Road Test Review – 2019 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody – By Carl Malek

When it comes to reliving your youth, there are very few vehicles that are able to do it so well like the Dodge Challenger. While it’s underpinnings are based on a Mercedes platform that was first given to Dodge during the shotgun marriage that was known as the Daimler-Chrysler era, that particular factoid has not stopped the burly two door from being an ongoing success for the brand. This is partially due to the sheer flexibility that exists in the LY platform itself, with Dodge engineers being able to seamlessly create numerous iterations of the Challenger over the years (including the segment defying all-wheel drive Challenger GT that we reviewed last year.) But can the Challenger still be a potent muscle car offering even as the segment faces an increasing threat from more mainstream vehicle offerings?

The Two Year Wait Was Worth It:

To find out, we finally had the chance to get behind the wheel of the Challenger’s newest claim to fame, the Widebody variant. This particular encounter was a two year wait in the making, but we are glad to report that patience does indeed pay off. The exterior styling is as bold and distinctive as ever, with the Widebody bringing more potent aggression to the Challenger’s character. The first thing that buyers will notice is the big wheel flares that adorn Widebodys like our tester. When the Widebody option first appeared on the Challenger Hellcat a few years ago, it was designed to help address a key flaw in that model’s driving manners, and in this instance, it all comes down to adding more traction. The bigger flares allow the Challenger to accommodate wider tires, but they also help bring a newfound dose of attitude to the Challenger’s flanks. The addition of the wider flares also necessitated the need for enhanced aerodynamics, with our Scat Pack grade example featuring a wider front splitter, along with the optional rear mounted SRT Performance spoiler. The end result paired nicely with our tester’s F8 Green exterior paint (which was subsequently renamed Ninja Turtle Green for the duration of its stay with us) and caused the Challenger to be the center of attention everywhere it went including the obligatory trip down Woodward Avenue.

Otherwise, not much has changed with the Challenger’s core identity. It’s still a big two door, but it manages to retain its distinctive muscle bound presence when out on the open road or lurking through a parking lot. The front fascia is a retro inspired tribute to its 1970s ancestor, while the side profile further embosses its muscular lines, and this region also features a bold character line that runs alongside the side of the car. The rear fascia also gets in on the retro act, with slick LED taillights and attractive dual exhaust tips rounding out the visceral package quite nicely. While the Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang wear a newer suit of clothes, they lack the raw attitude that oozes out of the Challenger’s pores. This raw motif is further amplified on Hellcat and Redeye models, but many buyers will be pleased with what the Scat Pack brings to the table, especially with the way its hood scoop and hood extractor vents mesh with the rest of the Challengers bird-eye view profile

Retro Flavored Interior Sacrifices Versatility To Get The Job Done:

The performance oriented vibe of the exterior bleeds through into the interior, with the cabin being a very big and roomy place to spend time in. Our tester featured the base Houndstooth cloth performance seats which did a good job providing front passengers with just the right amount of support and comfort needed for both spirited driving, as well as long freeway jaunts. Front leg and head room are in abundance with both passengers having plenty of room to stretch out and relax. The control layout is cantered towards the driver, with many of the buttons and switches within easy reach. At this point, we would usually discuss rear seat room, but unlike the Challenger GT we evaluated some time ago, our tester arrived without a rear seat. That’s not a typo, removing the rear seat (as well as the front passenger seat) are part of a pair of $1 options, and is also standard fare on the limited production Challenger 1320 Scat Pack. Our tester’s curious arraignment strictly made it a two seater, but the empty void in the rear still had signs of its prior role, with Dodge engineers maintaining the door pockets, and even the rear air vents for the air conditioning.  Dodge designers on the other hand made good use of the newly created space, and included an embossed picture of a Challenger doing a burnout to prep for a launch down the dragstrip, that should be a good enough reason to explain why the kids get to ride to school in the minivan. Thankfully the Challenger’s 16 cubic feet of trunk space shames both the Camaro and the Mustang, with the space easily capable of swallowing a sizable amount of stuff. That should help it be a surprisingly livable family car, especially when it comes time to make the annual trek to the grocery store.

But the interesting omission in the seating department also casts a spotlight on some of the other minor quirks that exist with the Challenger’s cabin. For example, rearward visibility is impeded by its big rear pillars, and the rear window itself is a bit small. There’s also an abundance of cheap plastics in the interior, though FCA designers did add soft touch materials in various high contact areas to try and improve overall feel and quality. The look as a whole has a teutonic-esque flavor, but we wish it had more contrasting bright work to help make the cabin pop a bit more with the metal trim in the center console, and the metal accented sport pedals being the lone exceptions to the rule.

Thankfully, our tester came equipped with the range topping Uconnect 8.4 infotainment system which features a big 8.4 inch touchscreen, and also controls the bulk of the Challenger’s climate, audio, and other key functions. Like our other encounters with this system, we liked how easy it was to use and operate, with very minimal amounts of lag and load time observed during our time with it. We look forward to seeing the Ram’s 12-inch infotainment system become optional equipment in the Challenger soon, possibly when it is fully updated for its third iteration. In the meantime, Scat Pack Challenger’s like our tester gain a number of upgrades for 2019 including launch control, as well as the SRT Performance Pages that were once only standard on the formal SRT models. Like other SRT offerings, the Performance Pages allow drivers to tailor the car to their particular driving tastes, with various settings for the transmission, steering, suspension and even the stability control. As was the case with the SRT Durango we reviewed last year, we chose a custom setup that kept the suspension in sport mode, but allowed the rest of the car to be in track mode. This helped the Challenger show off its muscle, while also sparing us from the jarring punishment that comes with the suspension set in the firmest setting. We also liked how user friendly the Challenger’s navigation system is, with the big map even featuring a striped Challenger icon that serves as a pinpoint for your current location.

Big Power Highlights Driving Experience:

Performance for the standard Challenger Scat Pack has always been its most potent trademark, but merging it with the Widebody package has produced a very unique breed of animal. Like other Scat Pack models, our tester is powered by a naturally aspirated 6.4 liter Hemi V8 that is good for 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. While it is a far cry from the 700 plus horsepower created by the Hellcat and the Hellcat Redeye, this should be enough muscle for most people to manage, and it’s still enough to help the Challenger rocket to 60 mph in under 4 seconds. The 305 mm Pirelli P-Zero tires that come as part of the Widebody package help improve grip, and enhance the Challenger’s ability to deliver assertive yet smooth launches, especially from a stand still. But less experienced drivers will have to be careful with the throttle in certain situations, since it’s still easy to make the tail step out if you don’t give the chassis time to formally compose itself.

But remember when we said that Dodge engineers created a unique breed of Challenger with this merger of performance? That makes itself apparent when you take the Widebody out on the freeway. Unlike the narrower standard model, the Widebody’s wider track actually enhances ride comfort, with our tester doing an impressive job muting many of the ruts and bumps that we encountered during our time with it. This was especially true when the Challenger was tasked with taking Emily out to dinner in Keego Harbor, with the city’s rougher sections of roadway doing very little to unsettle the Challenger. The suspension is still on the firm side, but buyers looking for a bit more long haul livability should really give the Widebody a good look. However, when one takes the Widebody off the freeway, and puts it through its paces in curvier sections of tarmac, the package’s purpose becomes crystal clear. Grip is greatly enhanced, and while the Challenger is still a big portly car that likes to throw its weight around, the Widebody package allows drivers to have more control over how the weight is distributed, and the end result is less body roll, and a muscular coupe that feels more secure when pushed in turns.

A six speed manual is available, but our tester arrived with the optional eight speed automatic transmission. Shifts were smooth and accurate, with the steering wheel mounted shift paddles in our tester helping to enhance overall driving involvement. While our tester spent the bulk of its time on the road, separate encounters with other Widebody equipped Challengers on various race tracks further confirm the contributions that the package brings to the Challenger, especially since the Scat Pack is far more forgiving and easier to push to its limits than its fire breathing Hellcat siblings which require a more delicate throttle approach to help them perform at their best. Braking in our tester was strong and stable, with our tester recording secure stops from a wide variety of speeds.

Value Quotient:

Along with the potent muscle that the 2019 Challenger Scat Pack brings to the muscle car segment, it’s also worth noting that the broader Challenger lineup retains its title as one of the best value focused entries that buyers can choose to own. While the base $28,095 SXT model is about as exciting to drive as eating a hearty bowl of plain oatmeal, most people will arguably gravitate towards the $34,545 V8 powered R/T model which is the cheapest route to a V8 powered muscle car, with both the Camaro and the Mustang charging more for the ascent into eight cylinders.

From there, the R/T proves itself to be a very flexible canvas, with the base R/T Scat Pack starting at $40,245. Widebody equipped models like our tester tack on a $6,000 premium for a base price of $46,245 with our heavily optioned tester ringing in a final MSRP of $51,116. This is a bit pricey, and looking through the list of available options, there are some ways to help trim the financial fat. If we were building one of these for ourselves, we would keep the standard six-speed manual gearbox, and pitch the optional $1,595 eight speed automatic. We would keep the $6,000 Widebody package since it does a lot to make the Challenger a much better performance tool, and these benefits make up for the initial high price that buyers are expected to pay.

As for the Camaro and the Mustang, neither of them offer a similar Widebody package, and both of their V8s make less power than the Scat Pack. The Camaro in particular suffers from a very small trunk, as well as inferior interior design. The Mustang on the other hand offers better supporting Recaro seats, but the Recaros lack some of the basic features that many car buyers take for granted such as seat heat and cooling, power adjustability, and lumbar support. The Mustang also offers a more modern interior design, but it is decidedly more cramped than the airy Challenger and that plays a key role in long distance jaunts. Both cars are lighter than the Challenger though, and that lighter curb weight helps them be more manageable on a weekend track day.  Along with its domestic competition, the burly Dodge also has its sights set on decidedly more upscale rivals such as the BMW M4, and while the BMW outshines the Challenger handedly in interior fit and finish, things get much more heated in the performance arena, with even the 6.4 liter Scat Pack being a formidable challenge for the turbocharged German.

With a unique swagger and a diverse arsenal of performance honed weapons lurking under its engine bay, the 2019 Dodge Challenger is still one of the most potent muscle cars in the segment. While the Hellcat and its outright bonkers Redeye variant will certainly hog the spotlight when it comes to generating attention, the Scat Pack Widebody still manages to be a very unique performance proposition for buyers, and look for this particular model to continue playing a key role in the Challenger’s bold push towards achieving sales supremacy in the muscle car wars.