The 2020 Charger Scat Pack gets 16 miles per gallon in the city and 25 on the highway

The 2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack is powered by a 5.7-liter V8 engine that produces 485 horsepower. The EPA estimates fuel economy at 16 city / 25 highway / 19 combined miles per gallon when the car is equipped with an automatic transmission. These numbers reflect real-world driving patterns the EPA uses to test all vehicles, though your actual mileage will depend on your driving habits, road conditions, and how well you maintain the engine.

The Scat Pack sits in the middle of Dodge's Charger lineup — more powerful than the base model but less extreme than the Hellcat. That V8 engine is the reason the fuel economy is lower than you'd see in a four-cylinder sedan. Larger engines burn more fuel to produce more power, which is the trade-off you make when you choose a performance car.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2020 Charger Scat Pack's EPA estimate is 16 city / 25 highway / 19 combined miles per gallon with the automatic transmission.
  • The car's 5.7-liter V8 engine produces 485 horsepower and requires premium (91 octane) gasoline to run properly.
  • Real fuel economy varies based on driving style, traffic conditions, and maintenance — aggressive acceleration and highway speeding both lower your mileage.
  • The Scat Pack produces 360 grams of CO2 per mile, which is higher than most passenger vehicles because of its engine size and weight.

How the EPA measures fuel economy and emissions

The EPA tests every new car on a standardized driving cycle that includes city streets, highway driving, and cold starts. The test measures how much fuel the car burns over a fixed distance, then converts that to miles per gallon. The same test also measures tailpipe emissions — the pollutants that come out of the exhaust, including nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide.

The 2020 Charger Scat Pack meets current EPA emissions standards, which means it produces pollutants within the legal limits set for its vehicle class. However, because it has a large V8 engine and weighs about 3,800 pounds, its absolute emissions are higher than a smaller sedan would produce. The car's CO2 output is roughly 360 grams per mile, which reflects the energy needed to move that much weight and power at highway speeds.

Why the Scat Pack uses premium fuel

The Scat Pack's engine is tuned to run on premium gasoline (91 octane or higher), not regular 87-octane fuel. Premium fuel has a higher octane rating, which means it resists detonation — uncontrolled burning inside the cylinder that can damage the engine. The Scat Pack's high compression ratio and aggressive timing require that extra resistance to run safely and produce its full 485 horsepower.

If you put regular fuel in a Scat Pack, the engine will detect the lower octane and adjust its timing to prevent damage, but you'll lose power and fuel economy will drop further. Over time, using the wrong fuel can also cause carbon buildup inside the engine. Premium fuel costs more per gallon than regular, so the Scat Pack's fuel bill includes both the lower miles per gallon and the higher price per gallon.

Real-world fuel economy versus EPA estimates

The EPA numbers are a starting point, not a may provide. Most drivers report fuel economy within a few miles per gallon of the EPA estimate, but aggressive driving — quick acceleration, high speeds, and frequent braking — can lower your mileage by 20 to 30 percent. Conversely, steady highway driving at moderate speeds and smooth acceleration can sometimes match or slightly exceed the EPA estimate.

The Scat Pack's transmission also matters. The 2020 model came with an 8-speed automatic transmission, which helps the engine stay in its most efficient range during highway driving. Keeping your tires properly inflated, changing the oil on schedule, and keeping the engine tuned all help maintain the EPA estimate. A clogged air filter or worn spark plugs will lower your fuel economy noticeably.

How the Scat Pack compares to other performance cars

Among V8-powered muscle cars, the 2020 Charger Scat Pack's fuel economy is typical. The Dodge Challenger R/T (which uses the same engine) gets similar numbers: 16 city / 25 highway. The Chevrolet Camaro SS with a 6.2-liter V8 gets 16 city / 25 highway as well. Larger engines and heavier vehicles naturally consume more fuel, so if fuel economy is a priority, a performance car with a V8 will always cost more to operate than a four-cylinder or hybrid vehicle.

If you're comparing the Scat Pack to other Charger models, the base R/T (which has a 5.7-liter V8 but different tuning) also gets 16 city / 25 highway. The Charger Hellcat, with its supercharged 6.2-liter engine, gets 12 city / 21 highway — noticeably worse because of the extra power. The trade-off between performance and fuel economy is direct: more power means more fuel burned.

Understanding the car's environmental impact

The 2020 Charger Scat Pack meets all federal emissions standards for its model year, which means it produces pollutants within legal limits. However, it still produces more total emissions than a smaller, lighter vehicle because it burns more fuel. If you drive the Scat Pack 12,000 miles per year at the EPA combined estimate of 19 miles per gallon, you'll burn roughly 632 gallons of gasoline annually and produce about 6.3 tons of CO2 per year.

The car's weight and aerodynamics also affect its environmental footprint. The Scat Pack weighs more than a compact sedan, which means the engine has to work harder to move it. The car's boxy shape creates more wind resistance at highway speeds than a streamlined sedan would. These factors are built into the EPA's testing, so the 16 city / 25 highway estimate already accounts for the car's size and shape.

Maintenance that affects fuel economy and emissions

Keeping your Scat Pack in good condition helps it maintain its EPA fuel economy and stay within emissions standards. The most important maintenance items are the engine oil (use the grade specified in your owner's manual), air filter, and spark plugs. A dirty air filter forces the engine to work harder to pull in air, which lowers fuel economy and can increase emissions. Worn spark plugs cause incomplete combustion, which wastes fuel and produces more pollutants.

Tire pressure also matters more than many owners realize. Underinflated tires create more rolling resistance, which means the engine has to work harder to move the car forward. Check your tire pressure monthly and inflate to the PSI listed on the driver's door jamb (not the maximum PSI on the tire itself). Wheel alignment affects fuel economy too — if your wheels are out of alignment, the tires drag slightly sideways, which increases resistance and lowers your mileage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get better fuel economy by driving differently?

Yes. Smooth acceleration, steady speeds, and avoiding rapid braking all improve fuel economy. Highway driving at 55 mph uses less fuel than the same distance at 70 mph because wind resistance increases with speed. Aggressive driving in a Scat Pack can cut your fuel economy by 20 to 30 percent compared to the EPA estimate, so your driving style makes a real difference.

What happens if I use regular fuel instead of premium?

The engine will adjust its timing to prevent damage, but you'll lose power and fuel economy will drop. The car may also develop carbon buildup over time. Premium fuel is required for the Scat Pack to run as designed and produce its full 485 horsepower, so using regular fuel defeats the purpose of owning the car.

Is the 2020 Charger Scat Pack considered a gas guzzler?

The EPA does not officially label vehicles as "gas guzzlers," but the Scat Pack's 16 city / 25 highway fuel economy is well below the average for all new cars sold in the U.S. If fuel economy is your main concern, a sedan or hybrid vehicle will cost significantly less to operate over time.

How often should I change the oil in a Scat Pack?

Dodge recommends an oil change every 10,000 miles or once per year, whichever comes first. Using the correct oil grade (specified in your owner's manual) helps the engine run efficiently and maintain fuel economy. Synthetic oil lasts longer than conventional oil and may help with fuel economy slightly, though the difference is usually small.

Does the Scat Pack have any emissions control systems?

Yes. The 2020 Charger Scat Pack has a catalytic converter, oxygen sensors, and an emissions control computer that monitors the engine's combustion and adjusts fuel injection to keep emissions within legal limits. These systems are part of every modern car and work automatically — you don't need to do anything special to maintain them beyond regular engine maintenance.