The short answer: the Hellcat had 717 horsepower from a supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8, the Scat Pack had 485 from a naturally aspirated 6.4L (392) HEMI, and the Hellcat cost roughly $24,000 more.
The longer answer matters more in 2026, because neither car is sold anymore in the form most people mean. Dodge ended HEMI Challenger and Charger production after the 2023 model year. The Scat Pack name survived onto a completely different car; Hellcat did not survive at all — yet.
Key Takeaways
- Scat Pack (392): 6.4L naturally aspirated HEMI V8, 485 hp, around $48,000, roughly 4.2 seconds to 60 mph.
- Hellcat: 6.2L supercharged HEMI V8, 717 hp — 797 hp in Redeye form, 807 hp with the Jailbreak package — around $72,000, roughly 3.6 seconds to 60.
- Both ended production after model year 2023. There is no new HEMI Hellcat on sale today.
- The 2026 Charger Scat Pack carries the name with a twin-turbo inline-six making 550 hp at $54,995, while the electric Daytona Scat Pack makes 670 hp.
Scat Pack vs. Hellcat: The Classic Matchup
| 392 Scat Pack | SRT Hellcat | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6.4L naturally aspirated HEMI V8 | 6.2L supercharged HEMI V8 |
| Horsepower | 485 hp | 717 hp (Redeye 797; Jailbreak 807) |
| 0-60 mph | ~4.2-4.3 sec | ~3.6-3.9 sec |
| Quarter mile | ~12.4 sec | Low 11s (Redeye ~10.6) |
| Approx. MSRP, 2023 Challenger | ~$48,265 | ~$72,130 |
| Final model year | 2023 | 2023 |
The MSRP row reflects 2023 Challenger pricing; equivalent Charger trims carried higher stickers. Performance figures vary by body style, widebody package, and model year (Dodge, manufacturer specifications).
Is the Extra $24,000 Worth 232 Horsepower?
That’s the real question, and the honest answer is that it depends entirely on how you use the car.
On paper, the Hellcat’s advantage is enormous — 232 more horsepower, roughly six-tenths quicker to 60, and a full second faster through the quarter mile. In practice, on a public road, most of that gap is theoretical. The Scat Pack’s 485 hp already exceeds what any street offers room to use, and the Hellcat’s power delivery is dramatic enough that traction becomes the limiting factor long before the engine does.
Where the Hellcat genuinely separates itself is in the experience: the supercharger whine, the sense of unlimited reserve at any speed, and the badge itself. Those are real reasons to buy a car. They’re just not performance reasons in normal driving.
The Scat Pack, meanwhile, has a characteristic the Hellcat doesn’t: naturally aspirated response. No supercharger lag, no heat-soak issues on repeat runs, and a simpler, more durable engine that tolerates track use and hard driving with less maintenance anxiety.
What Happened to Both Cars?
Dodge ended production of the HEMI-powered Challenger and Charger after model year 2023. The supercharged 6.2L Hellcat engine went with them.
What replaced them is a different car entirely. The current Charger lineup splits two ways:
- Charger Daytona (electric) — the Daytona Scat Pack produces 670 hp and 627 lb-ft, hitting 60 mph in about 3.3 seconds. Faster to 60 than the old Hellcat, with none of the noise.
- Charger Sixpack (gas) — powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0L inline-six. The 2026 Charger Scat Pack makes 550 hp and 531 lb-ft, reaches 60 in under four seconds, tops out at 177 mph, and starts at $54,995 (Dodge; U.S. News first drive).
So the Scat Pack name now means more horsepower than the 392 ever made — from an engine with two fewer cylinders and two turbochargers.
Hellcat has no current equivalent. Enthusiast outlets have reported that Dodge is evaluating a Hellcat-badged Charger around the 2028 model year, and executives have hinted the new architecture could accept a V8 (MoparInsiders). Treat that as unconfirmed speculation rather than a product announcement — Dodge has made no such commitment.
Buying Used: What Actually Matters
Since both are used-market cars now, the comparison shifts. A few practical points:
Insurance and running costs favor the Scat Pack substantially. Insurers price the Hellcat as a 700-plus-horsepower vehicle, and the gap in premiums is often larger than buyers expect. Tires, brakes, and fuel all cost more on the Hellcat too.
Modification history is the biggest risk on a used Hellcat. These cars respond dramatically to a pulley and tune, and plenty have been pushed well past factory output. A car making 900 hp on stock internals has a different reliability profile than the one Dodge sold. Ask for documentation.
Check for collision history on both. Muscle cars see hard use, and rear-end damage from loss-of-traction incidents is common. A pre-purchase inspection that includes structural measurement — not just a visual walk-around — is worth the money on any high-performance used car.
Values have moved. Final-year 2023 “Last Call” cars in particular have drawn collector interest. Verify current market pricing rather than relying on original MSRP.
If you’re buying either car locally and want the body and structure checked before you commit, our collision and structural inspection services can tell you whether a car has been hit and how well it was repaired.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much faster is a Hellcat than a Scat Pack?
Roughly six-tenths of a second to 60 mph — about 3.6-3.9 seconds versus 4.2-4.3 — and close to a full second through the quarter mile. The gap is real but requires traction and space to actually realize. On a normal street, both cars are limited by grip and law long before they run out of engine.
Is the Scat Pack a Hellcat?
No. They’re different engines entirely. The Scat Pack uses the naturally aspirated 6.4L (392 cubic inch) HEMI making 485 hp. The Hellcat uses a supercharged 6.2L HEMI making 717 hp or more. Scat Pack is a performance trim; Hellcat is an SRT model above it.
Can you still buy a new Hellcat?
No. Production of the supercharged HEMI Challenger and Charger ended after the 2023 model year. Any Hellcat you buy today is a used vehicle. Dodge has hinted at a possible return around 2028, but nothing has been confirmed.
Is the new 550-hp Scat Pack faster than the old 485-hp one?
In a straight line, yes — 550 hp and 531 lb-ft gets to 60 mph in under four seconds, quicker than the 392’s roughly 4.2. Whether it feels better is a separate question, and one that depends on how much you valued the naturally aspirated V8 character.
Which one is cheaper to insure and maintain?
The Scat Pack, by a clear margin. Lower horsepower means lower premiums, and the naturally aspirated engine avoids supercharger service, runs cooler under repeat hard use, and goes easier on tires and brakes than a 717-hp car does.
The Bottom Line
Scat Pack versus Hellcat came down to 485 hp against 717, roughly $48,000 against $72,000, and naturally aspirated response against supercharged violence. For street driving, the Scat Pack delivered most of the experience for two-thirds of the money. For anyone who wanted the fastest thing Dodge sold, the Hellcat was the only answer.
Both are history now. If you’re curious how much a full tank of premium adds to a 4,500-pound muscle car, our guide to how much a gallon of gas weighs does that math.
And if you’re shopping either car on the used market — or you already own one and need bodywork done properly — contact San Diego Bumper and Collision for an inspection or estimate.
