What the 2023 Charger Scat Pack delivers in real-world fuel use

The 2023 Dodge Charger Scat Pack is a mid-size muscle car with a 5.7-liter V8 engine rated at 17 miles per gallon in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and 20 mpg combined by the EPA. That combined figure is the number you'll see on the window sticker and the one most people use to compare vehicles. The actual fuel economy you see at the pump depends on your driving habits — highway driving typically yields closer to the EPA highway estimate, while city driving often falls short of the city rating.

The Scat Pack sits in the middle of Charger's engine lineup. It produces 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque, which means it uses more fuel than the base 3.6-liter V6 Charger (which rates 19 city, 31 highway, 24 combined) but less than the Charger Hellcat's 6.2-liter supercharged V8. The trade-off is performance: the Scat Pack accelerates faster than the base model but costs less to run than the Hellcat.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2023 Charger Scat Pack is rated 20 mpg combined by the EPA, with 17 city and 25 highway.
  • Real-world fuel economy varies based on driving style, terrain, and traffic conditions — aggressive acceleration and idling in traffic will lower your actual mpg.
  • The Scat Pack's V8 engine requires premium (91 octane) gasoline, which costs more per gallon than regular fuel.
  • The Charger Scat Pack produces 485 horsepower and emits 8.4 metric tons of CO2 per year under average driving conditions.

How the EPA measures fuel economy for the Scat Pack

The EPA tests every vehicle using a standardized procedure that simulates city and highway driving in a laboratory setting. For the Scat Pack, the city test involves 23 stops and starts over 5.8 miles at an average speed of 21.2 mph. The highway test runs 10 miles at a steady 48.3 mph average with no stops. These conditions don't match real driving, which is why actual results often differ.

The EPA publishes a range rather than a single number because driving behavior matters enormously. A driver who accelerates smoothly, maintains steady speeds, and avoids idling will see numbers closer to the highway estimate. A driver who accelerates hard, sits in traffic, or drives in mountainous terrain will see numbers closer to the city estimate or worse. The EPA also publishes a "real-world" adjustment factor that accounts for the gap between lab conditions and actual driving — for the Scat Pack, this adjustment is built into the published numbers.

Premium fuel requirement and cost impact

The 2023 Charger Scat Pack requires premium gasoline (91 octane minimum, 93 recommended). Using regular (87 octane) fuel can cause engine knock, reduce performance, and potentially damage the engine over time. This means your fuel cost per mile is higher than it would be for a vehicle that runs on regular fuel, even if the mpg rating were identical.

The price difference between regular and premium varies by region and by week, but premium typically costs 30 to 60 cents more per gallon. At 20 mpg combined and 12,000 miles per year (the average American driver), you'd use 600 gallons annually. If premium costs 50 cents more per gallon, that's an extra $300 per year in fuel cost compared to a regular-fuel vehicle with the same mpg rating. Over five years of ownership, that difference reaches $1,500.

Emissions and environmental impact

The 2023 Charger Scat Pack is classified as a Tier 3 vehicle under EPA emissions standards, which means it meets current federal limits for nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and other pollutants. The vehicle's tailpipe emissions are regulated, but the overall environmental impact depends on how much you drive and how the electricity in your region is generated (since electricity production affects the carbon intensity of fuel refining).

Under average driving conditions of 12,000 miles per year, the Scat Pack produces approximately 8.4 metric tons of CO2 annually. This figure accounts for the fuel burned and the emissions from fuel production and refining. For comparison, the base Charger with the 3.6-liter V6 produces roughly 5.8 metric tons annually, while the Hellcat produces about 11.2 metric tons. These numbers are estimates based on EPA fuel economy ratings and standard carbon intensity assumptions — your actual emissions depend on your driving patterns and local fuel sources.

How driving style affects your real fuel economy

The EPA's 20 mpg combined rating assumes moderate driving with a mix of city and highway miles. Several factors push actual results lower. Aggressive acceleration — the kind that takes advantage of the Scat Pack's 485 horsepower — can cut fuel economy by 15 to 30 percent. Idling in traffic, cold starts in winter, and driving at highway speeds above 65 mph all reduce efficiency. Carrying extra weight, using air conditioning, and driving on rough roads also lower mpg.

Conversely, smooth acceleration, maintaining steady speeds, and minimizing idling can push your actual fuel economy closer to or slightly above the EPA estimate. Some drivers report 22 to 24 mpg on long highway drives with steady speeds and no aggressive driving. Others report 15 to 17 mpg in heavy city traffic or with frequent hard acceleration. The EPA's combined rating of 20 mpg is the middle ground — a reasonable expectation for mixed driving, but not a may provide.

Comparing the Scat Pack to other V8 muscle cars

The 2023 Charger Scat Pack's 20 mpg combined rating is competitive within its class. The 2023 Dodge Challenger R/T (which uses the same 5.7-liter V8) is rated 16 city, 25 highway, 19 combined — slightly lower than the Charger. The 2023 Chevrolet Camaro SS (also with a 5.7-liter V8) rates 16 city, 25 highway, 19 combined. The 2023 Ford Mustang GT (5.0-liter V8) rates 16 city, 25 highway, 19 combined.

The Charger Scat Pack's advantage comes partly from its transmission — it uses an eight-speed automatic, while some competitors use six-speed automatics or manual transmissions. The extra gears allow the engine to operate at lower RPMs at highway speeds, which improves fuel economy on the highway. If you prioritize fuel economy within the V8 muscle car segment, the Charger Scat Pack is a reasonable choice, though none of these vehicles are fuel-efficient by broader automotive standards.

Maintenance costs and long-term fuel considerations

The Scat Pack's V8 engine requires regular maintenance that affects your total cost of ownership. Oil changes are typically recommended every 10,000 miles (some sources say 5,000 for performance driving), and the larger engine holds more oil than smaller engines. Spark plugs, air filters, and coolant flushes follow manufacturer schedules. Premium fuel is non-negotiable, so you cannot reduce fuel costs by switching to regular gasoline.

If fuel economy is a primary concern, the base Charger with the 3.6-liter V6 (24 mpg combined) or a completely different vehicle class — a sedan, hybrid, or electric vehicle — would lower your fuel costs significantly. The Scat Pack is a performance vehicle first; fuel economy is a secondary consideration. Budget for premium fuel as a fixed cost of ownership, and expect real-world fuel economy to vary between 17 and 24 mpg depending on your driving patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular fuel in a 2023 Charger Scat Pack?

No. The Scat Pack requires premium (91 octane minimum). Using regular fuel can cause engine knock, reduce performance, and potentially damage the engine. The manufacturer's recommendation is 93 octane for best performance.

What is the actual fuel economy I should expect?

The EPA rating is 20 mpg combined, but real-world results typically range from 17 to 24 mpg depending on driving style, terrain, and traffic conditions. Highway driving at steady speeds yields better economy; city driving and aggressive acceleration yield worse economy.

How much does the Scat Pack cost to fuel annually?

At 12,000 miles per year and 20 mpg combined, you'll use 600 gallons annually. If premium fuel costs $3.50 per gallon and regular costs $3.00, the extra cost for premium is roughly $300 per year compared to a regular-fuel vehicle with the same mpg rating.

How does the Scat Pack compare to the base Charger in fuel economy?

The base Charger with the 3.6-liter V6 is rated 24 mpg combined, compared to the Scat Pack's 20 mpg combined. The V6 also runs on regular fuel, so the total fuel cost difference is significant — roughly $600 to $800 per year for average driving.

What emissions does the 2023 Charger Scat Pack produce?

The Scat Pack meets EPA Tier 3 emissions standards for pollutants like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. At 12,000 miles per year, it produces approximately 8.4 metric tons of CO2 annually based on EPA fuel economy ratings and standard carbon intensity assumptions.