If you’re on the hunt for a muscle car, then the 2022 Dodge Challenger is a great choice. Compared to rivals like the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro, the Challenger provides owners with a nostalgic driving experience thanks to its classically modern interior and timeless aesthetics. Couple that with a rumbling V8 and you have yourself a genuine muscle car.

However, the tough part is choosing the right Dodge Challenger trim level for you, especially considering there are 10 trims to choose from. But if true performance is what you seek, then you may want to start with the Challenger Scat Pack.

The Challenger Scat Pack is the gateway to performance

The Scat Pack moniker was originally crafted for Dodge’s lineup back in 1968, reports The Drive, but it was resurrected in 2014 as an option for the Dart, Challenger, and Charger. The Scat Pack name allegedly stems from a play on the “Rat Pack” and refers to the brand’s old lineup of raucous muscle cars that included the Charger R/T, Coronet R/T, Dart GTS, and the Super Bee.

Nowadays, the Scat Pack is a couple of trim levels that are placed between the Challenger R/T and Hellcat trims. The Challenger Scat Pack and Scat Pack Widebody trims represent the gateway to performance as they are outfitted with more power and performance modifications than the entry-level SXT and R/T, but are not as extreme as the Hellcat.

What does the Scat Pack come with?

The Challenger Scat Pack adds more performance to the R/T trim via a larger 6.4-liter V8, an upgraded suspension, and a brake system. That 392 engine produces a whopping 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque – over 100 more hp than the Challenger R/T model – and is attached to either a TREMEC six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. In addition to the larger engine, the Scat Pack also includes an increased amount of stopping power from Brembo four-piston calipers that are matched to performance brake rotors.

What good is having all of that power if you can’t put it to the ground? As such, the Challenger Scat Pack is equipped with a line lock and launch control in addition to anti-spin axles and 20-inch wheels and tires. It’s not all about performance, though, as the Scat Pack trims also come with an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, heated front and rear seats, and a heated steering wheel.

Lastly, if you would rather have your Challenger Scat Pack look a little more aggressive, then you can opt for the Scat Pack Widebody trim level that includes an SRT front fascia and splitter, wide fender flares, and an adaptive Bilstein suspension.

What type of performance can be expected from a Challenger Scat Pack?

According to Car and Driver’s testing, the 2022 Challenger Scat Pack was able to get from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds and it blasted down the quarter-mile in 12.5 seconds. For reference, that’s quicker than the Ford Mustang Bullitt, which covered the same distances in 4.4 and 12.8, respectively. As far as pricing, the Challenger Scat Pack starts at $42,225, which is about $6,000 more than the R/T but nearly $20,000 less than the entry-level Challenger Hellcat. So it’s priced well according to its performance level.

That being said, the 2022 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack is the trim level to get if you want to roam the streets with enough gusto to spin the tires at any moment, but don’t need to pull off 10-second quarter-mile times. The current Challenger Scat Pack is a far cry from the Dodge lineup of the 60s, but it carries on the Scat Pack performance heritage just fine.