same but is only available with a white LED logo. Hammerhead-Gray, Demonic Red, or Sepia floor mats can be specified for an additional $99.

Areas of the interior may seem cramped for some but the Charger SRT Hellcat makes up for this in the trunk and cargo space department. The manufacturer claims a space of 16.5 cubic feet for the trunk which is more than what other two-door muscle cars currently offer by a large margin. With this, you would easily be able to fit four carry-on bags for a weekend away. Folding the 60:40-split rear bench down will open up additional space which can more than accommodate larger items such as a mountain bike.

For your smaller daily necessities, the Charger's cabin is fitted with plenty of storage facilities including a tray for your smartphone ahead of the gear lever. A pair of illuminated cupholders can be found up-front but the rear bench gets none. Smaller items can be stored in a bin under the center armrest or the glovebox.

Being the flagship models of the Charger range, the SRT Hellcat models offer the most conclusive list of standard features. Core pieces of kit include an eight-way power driver's seat, heating and cooling for both front seats, heated rear seats, a heated multifunctional steering wheel with power adjustability, dual-zone climate control with air filtration, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. For extra convenience, the muscle car comes standard with keyless entry and push-button ignition, a universal garage door opener, automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers, a rearview camera, and two USB ports for smartphone charging.

Safety features across the range include rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Visually, the Uconnect 4C infotainment system's comparatively small 8.4-inch touchscreen appears dated, but it can't be faulted for user-friendliness. It supports everything from Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to HD Radio, Bluetooth, voice control, and SiriusXM Radio with a six-month trial subscription. While the system is visually dated, it still reacts quickly to inputs and includes some nifty SRT software that displays performance readouts usable for drag racing and track days. Optionally available for the unit is the 19-speaker Harmon Kardon premium audio system for $1,995 and a $995 Navigation and Travel Group package which adds a five-year subscription to SiriusXM Traffic Plus services. As standard, the Charger SRT Hellcat's sound system has six Alpine speakers.

No recalls have been issued for the 2022 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat range but communication has been issued relating to the engine cooling system. This relates to a concern of misfiring or misfire-related DTCs that is caused by a broken valve spring. It has been requested that all springs be replaced. Last year's model was recalled once for inadequate windshield bonding. On a positive note, the 2022 Dodge Charger has a superb 89 out of 100 rating for quality and reliability according to J.D. Power.

Keeping you at ease is a basic warranty that covers 36,000 miles or 36 months. The powertrain is covered for 60,000 miles or five years, and roadside assistance is available for the same amount of distance and miles. A rust-through warranty caters for unlimited mileage over a period of five years.

SRT Hellcat models have not been crash-tested by the NTHSA or IIHS so there is no official safety review for the 2022 Dodge Charger SRT models specifically - but the regular Charger range has been covered by both organizations. The IIHS grants the sedan mostly Good scores in all crashworthiness tests, just the small overlap front test on the driver's side which returned a Marginal rating. Due to the standard HID headlights with LED DRLs being somewhat dated by modern standards, the range boasts a Poor rating in the headlight category. The sedan range currently holds a five-star overall safety rating on the NHTSA, providing impressive scores in the rollover and side crash testing of five stars coupled with a four-star rating for the frontal crash.

Despite its age, standard safety features on the SRT Hellcat models are commendable. Driver-assist systems such as blind-spot monitoring and cross-path detection are included in the package along with rear park assist and a backup camera. In the event of a collision, six airbags are provided including curtain airbags for both rows. Unfortunately, Dodge doesn't offer more advanced driver-assist systems like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and forward collision alert on SRT models. These features are available for the regular Charger range.

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 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.

The Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat range consists of three trims: SRT Hellcat Widebody, SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody, and SRT Jailbreak. All cars employ the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with the Widebody pushing out 717 hp and 650 lb-ft, the Redeye delivering 797 hp and 707 lb-ft, and the Jailbreak upping that to 807 hp. The base and Redeye are set apart via a set of specific badges on the front fenders and trim-specific 20-inch lightweight wheels. The list of standard features is largely unchanged but given the Redeye's higher top speed, it gets a 220-mph speedometer while the base trim has to make do with a 200-mph display. All trims are available with essential features that include heating for the front and rear seats and ventilation for just the front seats, dual-zone climate control, a heated multifunction steering wheel, and keyless entry. The infotainment system offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with HD Radio, voice command, Bluetooth connectivity, and a one-year trial to SiriusXM.

The Jailbreak is essentially a Redeye that has been opened up to a catalog of additional exterior paints and interior materials and finishes. This includes Midnight Metallic SRT badges, additional wheel finishes like the Devil's Rim Granite, and a black SRT spoiler. There are loads of options for interior customization on the Jailbreak, however, including unique bezel and console finishes, upholstery, and interior color schemes.

Safety features are scant as per modern standards but there are multiple airbags, rear parking sensors with a backup camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system. A power sunroof and 19-speaker Harmon Kardon premium audio system are optionally available.

Optionally available for all Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat models is the Navigation and Travel Group package for $995 which adds SiriusXM traffic services for five years. This package is crucial for those who are subjected to navigating intricate cities or distant destinations along the open road. The $695 SRT Black Package (not available on the Jailbreak) adds a distinctive look by adding black exhaust tips, Midnight Metallic exterior badges, and a satin black finish for the decklid "Charger" and taillight "Dodge" badges.

On the base model, a $995 Alcantara Interior and $1,595 Carbon and Suede Interior Package enhance the cabin experience. The former adds the Alcantara and Laguna seat upholstery with SRT logos and an SRT Alcantara steering wheel with a red LED logo. The latter applies genuine carbon fiber accents to the interior with a suede headliner.

The Harmon Kardon sound system at $1,995 will uplift the quality of the entertainment system but it is going to have to work very hard to match the enthusiasm of the supercharged V8 engine note. A $1,995 power sunroof comes as a pleasant feature that opens the dark cabin space up to some extra light and air.

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.