2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody Review: Super Duper Sedan

Who of their proper thoughts wants a 797-horsepower sedan? The reply, actually, is nobody. And but, the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody exists with nearly no limitations for $78,595. That is proper, you possibly can stroll into your native Dodge dealership and purchase the quickest and strongest four-door on the planet for lower than six figures. And we’re not making an attempt to disparage it right here – this automobile is totally price each penny.

The Redye is not simply quick, it’s totally, very, very quick. However this Charger can be solidly snug, great-looking, and outfitted with some good tech. There are some things to pay attention to – like the truth that the Redeye requires the perfect rubber cash should buy, which you’ll be able to’t get from the manufacturing unit. And in order for you superior security and acceptable gas economic system to go along with all that velocity, you may must look elsewhere. However relating to uncooked, unfiltered energy, there’s nothing else in the marketplace just like the Charger Redeye.

A automobile’s rankings are relative solely to its personal phase and never the new-vehicle market as a complete. For extra on how Motor1.com charges vehicles, click on right here.

Keep in mind when Dodge provided the Charger Hellcat in non-widebody type? Neither will we. The additional-thick hips – now normal on all Hellcat-powered Chargers – swimsuit the tremendous sedan so completely, it is as if the slender model by no means existed. And when paired with 20-inch wheels, a revised entrance finish to higher cool the engine, and a few delicate tweaks within the rear, it is laborious to argue that the Hellcat Redeye is not the best-looking Charger thus far.

Our check automobile seems particularly cool carrying one of many Redeye’s many good colours: F8 Inexperienced. The good-looking exterior hue pairs properly with non-obligatory orange brake calipers, granite wheels, and some satin black accents as a part of the excellent Buyer Most well-liked package deal ($8,600).

The within of the Charger Redeye is as good because it’s ever been. Caramel-colored Laguna leather-based covers the seats, black leather-based with white stitching coats the sprint, and suede strains the ceiling and carbon fiber accents adorn the sprint (in case you order the $1,595 Carbon and Suede Inside package deal). Our solely criticism is that the cabin does really feel a bit outdated, particularly contemplating the lately up to date Durango Hellcat is far nicer, thanks partially to the brand new Uconnect infotainment system. However there’s nonetheless tons to love visually within the Charger Redeye.

Who knew the Charger Redeye could possibly be so snug? Even with a supercharged V8 below the hood, the Dodge Charger Redeye would not lose the on-road consolation that makes the sedan household so charming to drive every day. The suspension soaks up bumps and imperfections properly (even with 20-inch wheels and skinny rubber), the cabin is comparatively quiet (till you actually hammer the throttle), and there is a respectable quantity of passenger room. However for as huge because the Charger Redeye is, it isn’t probably the most spacious tremendous sedan within the class.

The Charger’s 38.6 inches of entrance headroom and 41.8 inches of entrance legroom greatest the Mercedes-AMG E63 sedan by only a bit (37.9 / 41.3 inches), however the headroom determine is down barely in comparison with the bigger BMW M5 (40.7 / 41.4 inches). Neither of these automobiles is strictly a Redeye competitor, however it’s as shut as we are able to get when it comes to type and performance.

The rear is a bit tighter; the Charger’s 36.6 inches of headroom are down on each the BMW and the Mercedes, however 40.1 inches of legroom are higher than each. And in your 6-foot-tall writer, ingress and egress from the second row are a bit difficult as a result of tight rear entryway, and the shortage of headroom in comparison with the opposite two is apparent.

One factor the Charger Redeye does do higher than each the BMW or Benz, although, is seat consolation. The massive Laguna leather-based buckets up entrance are two of the perfect seats you may discover anyplace; they’re extraordinarily tender and form-fitting, and provide modest bolstering for whenever you do make it to the observe. And the rear bench is simply as comfortable.

Dodge’s Uconnect infotainment system continues to be certainly one of our favourite setups. The house display structure is clear, the graphics are fairly crisp, and it is all comparatively straightforward to function. Plus, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come normal, as does Dodge’s complete Efficiency Pages menu display.

Efficiency Pages provides you entry to issues like a 0-60 timer, a quarter-mile timer, G-force meter, braking distance monitor, and extra, all situated inside the infotainment setup and accessible by way of an “SRT” button situated slightly below the touchscreen. The timing options and numerous meters do come in useful on the observe, though Efficiency Pages feels extra gimmicky on the street. And it does take some time to load up. Regardless of the case, it is a cool choice to have.

Our solely gripe with the Charger’s Uconnect setup is that it feels dated after seeing what Dodge’s new setup seems like. The brand new Uconnect 5 system we examined within the Durango Hellcat and Chrysler Pacifica, each with a a lot crisper 10.1-inch display, has extra options and a greater structure. Here is hoping that the Charger adopts the identical setup within the close to future.

What can we are saying concerning the Hellcat engine that hasn’t been mentioned already? It is phenomenal, it is absurd, and it feels much more particular with the Redeye’s additional 80 horsepower. Complete energy figures for the Redeye mannequin come out to 797 hp and 707 pound-feet, giving this Charger a 0-60 time of three.6 seconds and a high velocity of 203 miles per hour. Merely put: That is the quickest sedan on the planet, and it feels prefer it.

Mash the fuel from a standstill and the Charger Redeye accelerates with the kind of power you anticipate of a six-figure supercar. The bigger supercharger – with a hefty 14.5 psi of enhance – lets off a siren-like whine because it spools up, feeding extra air into the engine. Intense G forces push down in your face and chest on the best way to 60 and up via a 6500-rpm redline. Although, that is assuming you may get the tires to hook up in any respect.

The Charger Redeye we examined in our first drive rode on non-obligatory Pirelli P-Zero summer season tires (305/35R20), a $695 choice that felt properly price it on the observe. The tremendous sticky rubber gave the automobile a lot of grip, which – when mixed with the superior adaptive suspension – made the Redeye really feel like some of the track-focused Chargers we have ever examined (perhaps subsequent to the Scat Pack). Sadly, our tester wears the usual Pirelli P Zero all-seasons – and that rubber would not translate as properly to the street.

The usual all-season tires merely cannot deal with all that horsepower. Rapidly miserable the fuel pedal, even to half power from a stoplight, sends the rear tires right into a tizzy whereas the traction management warning lights up the sprint like Christmas.

Making an attempt to face on the pedal with out even among the nannies engaged is unimaginable – and, arguably, harmful – leading to nothing however a cloud of smoke and a few sideways-ness. Feather the throttle and you will be positive for probably the most half, however even within the tamest Road drive mode, do not press the fuel pedal too laborious. Our suggestion is to go along with the non-obligatory Pirelli summer season ties, they’re properly price it.

We get it, in case you’re shopping for a 797-hp sedan security in all probability isn’t on the high of your procuring checklist. However contemplate this: The Charger Redeye lacks any lively security gear – even automated emergency braking – opposite to its two foremost rivals. Each BMW and Mercedes provide complete security suites.

The BMW M5 Competitors comes normal with an Energetic Driving Assistant, which incorporates automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, a lane-departure warning, and velocity restrict recognition. The Mercedes-AMG E63 S, in the meantime, prices additional for issues like lane-departure warning, lane-keep help, and adaptive cruise management, however it does have normal automated emergency braking no less than. And people two programs are among the greatest at present obtainable in the marketplace.

Once more, gas economic system in all probability isn’t excessive up in your priorities checklist when taking a look at a Charger Hellcat Redeye. The supercharged V8 achieves simply 12 miles per gallon metropolis, 21 freeway, and 15 mixed – and it solely sips premium gas. The Charger Redeye is the least environment friendly automobile within the class. The BMW M5 Competitors is healthier, reaching 17 mpg mixed, and the Mercedes-AMG E63 S will get 18 mpg mixed.

The Charger Redeye begins at $78,595, which makes it considerably reasonably priced relative to different high-powered (however premium) sedans. The BMW M5 Competitors begins at $110,000, the Mercedes-AMG E63 S prices $107,500, and the Audi RS7 prices $114,000. And all three of these alternate options are significantly down on energy. Solely the brand new Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing comes shut, with a beginning value of $84,990. Our automobile is slightly pricier with choices, coming in at $87,165. However that’s nonetheless not absurdly costly.

The dearest choice is the Buyer Most well-liked package deal, which prices an additional $8,600 and provides issues like Redeye badging (each in and out), satin black exterior accents, and a Redeye-specific instrument cluster. Frankly, this package deal doesn’t really feel well worth the hefty value. The Carbon/Suede package deal provides an additional $1,595 on high of that (and does make the inside really feel nicer), 20-inch satin wheels are $1,095, navigation is one other $995, and there’s a $2,100 fuel guzzler tax. However we might do with out a lot of these choices. The underside line is: You possibly can nonetheless purchase a 797-hp sedan for round $80,000.