Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat: Slightly more civilized than Challenger

Engine type: supercharged and intercooled V-8, iron block and aluminum heads

Displacement: 376 cu in, 6166 cc

Power: 707 hp @ 6000 rpm

Torque: 650 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

Dimensions:

Wheelbase: 120.4 in

Length: 200.8 in

Width: 75.0 in Height: 58.3 in

Curb weight: 4592 lb

Fuel economy:

EPA city/highway driving: 13/22 mpg

C/D observed: 13 mpg

So, the fastest, most powerful sedan in the world — we’re talking 707 horses — is delivered to my driveway, and the driver hands me two key fobs. The black one, he says, tames the monster a tad, limiting its horses to 500. The red one opens up the gates of hell, or in this case, Hellcat.

“So tell me again,” I ask with a smile, “why you brought that black one?”

Though I know many of you would be asking the same question, stay with me here. The black fob to this 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat could be the key to convincing yourself (or your spouse) that this bad boy can be taught to behave well enough to be adopted.

In fact, the Charger Hellcat, as opposed to its even more devilish Challenger Hellcat cousin, offers arguments that it is not just a racer but a comfortable full-size sedan. The Charger comes only with an automatic transmission, while boasting a softer suspension and smoother ride. It also is quieter, Dodge says, due to added insulation under the hood and exhaust-noise reducers. There’s more room in the back seat for the little ones too.

But make no mistake, the Charger Hellcat is an insanely fast, road-eating beast. From the moment you hear that first growl to the neck-and gut-tightening rush of an 11-second quarter-mile, the Hellcat is everything it is cracked up to be.

It can charge to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, which is two-tenths of a second behind the Challenger, for the record. But its top speed is rated at a jaw-dropping 204 mph, which is 5 mph better than Challenger.

In the belly of the beast is a 6.2-liter supercharged 16-valve V-8 engine which builds 707 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and can produce 650 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm.

Feeding it all the air it can snort is done through a broad mesh grille and air intakes atop the aluminum hood. Feed it premium fuel, too, or it likely will bite your head off. It gets 13 miles per gallon around town on a gallon and 22 on the highway, according to Environmental Protection Agency figures.

Its 8-speed transmission has little choice but to run through the gears swiftly, but it does so smoothly and with precision. You might enjoy taking over with the paddle shifters, but you won’t do any better.

Beyond its rip-roaring speed, the Charger Hellcat is fun to drive and has pretty good road manners, good enough to be a decent daily driver. This is more a road car than a track car.

Bilstein shocks absorb the bumps and lumps on the road, and on corners, body lean is within a reasonable range. The suspension, by the way, can be adjusted via the vehicle’s UConnect infotainment system screen. Other settings can be messed with there too.

Steering is not BMW-sharp but is adequate for a 4,575-pound rear-wheel vehicle. Stopping the brute is a tough set of Brembo brakes with 15.4-inch rotors and six-piston calipers up front.

Hellcat gets its own 20-inch forged-alloy wheels that come in a variety of finishes and boast Hellcat badges, which should have been made bigger and badder. I had to kneel and give them a good look to see what they were.

Inside, seats are comfortable and nicely bolstered, though some say not bolstered enough. Most will find head- and leg-room sufficient. Rear seats are roomy enough for most adults, too, and there’s decent cargo space with the seats folded down. In the trunk is 16.5 cubic feet of additional cargo space.

Interior materials and workmanship have been upgraded across the board in 2015 Chargers, and it shows through a nicer fit and mostly soft-touch surfaces. Dodge’s UConnect system, featuring an 8.4-inch touchscreen, is among the clearest and easiest to use in the business.

Rear visibility in the Charger is somewhat of an issue but a rear-view camera helps out in parking lots.

Dodge offers a number of electronic assists when it comes to safety. Among them: rear parking sensors, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert. A new frontal collision and mitigation system will initiate braking if the driver doesn’t in order to avoid an imminent crash.

All Chargers get an anti-lock braking system as well as stability and traction control. Front-seat side-impact air bags, driver knee bags and side-curtain bags are also all standard.