In Wheel Time Podcast: Your Go-To Automotive Talk Show

Speed, Size, and Hellcats

• In Wheel Time Podcast | Automotive talk with Don Armstrong, Michael Marrs, and Jeff Dziekan • Season 2025 • Episode 307

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With Dodge thinking real hard about bringing the Hellcat, we take a look at two of our favorites.

A three-row family hauler with 710 horsepower sounds like a punchline, but the 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Premium makes a strong case for everyday insanity. We dive into the details that matter: the captain’s chairs that make carpool easy, the Laguna leather and heated second row that keep everyone happy, and the SRT Performance Pages that tempt you to explore every drive mode. From red Brembo brakes and 20 by 10 wheels to the 10.1-inch Uconnect system and a thundering Harman Kardon setup, the Durango blends comfort, tech, and raw force in a way few SUVs can touch.

Then we talk numbers and nuance. A 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 710 hp and 645 lb-ft moving 5,500 pounds to 60 in under five seconds feels unhinged, yet the competition suspension and AWD deliver a firm, stable ride on the highway. Towing up to 8,700 pounds, seeing real-world fuel economy in the teens, and confronting a six-figure sticker spark the bigger conversation: what are you really buying when you choose a Hellcat badge? We stack the Durango’s capability against the short list of rivals and find that very few full-size SUVs play in this power league.

To round out the picture, we jump into the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody and explore why a shape born in 2008 still sells out. Wide fenders, a flat-nose grille, and hood nostrils serve retro muscle with modern grip, while a thick SRT wheel, high-bolstered seats, and bulletproof Uconnect keep the cockpit focused. With 717 hp and 656 lb-ft on tap, the Challenger raises the eternal question: should you use all of it? We unpack the burnout myth, traction realities, daily drivability, and how the Hellcat compares with Mustang Mach 1, Camaro ZL1, and Charger Hellcat.

If you’re weighing a supercharged SUV that can tow the toys or a coupe that time-travels to the glory days, this conversation maps the trade-offs in power, price, and practicality. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves big horsepower, and leave a review to tell us whether you’d pick the Durango or the Challenger.

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SPEAKER_02:

All right, um, time now for the car review. Now, Mr. Mars had the chance to drive. Don't be smiling at me on when I give this introduction. Had the chance to drive the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat. And that's all I'm gonna say because I know that you'll rub it in even more now that you've had a chance to drive it.

SPEAKER_00:

So we're we're talking about the 2023 Durango SRT Hellcat Premium All-Wheel Drive. Now I'm gonna explain that to you.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, please do.

SPEAKER_00:

Now the Dodge Durango, uh, you can actually, if you count the different editions that they have listed on their website, you can actually get 18 different trim levels or whatever you want to call it of the Durango. However, we're gonna just talk about the three Hellcat editions. You can get the uh SRT Hellcat, the SRT Hellcat Plus, the SRT Hellcat Premium, which is the one that we had. This is a full-size SUV three-row. We had the six-passenger version because we had the captain's chairs in the second row. One of my granddaughters, I was taking her someplace in it. She said, This is a family car? Yes, this is a family car when you get everything in it that you really want. And uh it has a distinctive SRT badging. Uh ours had the dual racing stripes on it, the uh SRT performance hood, had projector headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, all that good stuff you're gonna find out there. SRT red brimbo brakes had power sunroof, power lift gate, 20 by 10 inch wheels. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Now you go to the inside of it, and this is where you're really gonna see that it's uh is could be a family vehicle. Laguna leather seating. Got the high performance bucket seats up front. Uh they're heated, ventilated. The second row has also bucket seats that are heated, and it has a console in that second row, so it's very comfortable for the rear passengers. Uh up front, you're also gonna find out you've got a 200 mile per hour speedometer. And you're also got a 10.1 inch touchscreen where the nav with the UConnect system is, nav. You're gonna find your SRT performance pages there. It's got wireless charging on it, it's got the Harman Cardin audio with 19 speakers with subwoofer and 825 watt amp. So there's power in this vehicle on everything. Now, the uh the Hellcat was first introduced in 2021. It was really only supposed to be a one-model year production, but it keeps going because people love this vehicle. It does weigh 5,500 pounds, so it is a large vehicle. And it's heavy in the all-wheel drive configuration. Now, under the hood, you're gonna find the 6.2 liter V8, 710 horsepower SRT Hellcat engine, 645-pound piece of torque, eight-speed automatic. Now, you can properly equip this vehicle, and I don't know that I would do it with the Hellcat motor, but 8,700 pounds of Durango is capable of towing. Now, the EPA says you should be able to look for 12 miles per gallon in the city, 17 on the highway, and combined 13. Now, for the two tanks of fuel that I drove this vehicle during the week, I had it across 238.3 miles. It got what? I did not drive it over here this week. Why is that?

SPEAKER_02:

Because it sucked down too much gas?

SPEAKER_00:

No, because we were at the Autorama, it came in with the Autorama and it had the truck full of all our stuff in it. Okay, I see. It hurt my feelings to leave it sitting in the driveway for a couple of days.

SPEAKER_02:

I'll bet it did. Well, you could have transferred it from the truck to the back of the uh Hellcat.

SPEAKER_00:

I was afraid it wouldn't hold it all, but uh we have a lot of stuff. But anyway, zero to sixty in less than five seconds, according to Dodge. It does have a competition suspension on it. And so you're gonna have a firm highway ride. It comes with that. Yeah. When you get that engine common combination package with all-wheel drive, that's what you're gonna get. But it's not that rough. You know, you're going down the highway at a rough. No, it weighs almost three tons. Exactly. And when you've got the engine that you can hear, mommy, my wife went to sleep. We were cruising, and she just Yes, exactly. She thought it was great for that, and I said, Great, then I'm gonna get one. But she didn't like that idea too good. Anyway, so if you're looking at a Dodge Durango, you can get into this vehicle for$40,645. But we're talking about the Hellcat. So a base trim hell price on a Hellcat is$91,740. Wow. Now, uh you can get the Hellcat for$93,335 and the Hellcat Plus for$99.339.35. Or you can get, as tested, the MSRP on the Durango SRT Hellcat Premium All-Wheel Drive for$106,420. Now, I went out and I looked to see what you could compare this to. Now, there's a lot of full-size SUVs out there. Yeah. The V. There's some of them that have all-wheel drive. Yeah. But none of them have 700 plus horsepower. So I just didn't even bother.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, if you get one of these weird, it would be the Escalade V.

SPEAKER_00:

I I'd have enough trouble staying and keeping gas in this one. Yeah, yeah. Exactly. So uh, but anyway, uh it's it's a very impressive vehicle. It'll do a lot of and that's my review of the 2023 Dodge Drangle SRT Hellcat Face.

SPEAKER_02:

It's not a smile, it's a smirk. Oh, I love it. All right. Hey, the In-Wheel Time Car Talk Show is available 24-7 through the iHeartRadio app. Just look for In Wheel Time Car Talk.

SPEAKER_01:

We also did 2022 Dodge Challenger.

SPEAKER_02:

Available trim levels, the SXT, the GT, the RT, the RT Scat Pack, and the SRT Hellcat. Not only did I have the Hellcat, but I had the Hellcat wide body. How many passengers? Four or five. If you want to stick a third person in the back seat back there, I don't is there even a seat belt back there for that? I don't think so. Someone in the middle? It's four people. Anyway, exterior changes from last model year? None. This car was originally introduced in 2008, which was 15 years ago, if you're counting. And if you stop and think about it, what car is still around that's 15 years old that they sell everyone that they make? It's truly amazing. Uh I it it's a yeah. Um exterior features. Wheel opening extensions allow for wider, bigger wheels and tires, and that's really what it's all about. Trying to get the power to the road. Flat-nosed grill is a direct uh descendant of the original back in the 60s. Uh She-Jack air nostrils on the hood. No, no. Oh well, they could be, yes.

SPEAKER_01:

They did say wide body.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. You're gonna sneeze? Oh uh front splitter and rear spoiler. Said that. What I liked, the retro styling that never gets old in my book. Uh what could use improvement? Nothing. I like the way it is and I like the way it looks, and uh they're not gonna change it, and I wouldn't recommend they change it. That's what sells the car. Interior highlights, thick SRT steering wheel, uh, well-laid out dash that is getting a little dated, but it still works. Great infotainment system. That Chrysler system just really works for me. Comfortable, high bolstered seating. Uh, cargo trunk room is relatively small for a mid-sized car like this. What I liked about it, the race car styling on the interior. What could use improvement? Nothing. Waiting on the electric replacement, and I can't wait. They they do they do such a good job at hot rotting. I can only imagine where the electric is going to go. 6.2 liters supercharged V8, 717 posted horsepower, torque of 656 pound feet. Transmission, eight-speed automatic transmission. It's rated for 13 miles per gallon in the city and 21 on the highway for a combined total of 15. 17.3. Well, I mean. I'm sorry. I know that the car will smoke the rear tires. I know that. Why would I want to do that? I don't want to do that. Now, yeah, I know. Well, and it's not my car. Now, Mars, on the other hand, if you just see and hear his comment, he says, exactly. So, in other words, that's what you do. Kimberly Schultz, I just wanted to go ahead and call him out on this. You've lit those tires up, haven't you?

SPEAKER_00:

In the name of research, yes. I mean, you've got to figure out just to what extent. Guys that do it on YouTube and stuff, whenever you're the Stellantis and the and the Dodge engineers, they all know exactly how to do that. So they can they can do these funny cars all day.

SPEAKER_02:

We all know how to do it. You take the traction control off and you put it in low or shift it through the gears. No. And just keep burning the tires all the way down the track.

SPEAKER_00:

No, no, no, no. Okay, well then how do you? We're gonna have to give you lessons on how to do a proper burnout. Next time we get a car, yes.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay. I don't want I'll watch from the curb a long way back. Because I all I can see is that car going down the road. We're not talking about a Mustang. Ryan and handling. What I liked about it, the race car like suspension. Uh, what could use improvement, adjustability, but then it wouldn't be a race car uh uh uh suspension on it.

SPEAKER_01:

What it I I have a comment after all this, but that's okay.

SPEAKER_02:

I'll wait. Okay. Now then, let us talk about pricing. Now, the base trim price on the Hellcat, the base trim price is sixty-three, five thirty. The price is tested was eighty-eight thousand dollars. But if you want to get into a challenger, a six-cylinder like my daughter's got, thirty thousand dollars. Yeah, that's good.

SPEAKER_00:

It's like what, 305,000, 308 horsepower? There's plenty of juice, yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Plenty. Yep. Competitors to this vehicle. Well, duh. The Mustang Mach 1, it starts at 57,665. The Camaro ZL1 starts at 65, 895, which I think would probably be the closest competitor, but not really, as far as horsepower is concerned. And then there is the Charger 4-door, because I can't find any more two-doors. Charger 4-door starts at 79,595, and that's the Hellcat version.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, so you got 780 horsepower, you've got bolstered seats, you got wide body, you got big tires, you got all these accoutrements on the dashboard to fix performance, but oh, don't you dare light those tires up.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, Don.

SPEAKER_02:

Don't you dare. I didn't. I didn't light them up. It's there to light tires up. Here, here's my here's my reason. Because if I did that, I'd either one, get caught by the police to get a big ticket, or I'd wreck it. I'd put it into some some light pole down the street. Or you get caught by Dodge. Because that's my luck. I'm not going to do that. Why would I do that? The point is all of that, all of that. Did I floor it a time tough? Did I floor it a time or two? Absolutely. It takes it just a split second to say, oh, spin spinning the rear tires. Need to bring it back a little bit or shift it up to the next gear, and then you shift it up to the next gear, and it still wants to spin the tires. It's got it's got more horsepower than most people could handle. That's what I'm saying. That's kind of like can't fix.

SPEAKER_01:

And the car is not.

SPEAKER_02:

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Don Armstrong

Host
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Jeff Dziekan

Co-host
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Michael Marrs

Co-host